“Close the turret shields!” Flinn was shouting in his ear. “Close it now!”
Without thinking, Garryn did as he was told. The low hum of the duranium plates enclosed the plexiglass around him. The darkness caused bursts of colour in front of his eyes and the hull shook with a violent tremor. The ship lurched forward and Garryn was thrown against the wall of the turret. His skull slapped against the hard metal surface and he felt a mixture of dizziness and pain as he tried to regain his balance.
“Gar!” Finn was again shouting at him through the ringing pain in his head.
Flinn's voice came through a stutter of static, making his words hard to decipher. Garryn tried to adjust his headset to compensate but the static still remained.
“Are you okay?”
“I'm fine,” his voice sounded muffled in his ears. “What happened?”
“Cathomira.”
“Cathomira?” Garryn asked and then became conscious of a dull, thumping noise against the hull.
“Lower your canopy shields,” Flinn instructed.
The shields lowered to reveal the space beyond the plexiglass filled with floating debris. As the Wayward Son sped away from the destruction, Garryn saw huge blocks of rock swirling around the ship, smashing into smaller fragments as they slammed against one another. Some fragments were as big as the ship itself, while others were no bigger than pebbles. The sight of it was both horrifying and fascinating. They couldn't even see the warship through the veil of dust and rock.
Cathomira had just gone nova.
* * *
For a minute, Garryn did not know what to feel.
All his life, he'd known Cathomira as the place of his birth. When he had made this trip, it was in the hopes of proving it once and for all. While it was all too clear he was never from the planet, Garryn still felt some bond to it. With its demise, Garryn was faced with the stark reality of not knowing where he came from. By coming to Cathomira, he had only created new and more perplexing questions.
Where had he really come from?
“We can't jump in this,” Garryn stated. The bombardment of the debris against the hull was slowing them down considerably. As it was, Finn was manoeuvring through the debris field at dangerous speed, trying to avoid one hurling fragment of rock after another.
“Not until we clear this debris field and that's not going to be easy,” Flinn agreed grimly.
The warship appeared through the storm of dirt and debris, resuming its pursuit since it was not as disadvantaged as the Wayward Son in the debris field. Moments ago, its size hindered the chase, but it was now giving them the advantage. Their lead was dwindling rapidly as the warship's armour and shielding allowed it to move through the deadly fragments without fear of catastrophic hull breaches.
“We got to get moving now!”
“I'm doing the best I can!” Flinn barked back.
The Wayward Son accelerated again, but was severely impeded by the asteroids flying at them from all directions. The ship swung from side to side, avoiding the larger blocks of rocks as it made its way out of the system. Behind them, the warship continued its relentless pursuit. Garryn remained in the gunnery turret, firing on any asteroid that came too close, turning it into rubble, leaving Flinn to concentrate on manoeuvring through the debris field.
Despite the circumstances, Garryn admired the skill by which Flinn Ester flew his ship. Garryn considered himself a good pilot, but Flinn made him feel outclassed. Under the captain's expert hands, the ship seemed to weave through the hail of rock and earth effortlessly.
After an eternity, the concentration of asteroids thinned out and Garryn let out a sigh of relief. Even though he could still see the warship dangerously close behind them, they would clear the field and be able to jump to hyperspace without much difficulty.
“We made it. How soon can we make the jump into hyperspace?”
“I'm doing the calculations right now. I'm keeping the ship on full throttle so we'll stay ahead of them long enough to jump.”
Flinn's confidence reassured Garryn they would still be alive tomorrow.
Garryn relaxed a little at hearing the news. He wondered if this was just another day for Flinn, living the life he did. The captain did not sound perturbed at having a large Brysdynian warship in pursuit, because the ship had less reason to be in Cathomiran space than they did. Garryn doubted they would be likely to maintain the chase once the Wayward Son returned to core space.
For the first time, Garryn was able to study the ship closer. He zoomed in on it using the targeting scanners and magnified the image. Nothing about the warship seemed out of the ordinary. It was, in every sense of the word, a standard Brysdynian warship. It was one of the newer Slicer class ships deployed to protect the main space lanes and distant colonies' worlds.
If anything stood out, it was the lack of markings on its hull. Garryn could see no traces of its wing designation or anything indicating to which part of the Imperial Navy it was attached.
“Strap yourself in, Gar,” Flinn's voice commanded.
Garryn was still studying the ship, but he made sure he was firmly buckled into his seat.
The Security Elite have ships, Garryn thought.
They have their own ships and their own commanders. Security Elite officers were trained killers and fanatical to the last. Their devotion to the cause and their master was legendary. More and more, he was convinced that if anyone was responsible for this it was the master of Security Elite.
The last thing he thought before the brilliant burst of stars filled his world was whether or not Edwen would allow him to live with what he had just learned.
XIX
Audience
The Imperator stood before the Enclave.
It had been years since he had made a personal visit to the domain of the Security Elite. Very little about the place had changed since that visit. The building still bore close resemblance to a fortress stabbing at the heart of Paralyte. Its great height and black marble construction cast a shadow over the city more symbolic than any other structure in the city.
Iran felt a cool shiver as he stared at the tall monolith of a building.
He had always disliked the design, but understood the reasoning behind it. The master of Security Elite wanted a monument to intimidate and strike fear into the hearts of the masses. The high stone walls and citadel-like proportions of the building served its purpose. It was the bastion from which Edwen ruled his private army of disciples.
The Enclave was the antithesis to the Domicile. Both buildings sat on either end of Quorum Hill, facing each other like titans on a battlefield, each representing its own set of values and beliefs. The Domicile's construction was almost as ancient as Paralyte itself. It stood as the symbol of endurance for White Star survivors and a monument to all they had built since arriving here.
When Garryn becomes Imperator, Security Elite will cease to exist. I know it and, to be sure, Edwen knows it as well.
Thinking of Garryn reminded Iran why he had come to the Enclave. In truth, being here was awkward. Since the speech revealing his anti-alliance stance at the Quorum, the battle lines between both men had been drawn. Right now, it was surprising for the Imperator to come to the Enclave like a supplicant. Iran knew he would always feel this way with the General.
By the time Iran's father had passed away, Edwen was already the undisputed leader of Security Elite. Still, he'd had none of the power he now possessed. To most, the organisation had been little more than a splinter group of the Central Police. Its resources had been few and it had little of the jurisdictional powers that now inspired so much fear among the masses.
To gain the kind of influence he wanted for his ambitions, Edwen needed powerful friends. At the time, there was none more powerful than the newly ascended Imperator. Iran was eager to prove himself to the pompous Imperial Guard who felt him too young for the position. Their mutual needs were realised during their first meeting and neither had looked back since.
Edwen followed him unconditionally, with no demands or doubts about his decisions. All Edwen required were ships to carry his Security Elite troops and the right to command them. Iran, who wanted to show his gratitude, gave Edwen everything he wanted. Edwen was smart enough to stop short of asking for complete autonomy, because Iran would never grant it.
Nevertheless, Security Elite was given the same unlimited resources as the Imperial Fleet. Before the Scourge, this was quite considerable. Edwen was an institution all by himself and, while he lived, so would Security Elite. In the years passed, Iran had ignored the occasional whisper reaching his ears about how the Elite conducted itself.
Most of these were about how the Elite maintained its power base. It was an institution built on secrets and threats, increasing its influence beyond the wildest imaginings of its commander. Iran turned a blind eye to everything he heard, because in his heart he knew the General was a patriot. Edwen would never consciously harm Brysdyn and he served a purpose. Great empires always needed men like Edwen.
* * *
As expected, his sudden arrival at the Enclave caused a state of mild panic to run through the establishment. His personal guard secured the area long before Iran disembarked the skimmer. Running his gaze across the courtyard, he couldn't see any of them. By now, his personal guards were firmly entrenched in strategic locations across the complex, dissolving into the sea of faces with complete obscurity.
In the meantime, Security Elite officers were running through the main doors, warning the higher echelons of the Imperator's arrival. Others were frozen where they stood, unable to do more than offer the customary salute as he passed by. Iran ignored all these distractions. His only concern was reaching Edwen.
Garryn was gone and Iran wanted to know why.
Since the announcement regarding the destruction of Vyndeka's ship, nothing in the Imperator's world made sense. In the past twenty-three years of Garryn's life, the Imperator had come to know one thing about his son. The lad was never impulsive. Garryn had always been a quiet and deliberate child and grew up into a likewise adult. Now, for some unknown reason, Garryn had abandoned all his responsibilities to disappear without a word.
Until yesterday.
Last evening, Iran received a communication from Garryn transmitted from the civilian spaceport in Paralyte. The message was brief and little more than obligatory. It spoke of Garryn's intention to take some time for himself without the pomp of a royal trip. Garryn sent his regards to Elisha and Kalistar with apologies to Iran for his sudden departure. He would be home soon enough. The message was more enigmatic than it was explanatory.
Iran's attempt to track down his son was met with little success and increased his frustration. He was able to trace Garryn as far as the space station, but no farther. If he'd left Brysdyn, he'd done so without using any conventional means of travel. Further investigation revealed the boy had emptied out his private accounts and was travelling with a great deal of currency.
Summoning Ashner to him, Iran demanded answers. The aide did not stand on ceremony when he stood before the Imperator. He was just as concerned about Garryn. Ashner hid nothing and revealed everything he knew about why Garryn might have left. Though he could not say for certain where Garryn had gone, Ashner was able to venture a guess.
Cathomira.
Iran was astonished by the story Ashner wove for him. It went a long way toward explaining his son's behaviour the past months. He'd wondered about Garryn's sudden patronage of a scientific expedition to Cathomira, but had attributed it to a young man's natural curiosity about his heritage. It never occurred to Iran that Garryn might have ulterior motives.
Why didn't Garryn just come to him? Before Iran finished thinking the thought, he already knew the answer. Investigating his past might be perceived as an insult to his adoptive father, even though Iran would never have begrudged Garryn the need to know. Still, Garryn was a good son who would never intentionally hurt him.
When Iran finally arrived at the General's office, the man's surprise was evident, even if he was warned about Iran's presence at the Enclave. He recognised the other officer in the room as Major Danten, Edwen's second in command.
“Get out,” Iran said without looking at the man.
Danten left without saying a word.
By now, the General had emerged from behind his desk to greet the Imperator. While his expression revealed some concern regarding Iran's hostile manner, Edwen did not appear terribly disturbed. As always, the master of Security Elite was always in control.
“This is an unexpected surprise, Imperator…”
“Spare me.” Iran was in no mood for false civility. “Where is my son?”
“Garryn? don't know what you mean. I assumed he was in the Domicile.”
“He is gone! He disappeared almost a week ago. No one has seen him anywhere in the system. He was traced as far as Home Base, where he must have caught a private freighter off world, since there is no record of him taking a commercial liner. As for Kalistar, Garryn asked her to remain at the Domicile because he was afraid for her safety. He seems to believe she might be in danger.”
“She is my daughter. No one would dare touch her.”
“Garryn believes that there is a conspiracy involving the New Citizens,” the Imperator continued, scrutinizing Edwen's reaction. “I've known you for longer than either of us would like to admit it and I know you well. This has your stink all over it!”
The General did not show any anger at the accusation. As always, he was maddeningly calm. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Iran looked away so he could regain his composure. He had to remain calm if he was to get to the bottom of this. After a moment, he turned back to Edwen.
“Ashner told me about the mentalist, Edwen. He told me my son has been dreaming about a planet bearing no resemblance to Cathomira. Did you know that Garryn is not the only one? Even Kalistar is dreaming about this place. There are New Citizens all across Brysdyn, waking up screaming from nightmares about being torn away from their homes!”
So that is how it began, Edwen thought to himself.
“Nightmares? This is what it is all about? Nightmares? You accuse of a secret conspiracy on the basis of a few bad dreams?”
“After I spoke to Ashner, I checked the records myself. Fortunately, being Imperator, I was able to declassify the records. Do you know what I found? There are no records! All those older children sent off world to the rest of the Empire, where are they? I found no record of their existence, no documentation, no current histories, not even adoption information! Did they ever exist, or was that a part of the lie too?”
For a few seconds, the General said nothing. He took all the news with little reaction.
Yet, behind his eyes, Iran saw the turmoil, turmoil and resignation.
“Well what did you expect?” Edwen dropped all pretext. Iran wanted the truth. “Did you think it would be that easy? I am a patriot, Iran, no matter what you choose to believe. I have always been a patriot.”
“WHAT DID YOU DO?”
“What I had to,” the man replied, unperturbed by Iran's outburst. “The Empire was weeping over their lost children. Did you forget the sons I buried? I wept too, Iran. I wept with the rest of Brysdyn and when the crying was over, I stood up and chose to go on. Look outside and tell me I did no good. The Empire will live because of what I did.”
“Lords,” Iran managed to whisper. His disgust was so overwhelming it felt like bile forcing its way up his throat, ready to choke him. The horror of it was beyond his comprehension, but no more than his own co
mplicity. When Security Elite brought news of the Cathomiran children to Brysdyn, Iran had suspected something and ignored it.
Even with Aisha's recovery from the Scourge after the Cure was administered, his world was shattered. The absence of children made it difficult to care about the future. He'd tried to be supportive and accept the reality of it but, like the rest of his people, Iran had been in a state of shock.
When Edwen brought them the news of Cathomira, a part of him, unclouded by such feelings, questioned the legitimacy of it all. Yet he ignored the nagging doubts and the secret fears, because he wanted a future. He wanted it badly enough to force away his concerns into a place where they would never surface.
Except now they had.
“Where did they come from, Edwen?” Iran found himself asking the question he should have asked years ago. “Where did the children really come from?”
“Is that important? What are you going to do about it? Announce it over the Transband to Brysdyn? Arrest me? Are you willing to tell the people of Brysdyn about their children? Are you willing to tell Garryn the truth about himself, about how he came to be Prime?”
Iran recoiled at the words, but said nothing.
Finding the correct pressure point, Edwen pressed on.
“The only thing that connects him to Brysdyn is you, Imperator. The boy's love for you will force him to endure anything. Tell him the truth and you will lose him as surely as I will lose my daughter. Are you ready to condemn yourself as you will the rest of Brysdyn?”
Despite his outrage, Iran was forced to confront the possibility of losing Garryn, but such a compromise would come at price.
“It may be too late already, Edwen. If he hasn't found the truth already, he soon will. You underestimated how determined my son can be. Where will he go to find it, Edwen? Where will the answer take him?”
Edwen did not reply.
* * *
After the jump into hyperspace, leaving Cathomira forever, Garryn found himself at a loss at what to do.
Children of the White Star Page 16