Children of the White Star

by Linda Thackeray

  The question took Jemyn off guard. The air of superiority worn by the man shook him slightly. “You are terrorist scum!”

  “Let me take off my helmet and I'll give you proof that your General has led all of you to commit high treason.”

  There was an audible rumble of shock running through the bridge and Edwen started to feel the situation tumble rapidly out of control. “Do nothing that he says! He is a terrorist attempting to cloud your minds!”

  Jemyn did not know what to do. He was conditioned to obey the General no matter what. He'd lived a lifetime in service to the Security Elite and the Brysdynian Empire. In all that time, Edwen had never ceased to remind all of them that loyalty to the Security Elite first began with loyalty to him. If he disobeyed Edwen now and he was wrong, the General would utterly destroy him.

  “Jemyn,” Major Danten spoke for the first time. “Allow the prisoner to remove his helmet.”

  Edwen spun around and glared at Danten, in disbelief and fury.“What are you doing?”

  Danten did not react to the insult, but regarded the General with resignation.

  “Edwen, it is time to stop this. We have gone as far as we can go with this subterfuge. If we are going to be judged for what we have done, then let it be because it was for the good of the Empire, not because we committed treason.”

  It was the first time Danten had ever called the general by name.

  “Do nothing that he says!” Edwen warned Jemyn again, refusing to yield.

  Across the bridge, Danten could see the other officers starting to become nervous at the possibility they were being led to commit a crime against the Empire. The outcome of this entire affair now rested with the commander of the Dragon's Eye.

  Jemyn looked at Danten and then at Edwen. The Major had been Edwen's aide for longer than Jemyn could remember. The evidence was certainly there to indicate Danten might be the one to follow. Edwen's reluctance to allow the prisoner to show his face and the sudden arrival of the White Star was suspicious, to say the least.

  “Take your helmet off,” Jemyn ordered Garryn.

  Garryn let out a sigh of relief and pulled off his helmet.

  His hair stuck to his head in an unruly fashion and salty trickles of sweat ran down his brow. Garryn ran his fingers through his hair, hoping that would make him somewhat recognisable. As he met Jemyn's gaze, he realised there was no need.

  The commander's face was ashen.

  “What have you done?” Jemyn turned sharply to Edwen and grabbed him by the arm. “What stink have you brought upon my ship?”

  “You will not speak to me that way!” Edwen yanked his arm free and returned with just as much venom. “Your oath lies first to the Security Elite, the Imperator second.”

  “What is it, Sir?” Jemyn's first officer asked with rising fear. Indeed, the entire bridge was quickly disintegrating into a mass of extreme emotions. Some still clung to the hope that their commander could provide an explanation.

  “Commander Jemyn,” Garryn spoke, ignoring the outburst. “I can prove my identity if you like. Allow me to access the command console and your crew will understand.”

  Garryn couldn't assume he was recognisable to the rest of the ship the way he was to Jemyn, especially in the uniform of a Security Elite guard. The commander only recognised him because he was likely present at the Ascension ceremony in Paralyte.

  “Let him,” Jemyn told his first officer.

  Garryn stepped forward, entering the code though the keypad. First Officer Sala, who stood over his shoulder, looked up a second later and exclaimed with a gasp, “He's the Prime!”

  “Whether he is Prime or not is hardly significant,” Edwen quickly spoke up. “Your oath is to the protection of Brysdyn, not its leaders. The Security Elite is above the petty distinctions of rank. This man is attempting to harm the fabric of our society with his lies. Would you allow Brysdyn to be destroyed because of rank?”

  “I am your Prime and on the White Star your Imperator awaits,” Garryn interrupted him before he could go any further. “Your people are understandably confused, but it is your lead they will follow. Only you can decide how this will end.”

  At that, Garryn looked at Edwen again. Tossing the helmet aside, he walked to the General, still clutching his bleeding arm. The pain was growing and soon he would succumb to it, but not at this moment. Edwen's time had come.

  “It's over, General.”

  “You would destroy Brysdyn with what you intend to do, Garryn! You would tear her heart out!”

  Garryn ignored him.

  “Contact the White Star, Jemyn. Tell them that under the authorisation of Garryn, Prime of Brysdyn, I hereby charge General Edwen of the Security Elite with treason and the attempted assassination of a member of the Royal House.”

  “Yes Sir,” Jemyn answered, still shaken by what was going on. “Why did you do this, General?”

  Edwen did not reply and Garryn saw the frightened and confused faces on the bridge waiting for an answer. The truth changed everything he believed about himself. He'd seen many good friends die. What he now knew would never again allow him peace.

  Edwen was a genocidal maniac, but he gave Brysdyn a chance of life after the Scourge. The Earth was destroyed and nothing could change that outcome, but Brysdyn still lived. The New Citizens were proud to be Brysdynian. Technology could allow the dreams to be suppressed and forgotten. The Dreamers could be happy again. Brysdyn did not deserve to know something so terrible about its children.

  “The General was afraid that I would dismantle Security Elite,” Garryn spoke up. “I was aware of an assassination attempt and I laid a trap, not knowing who I would expose. I made it no secret I would be travelling to the third planet. Until I was taken on board this ship, I had no idea it was Edwen was responsible for these attempts.”

  Edwen stared at Garryn in shock for a moment, but recovered quickly.

  “Yes,” he said, his voice sounding dazed. “I could not allow you to destroy my life's work. Major Danten and I orchestrated this entire scheme to assassinate the Prime and make it look like he disappeared during his travels. I should not have involved you in this, Major.” His eyes touched Danten, pleading for corroboration.

  Danten held his gaze and answered, “I have always stood by your side, Sir, and that will never change.”

  For Brysdyn, he would stand by Edwen one last time.

  XXXII

  Judgement

  He took the floor of the Quorum Hall for the first time as speaker.

  Before this, the Prime was only an observer. For months, he sat on the polished wooden seats, hearing the oratories recited and watching the august body of men and women conduct matters of policy. In their presence, he always felt young and inexperienced. Indeed, he was raw in comparison to what they knew about holding an empire together. Garryn hoped he had learned enough from them to make his debut.

  Today, the Quorum was closed to the public. A wall of silence trapped them inside the ancient structure, while troops guarded the doors and the security teams monitored airwaves to ensure secrecy. Such extraordinary measures were never required for a meeting of the Quorum, not since the days of war, but those who were expected to appear understood the situation.

  The public were kept in the dark, fed only what was necessary. The secrecy was explained away as matters of galactic security not for public consumption. What news they did receive left them astonished. The master of Security Elite had attempted to assassinate the Prime and failed. He would stand trial for his crimes on the floor of the Quorum, where his fate would be decided by the members of that body.

  Garryn swept his gaze across the room, seeing familiar faces: his father, Ashner, Flinn and Hannah, to name a few. Ellisha was sent to Jyne for a diplomatic mission, keeping her well away from here. Garryn had no wish for his sister to know the truth any more than the rest of the Dreamers.

  He avoided looking at Kalistar, though he knew her eyes were boring into him. She was seated next to her
father and, though she was not implicated in his crimes, Kalistar chose valiantly to remain at his side. He was her father and she would not abandon him. Despite their friendship, Garryn had not spoken to her since his return home. He knew he would have to face her sooner or later, but right now this needed to be done.

  “The Prime has the floor,” Garryn heard the voice of the First Speaker bidding him to come forward.

  Garryn stepped forward and began speaking.

  “My friends, we are gathered here today to address the crimes of General Edwen, Supreme Commander of the Security Elite.”

  Edwen stared back at him with little emotion. Kalistar's face was another matter entirely. Garryn could not look at her for long.

  “You may wonder why I requested an information blackout from the public. When I returned from Theran, I had no intention of revealing what I discovered there. There are some truths that should remain buried forever, but not to the point of ignorance. You need to know what happened there, so it never happens again.”

  The hall was silent. No one seemed to react and all were captured by his voice resonating throughout the room. “It began shortly after I commenced my military tour on Erebo Station in the Theran star system. Almost from the beginning, my sleep was filled with violent dreams of death and a world with a blue sky. I persevered with this condition for a long time, afraid to admit that there might be something wrong with me.

  This situation continued throughout the war and after I returned home it was even worse. There was not a night I could sleep without seeing these terrible images. At this point, I confided in my sister Ellisha, who persuaded me to seek assistance. I followed her advice and sought out a mentalist from the Rura District."

  Some of the faces flickered in recognition as he related the story of Jonen's treatment and the discovery that he was one of the many afflicted with the condition called the Dreaming. His narrative was short and concise. He told them about Mira and her death, and the attempt on Jonen's life when the mentalist inquired after the older New Citizens existing off world.

  As he progressed deeper into his narrative, he saw little reaction from Edwen and a great deal from the Quorum. Their faces filled with horror and accusation as their eyes darted back from Garryn to Edwen. Edwen's composure was glacial under their scrutiny and seemed only to heighten their belief in his guilt.

  “There are elements of this story that can never be fully corroborated until we set down on Earth and see the scorch marks on her cities. Their dead lie where they fell, gassed by Prothos B32. I have the daughter of the science officer on board the Starlight who initially discovered the planet.” He gestured toward Hannah and allowed the Quorum to take a good look at her before he continued.

  “You have a tragic story of not just one world, but two. I am a Brysdynian, but I am also an Earther. I was raised to believe I came from a dead world called Cathomira. Cathomira no longer exists, so no one will ever know the truth about it. The other Dreamers can be cured. Undoubtedly, they will always have questions, but bad dreams are within our technology to eliminate. I propose we leave things as they are. The New Citizens believe they are from Cathomira. I see no reason for that to change.”

  Even as he concluded that part of his speech, he could see it in their faces that they agreed. When he stepped off the podium and joined his father, he finally met Kalistar's gaze. Her sorrow was indescribable. He wished he could have spared her this, but being Edwen's daughter made it impossible. He saw her tears and understood in one leap of insight the tears were not for her father but for the two of them. Whatever friendship or possible romance they'd had was over.

  The Custodian of the Chamber scanned the agenda pad on the podium before addressing the audience. “Before the Quorum Council makes its final deliberations, we will hear from General Edwen.”

  Edwen rose to his feet, showing the pride and superiority he'd always worn like a cloak during his days as supreme commander of the Elite. Every step was taken with dignity and composure, even though the General now stood under the light of total exposure. His gaze swept across the room and the faces looking back at him showed little mercy, although there was some understanding.

  “My Prime has spoken most eloquently. I commend his decision to keep the populace from this hearing.” For the first time in his life, Edwen decided to speak from the heart, because he knew his words here would mark how he would be remembered throughout history. If he was to be damned, then he would be damned for what he was.

  “I created the Security Elite to protect Brysdyn under any circumstance. True, I am an isolationist, but I will not use this as a platform for my ideas. I am here to face my accusers and to be held accountable for my acts. Before I give you my plea, I will ask that you hear my words for one final time. I lost two grown sons to the Scourge and I know many of you share the same grief. I always thought I could protect Brysdyn from anything. When the Scourge came, I found that I could not save Brysdyn any more than I could save my sons. I watched my children grow sick and die. I still remember the bonfires.”

  Edwen blinked, allowing, for the first time, real emotion to seep into his eyes. In the darkness of his memories, he saw that blaze in the distance when the bodies of his sons were taken away. He remembered the stench coming from the fire and smoke and how he knew the ashes he was breathing were his children.

  “I saw my wife descend into despair she never recovered from. I saw my friend, the Imperator, slip into the same anguish as his world crumbled around him. I saw chaos and destruction wrought by the Scourge because I failed to anticipate something as simple as a micro-organism. We were on the verge of extinction. We, who left the white star and journeyed across ten millennia of space to create this civilisation, were going die because we could not have children. I refused to accept that.”

  He looked up at them and saw Iran's sympathy. There was no condemnation there, just sorrow.

  “When I learnt about Earth, I immediately latched on to the possibility of a new lease on life for the Empire. Perhaps, in my madness, I simply overlooked the utter monstrosity of it. I have told the Prime and even Officer Aaran it was a matter of the strong devouring the weak. I believed that no more than you do, Garryn.”

  “I buried my feelings and my shame under the notion that what I did was right. I do not lie to you when I say that I see those deaths as potently as Garryn does now. He is fortunate, because he knows he was a victim. I cannot boast the same. I am the murderer and the genocidal madman who destroyed a planet. I require no leniency and I admit my guilt. I do so because I will not make this any harder for Brysdyn than it already is.

  I brought the children who have become our sons and daughters. They became the future of our Empire. They are called the New Citizens, but they are more than that, and every man and woman in this room knows it. I do not want them to suffer for my crimes any more than they already have. I stand before you ready to accept your punishment. I only have one plea to make and that is that you honour the request of the Prime."

  With that, he was done and he relinquished the podium to return to his daughter.

  Kalistar took his hand as he sat next to her and Edwen smiled at her before whispering softly.

  “You may never forgive me, but this is a price worth paying just to have you as my daughter.”

  “I know, father.” She smiled despite the tears. “I know.”

  * * *

  The Quorum deliberations lasted for no more than an hour.

  When everyone was seated, the First Speaker delivered the Quorum's decision to the Imperator. Iran took the podium and looked at his old friend, unable to believe time had brought them to this place. Iran felt just as culpable and knew he would have to pay the price for allowing Edwen to do what he had. A part of him would always wonder if he was really duped by Edwen's tale of Cathomira, or was he deliberately oblivious because he was just as desperate to save the Empire?

  “I have something to say before I reveal the Quorum's decision,” Iran stared Edwen
in the eye. General, we are not barbarians and we have a code of honour even in the most desperate situations. To save our Empire, your crime will remain a secret, but we here will always remember the horror of it. You didn't simply commit genocide on some random alien species. You destroyed a child of the White Star. The people of Earth were our brothers and sisters! They came to that planet on a Worldship!”

  Iran paused, reining his emotions.

  “We could have helped each other, Edwen. We could have asked them for help. They were young and we could have shown them where they came from. Now it's too late. To the survivors, we'll forever be the people who destroyed their civilisation.”

  Edwen broke Iran's gaze, remembering the same argument from a young Science Officer, twenty-three years ago. The Imperator was correct. It was too late.

  “It is the decision of the Quorum,” Iran said, after drawing a deep breath, “that you will be sentenced to permanent exile on the planet Earth.”

  “What sort of sentence is this?” Edwen exclaimed, taken aback at the decision. He had expected death. This was worse.

  “The same sentence you passed on Officer Aaran, I believe. You will remain silent, General. I am not finished.”

  Edwen fell silent, but Garryn could see the distress on his face. The Quorum was wiser than he gave them credit. He never expected them to produce such an appropriate sentence for Edwen's crimes. It was more than the man deserved.

  “The Quorum also agrees our children be spared the knowledge of what we now know. They need not be burdened with such terrible knowledge of their past. As you asked, General, we will think of them, if nothing else.”

  * * *

  That night, after the sentence was given and the hearing concluded, Edwen was escorted home to gather whatever personal effects he might require for his exile. From there he would be taken to the Orbital Station and placed on a prison ship delivering him to Earth. Kalistar, refusing to abandon her father, was prepared to go with him into exile, despite Edwen's efforts to dissuade her.