Despite everything, he'd never imagined it would come to this.
XXI
Discovery
TWENTY-THREE YEARS AGO
Life goes on, Edwen. Keep saying that to yourself until it makes a difference.
The master of Security Elite stared out the window at the city of Paralyte beyond. Paralyte was calm this morning, with little activity visible on the streets. The morning mist snaked through the laneways to and into the main roads, creating a veil of gloom over a city still trapped beneath a cloud of grief.
Opening the window, Edwen allowed a wave of fresh air to sweep into the room. He took a deep breath of it, allowing it to cool his lungs and strengthen his resolve to face the day. The air was the only thing unchanged by the Scourge, bracing and clean. It invigorated his body if not his mind.
The Scourge was only months behind them and it was still difficult to imagine the carnage was over. With bonfires no longer lighting up the night sky and polluting the air with ash and smoke, it was reassuring to open a window and know you wouldn't be breathing in the residue of human incineration. Edwen was just grateful to avoid being sickened by the stench of burning corpses.
The Scourge might be gone, but it was certainly not forgotten. Its scars still covered his city in a blanket of doom. It hovered above them, serving as a constant reminder of the futility of their future.
He sat on his chair again, trying to force away the depression threatening to overtake him if he allowed himself to linger too long on dark thoughts. His two boys were dead and his wife might as well be. She spent her days walking around their house half drunk, because it was the only way she could cope with their loss. He doubted she registered anything he had to say, reacting only when she was reminded of her sons, with a fresh wave of tears and a new bottle of brandy.
Edwen could have handled the loss stoically if he still had his work, but not even the Security Elite was unaffected by the Scourge. Its ranks had been decimated during the epidemic and now there was not much of an organisation left to command. At least he'd been wise enough to send Elite ships into space when the disease flared up. The crews of those ships would at least be safe.
He stared into the Enclave's compound and saw a handful of officers walking across the grass. Inside the building, it was no different. When the Elite troops had been called in to quell the riots and looting, many had contracted the disease, even through their protective clothing. The resulting outbreak among the Elite cut their numbers savagely and left the Enclave resembling a ghost ship.
Life goes on, Edwen.
He chanted the words to himself like a mantra, even though it did little to improve his mood. Nothing could do that. Not for him and not for Brysdyn. The Empire was going to perish in a childless future and so would the Security Elite. Why did he even come here today? Certainly, there were better places for him to drown his sorrows, rather than at the one place symbolising the decay of his life's work. What was the point of being reminded of what he was going to lose?
Because desperation can force a man to find a solution! I do not want to lose it all! I want it back, I want my boys and the Elite back! Someone knocked at that point, snapping him out of him out of this self-destructive train of thought.
”Enter,” he said wearily, surprised by his anger. Control of himself and his emotions was something he sought all his life to maintain. Failure to do so further fuelled his outrage. Was this slipping away too?
The footsteps behind him came to a halt at his desk and Edwen swivelled around in his chair to face his visitor. Lieutenant Danten, his new aide stood before him. The young man had been fortunate enough to be stationed well away from Brysdyn during the Scourge years and never caught the disease. There was no need for him to be vaccinated with the Cure and he was even capable of having children. Edwen didn't even have the strength to be envious.
Since Danten's return to Brysdyn, he'd established himself as one of the rising stars of Security Elite. While this was hardly a distinction these days, when there were so few others to offer proper challenge, the Lieutenant's ability was genuine and his ambition just as voracious. With sadness, Edwen realised this fair-haired youth was the future of his Elite and would only inherit a crumbling institution.
“I am sorry to bother you, Sir. I've received a report that might be of some interest to you.”
“I seriously doubt that,” Edwen remarked sarcastically.
Danten did not react to Edwen's black mood and continued, “One of our ships from the northern perimeter has intercepted a probe of unknown origin.”
Motivated by some premonition of the devastation to come, Edwen had sent numerous Security Elite ships out of the system during the initial outbreak. These dozen or so ships headed for deep space, searching for a cure from the best minds in the galaxy. They travelled the Empire, consulting every notable physician about the disease, with little success. When the search at home was exhausted, they continued on beyond Imperial boundaries. In the end, their lack of success ensured they were safely away from Brysdyn and the Scourge.
“Unknown origin? Tell me more.”
“Very primitive,” Danten was glad to see the General's interest. “They homed in on the signal it was generating. It was using a binary carrier wave signal.”
“Carrier wave? That's beyond primitive.”
“Agreed, but I think you should have a look at this.” Danten inserted a data crystal in Edwen's com system. “This was compiled by the science officer of the Starlight. They brought the probe on board after finding it travelling through space propelled by its forward inertia. When they were working, the engines utilised a nuclear fuel source, a primitive method, but there is some sophistication in the engineering.”
“So it was blind luck that we happened upon it,” Edwen remarked as they waited for the disk to reveal its contents. After a moment, the console screen flared with life and Edwen saw the face of an officer belonging to the ship in question. The Science Officer of the Starlight appeared to be offering a narrative to the visual record.
“Greetings, General Edwen, I have prepared this report regarding the probe we have come to call Voyager.”
The focus shifted from the science officer to the probe itself. As Danten had remarked earlier, it was primitive. However, there was also a certain amount of skill applied to its construction. Judging by the engineering refinement of its parts, Edwen did not doubt that this was built with the highest level of technology available to its creators.
It resembled an uneven box with tripod legs. A large dish was attached to the top of it, with a long panelled boom extending outwards. Most likely, this was its main transmitting device. The once shiny surface of the probe was greatly tarnished after so many years in space, but Edwen could make out the markings etched against its metal body.
The science officer continued his report.
“We know the probe was called Voyager. Our translators were able to decipher the message left by its recording device. Voyager is an exploration probe, programmed specifically to seek out extraterrestrial life, although we suspect the race from which it originates is incapable of interstellar travel. I believe the purpose of this probe is to seek out life and offer an invitation to visit its home planet.”
Foolish, Edwen thought. Didn't these people know the galaxy was a dangerous place? Sending out an invitation like this was akin to courting disaster.
“Thanks to the detailed information they provided of their position, including star charts, we were able to extrapolate their coordinates. The location of this world sits beyond the galactic perimeter, almost on the edge of the spiral arm. It is a system we previously classified as LC21JUN. It contains one yellow star and nine orbiting planets. Voyager originates from the third planet.”
“This is all very interesting, Danten. We intercept numerous probes like this all the time. Galactic law is clear on this. If they are not capable of spaceflight, we do not initiate contact. Why am I watching this?” He glared at the Lieutena
nt with a hard stare.
Almost on cue, the science officer on the screen responded to Edwen's query. “Under Section 49.5 of the Imperial Mandate dealing with alien life forms, we must ignore this probe and return it to space. We are dealing with an obviously undeveloped culture, clearly incapable of intergalactic spaceflight and therefore restricted, but certain elements have been brought to light that might be an exception to the rule.”
The image of the Voyager probe was magnified, enhancing the inscriptions on the hull until pristine clarity was achieved. A metal plaque was welded to the hull, scorched by the years of cosmic travel. Fortunately, most of the etched information still remained.
The intelligence responsible for the construction of this probe sought life beyond their planet, but they also had another purpose. Voyager was a monument to who they were, a symbol of their existence in the universe. It was a declaration of their first infant steps out of isolation. As Edwen stared at the plaque, at the infant's image of itself, he knew more about them than they themselves ever did.
The infant was human.
Edwen was on a transport within the hour.
* * *
It took him approximately two weeks to reach the Starlight.
Officially, he accounted for his absence by informing the Imperator he needed some leave to recover from his personal tragedies. In the light of his losses, Iran didn't question it. His wife, Perdu, showed little interest in where he was going and Edwen did not feel obliged to tell her even if she asked.
A strict veil of secrecy was attached to the General's departure. All personnel with any knowledge of the probe were immediately debriefed and bound to the same secrecy. Danten had no idea what the general intended when he relayed the directive, but he believed sincerely in the man's genius. By the time they left Brysdyn, all existence of the crystal was erased and the voices who knew of it silenced.
“Greetings, General Edwen,” Science Officer Aaran found himself facing the General in their first meeting shortly after Edwen and Danten boarded the Starlight.
Edwen demanded to see the probe as soon as he boarded the ship. Commander Delea, unsure of its importance, led them immediately to the cargo bay. Science Officer Aaran was hunched over the alien probe, working diligently on what he considered his greatest discovery.
“Greetings Lieutenant,” Edwen greeted the younger man as he entered the bay, empty except for the probe and the technicians performing a regimen of tests under Aaran's direction. Walking past Aaran, the General studied the probe for the first time while the others waited patiently for him to satisfy his curiosity. The impact of what brought him to the edge of the Empire did not lessen now he was staring at the probe face to face. If anything, it only strengthened his resolve.
“How many have seen this probe?” Edwen inquired, not looking up.
“Just the technicians in the room and the bridge crew who brought it on board,” Commander Delea replied crisply.
“Excellent. This cargo bay will be restricted for the duration of my stay here. When I leave, it will come with me.”
Aaran opened his mouth to protest at the thought of his prize being whisked away to fuel another man's glory, but Danten silence him with a look.
“What are you orders, General?” Delea inquired, recognising the opportunity for advancement and not about to waste it. After being in the wilderness of space for almost five years, the possibility of returning to Brysdyn, even after the Scourge, was not something he was going to squander. “My ship and I are at your disposal.”
“You will lay in a course for LC19UN immediately. Maximum speed.”
“Yes Sir, immediately.”
“You're dismissed.” The general did not want to waste any more time, especially when the success of this depended on the timing. If there was one thing Edwen had learned after being in charge of Security Elite for two decades, it was that secrets were harder to keep the more time that passed.
Delea spun on his heels and marched out of the room, leaving Aaran to the ministrations of the General and his aide. Once they were alone, Edwen studied the young officer, making a few deductions about the man quickly. Aaran was a scientist first, a Security Elite officer second. His treatment of the probe was almost paternal, giving Edwen serious reservations about the man's part in what was to come. Still, he needed Aaran right now and sensed honesty would probably be the best tact to take with the science officer.
“Danten, I need a moment alone with the Lieutenant.”
Danten was surprised by the dismissal, but obeyed without question, “Of course, General.”
Danten left the room, ushering all the other technicians out at the same time. Only, Aaran remained rooted to the spot, unable to keep the fear from showing in his face. Like everyone else in the Elite, Aaran viewed the General with a mixture of awe and terror. One could not be in Security Elite and be oblivious to the legend behind General Edwen.
“Don't look so frightened. I don't mean to gobble you up,” Edwen spoke once they were alone.
Despite those words, Aaran remained nervous. “I know that, Sir.”
“Do you believe in fate, Aaran?”
The question threw the Lieutenant off balance. “I don't know sir. Sometimes, I guess.”
“I believe in fate.” Edwen threw a glimpse at the probe. “Fate has led me to where I am. I trust in it, believe in it, and I worship the morsels it throws me.”
Aaran did not respond, wondering where the General was going with this. He was perceptive enough to remain silent and allow the man to continue.
“How long have you been Science Officer on this ship?”
“I was an Ensign when I signed on, Sir. I became Science Officer in the last two years,” Aaran said promptly, grateful for a question he could answer.
“So, you have not been home since the outbreak of the Scourge?”
“No Sir.”
“Brysdyn is not what it was. Her heart is torn and her back is broken. It wasn't that long ago I looked out the window and saw the night alive with bonfires across Paralyte. Do you know it was like that for almost four years? It was as if the sun never set on the city. Daylight went on forever. May you never know a time where a simple bonfire frightens you more than any enemy of Brysdyn.”
Edwen looked up at Aaran again and the Lieutenant saw the mark of untold grief in the man's eyes for a brief instant. “It must have been terrible, Sir.”
“It was terrible. I think it was more frightening knowing that these fires weren't just in Paralyte. They were in Tesalone, Rainab and every city in the Empire. I lost two sons to those fires, Aaran, but my grief is not unique. My loss is shared by everyone in the Empire and it is worse now because of the damned Cure. We face extinction, Aaran. As a scientist, you must know the current gene pool cannot support replenishing our society to what it was.”
Aaran nodded. He did know that. Out here, so far away from the Empire and Brysdyn, it was easy to forget what they were enduring on the home world. He knew of the Cure and the side effect following its implementation. Like those in deep space, he was spared the mutilation and still capable of having children someday. Aaran felt ashamed to be so fortunate.
“I am sorry, Sir, about your sons,” he answered, unable to think of anything else to say. He was more than a little confused by the tête-à-tête with the General, but said nothing to that effect. Instead, he listened patiently, certain the General would speak his mind when the time came.
“Thank you, Aaran. Now, you must tell me what you have done since your report to me.”
Thankful that they were at last returning to a subject he was qualified to respond to, Aaran was quick to impart everything he knew. “Well Sir, after we received your instructions, we deployed one of our G8 probes to LC19UN. It remained in orbit around the planet for approximately two of its rotations before returning to us.”
“Was it detected?”
“We don't believe so. Their communications and sensor technology is limited. Our surveillance
probes are capable of emitting a cloaking field to prevent detection.”
“And the inhabitants?”
“The inhabitants, as we believed, are definitely human, Sir,” Aaran said proudly. “There can be no doubt about that. Differing environmental factors have split the species into five genetic groups, the differences of which are slight. Mostly related to eye, skin and hair colour. Their genetic material is almost identical to ours. Incidentally, they call the planet Earth.”
“Earth.” Simple and not at all ostentatious. Edwen liked it. “Do we have any idea as to how humans could be located so far out of the galactic centre?”
“I have a theory, but it's very circumstantial.”
“Go ahead,” Edwen urged. For some reason, he rather liked this studious young man. It was unfortunate he would not fit into Edwen's plans. He was far too compassionate. These young had that luxury. There was also an idealism about Aaran that Edwen found refreshing. He wondered why Aaran chose to serve Security Elite when it was obvious he was more suited to normal civilian research.
“You realise I'm just theorising,” Aaran added nervously. Obviously, his conclusions were dramatic to warrant this much hesitation.
“Go ahead,” Edwen prompted him good-naturedly.
Aaran took a deep breath and began. “The probe captured a great deal of information about the inhabitants. The Earthers are capable of remarkably sophisticated computer networking across the globe, so we were able to access quite a bit of information. They also have similar transmission bands linked through satellite relays, which provide visual information. The planet is not unified and still operates under the tribe mentality. These tribes are completely separate in language and culture, so there are more than a hundred different spoken languages. One of the ancient languages of these 'countries' as they are called, bears striking resemblance to one of our White Star houses.”
Edwen stared at Aaran in astonishment. “Are you saying this Earth's inhabitants could be descendants of the White Star?”
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