A Show of Force

by Ryk Brown

  “Why a realtor?” Naralena wondered, also switching to English.

  “Gives him an excuse to travel and poke around,” Jessica surmised. “Not a bad cover.”

  “It has worked out quite nicely,” he admitted. “Not only was I able to explore this world, but I was also able create a comfortable lifestyle for myself and my family.”

  “Your family?” Jessica asked.

  “Yes, I know that the idea was frowned upon by spec-ops procedures, but as I got older, I began to feel out-of-place in Koharan society.”

  “The real deal, or just a cover?” Jessica wondered.

  “The real deal,” he assured her. “Makes it easier. To be honest, I had all but given up on the EDF ever sending any other operatives my way, not after the first batch got made.”

  “What do you mean, got made?” Jessica asked. “They got caught?”

  “I don’t actually know,” he admitted. “There were eight of them altogether. I was sent here twenty years ahead of time, to act as their handler. It was my job to gather intelligence, learn how to blend into Koharan society, and then help them get settled when they arrived. All of which I did, exactly according to plan.”

  “What happened to them?” Jessica wondered.

  “As I said, I do not know. I know two of them died in accidents. The other six simply stopped making contact. You are the first contact I’ve had with anyone from the EDF in over twenty years.”

  “How do you know we’re not Jung spies?” Jessica asked.

  “At this point, it seemed highly unlikely. I mean, after all this time, what would the point be? I have no information to offer them, and if indeed they had spies on Earth as long as I’ve been here, then they already know more about Earth than I could ever tell them.”

  “Good point.”

  “So, tell me, how are things on Earth?”

  Naralena looked at Jessica out of the corner of her eye.

  “Shouldn’t you at least ask our names first?” Jessica wondered.

  “Yes, of course. My apologies.”

  “My name is Jennifer,” Jessica began, “and this is Nora.”

  “A pleasure to meet you both.” Ellyus looked oddly at them. “I am surprised to see two operatives traveling together, however. That was not SOP in my day.”

  “Perhaps they changed procedures because so many operatives disappeared?” Naralena suggested.

  “A possibility, yes,” Ellyus agreed. “So, what is going on back on Earth? I have heard rumors that the Jung have already invaded.”

  Jessica noticed a sincere look of concern on the old man’s face. “Yes, they have,” she told him. “But we managed to regain control, and now we are in the process of removing their forces from every system within twenty light years of Sol.”

  Ellyus’s mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding me! How is that even possible? Surely they didn’t use… I mean, they must have built bigger ships… ships with FTL…”

  “Whoa,” Jessica said, interrupting the old man. “A lot has happened on Earth since you’ve been gone.”

  “I’m sorry, it’s just that ever since the rumors started floating around, my mind has been running wild with speculation.”

  “Yes, we did build bigger ships… much faster and much more powerful.”

  “Powerful enough to take on the Jung directly?”

  “So far, yes,” Jessica told him.

  “How many ships did they build?”

  “I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to discuss such things,” Jessica told him, “and, I don’t really know, to be honest. You see, things have changed in spec-ops as well. We are no longer part of the academy. At least not the covert section of spec-ops. So, we don’t really have much more knowledge about the state of things than the average person on Earth. That way, if we get captured, we have nothing to betray.”

  “But surely, you must have some details,” Ellyus insisted.

  “To be honest, I don’t even know if what I think I know is true. The only thing I am sure of is that I have been tasked with securing as much information about the Jung forces in the Tau Ceti system as possible. I was instructed to attempt to make contact with any EDF operatives on Kohara, in the hopes that they have information that I can use.”

  “To what end?” Ellyus wondered. “Are they planning to invade the Tau Ceti system?”

  “Again, I don’t know,” Jessica reminded him. “Seems like a pretty good bet, though, don’t you think?”

  “Amazing,” Ellyus exclaimed.

  “Do you have any intelligence that might be useful?” Jessica wondered.

  “Yes, of course. I’ve been gathering it for decades. Not as actively as before, mind you. Like I said, I had all but given up on the EDF.”

  “Let’s have it, then,” Jessica said.

  “It’s not here,” he replied. “I store it on encrypted data chips in a safe deposit box, in a bank in a neighboring city. It will take me several days to retrieve them.”

  “Very well,” Jessica said, “but the sooner the better. We were given a thirty-day deadline, of which only twenty-four days remain.”

  “Understood. I will send one of my sons to retrieve the chips.”

  “Are you sure that’s wise?” Jessica asked.

  “They are contained in deed packets, so as not to draw undue suspicion. It is a common practice to store deeds in such a fashion. It would not be the first time I have asked him to run such an errand for me.”

  “Very well. I guess we’ll head back to the hotel then, and wait for word from you,” Jessica said.

  “Nonsense, you will stay here,” Ellyus insisted. “We have a suite upstairs for our higher-end clients to use when they are in town to conduct business. It is quite luxurious, and quite private. You will be far safer, and far more comfortable there.”

  “Will we be free to come and go as we please?” Jessica inquired, not about to put herself and Naralena at the sole mercy of a man they had just met.

  “Of course. There is a private entrance. You may come and go as you please. I can even have a driver available for you, should you choose to do some sight-seeing… if you know what I mean.”

  Jessica looked at Naralena. As little as she trusted Ellyus Barton, she trusted that seedy hotel even less.

  * * *

  “You do not care for your dessert, Nalaya?” Casimir asked.

  “It is too sweet,” his youngest daughter replied.

  Deliza looked at the young pastry chef standing in the corner of the dining room, noticing the crestfallen look on his face. “I thought it was quite wonderful,” she chimed in.

  “Papa, must I eat it?” Nalaya asked.

  “No, my dear, not if you do not wish to,” Casimir assured her. “Your vegetables, yes. Dessert, however, is optional.” He touched her head gently. “Perhaps you should go and get ready for bed, little one. I shall be there shortly to tuck you in.”

  Nalaya climbed out of her chair and headed off through the exit, one of House Ta’Akar’s security guards in tow.

  Casimir looked at Deliza, whose eyes darted toward the pastry chef sulking in the corner. “Do not let the little one’s critique offend you,” he said to the pastry chef. “I found it quite satisfying as well.”

  “On Haven, desserts were rare, as sweeteners were hard to come by,” Deliza explained. “Our mother would make such pastries on occasion, but they had only the faintest bit of sweetness to them, usually through the use of the few sweet fruits available at the local markets.”

  “It is quite all right, my lady,” the pastry chef insisted. “I understand.”

  “Perhaps, with Nalaya’s help, you might concoct a reasonable facsimile of the deserts her mother made for her?” Casimir suggested. “I know Nalaya would love to help. She always enjoyed helping her mother.”

  “It would be an honor, sire,” the pastry chef replied.

  “Do not expect too much help, however,” Casimir warned. “If memory serves, Nalaya’s expertise was more in the tasting d
epartment.”

  The pastry chef smiled. “The princess would be most welcome, sire.”

  “Father,” Deliza began, “about the extra security. Am I to be followed everywhere I go?”

  “I’m afraid so,” Casimir replied. “At least for the time being.”

  “It can be most bothersome,” Deliza complained.

  Casimir noticed his oldest daughter’s eye as they made the briefest of contact with Mister Hiller’s eye across the table from her. “Do not worry, Deliza. Once the nobles agree to support the Alliance, the tensions between our houses will return to normal levels, as will the security measures.”

  Deliza did not respond, only making eye contact with Yanni again.

  “Mister Hiller,” Casimir said, getting the young man’s attention as well as giving him a bit of a start. “I understand the copy process has been completed?”

  “Uh, yes, sir, it has. Just today, in fact,” Yanni answered. “Well, actually it was completed a few days ago, but the verification process was completed just this morning. The Takaran translations should be done in a few days.”

  “That is wonderful news,” Casimir said. “I suppose you are looking forward to returning to Earth.”

  “Uh, I suppose so, yes,” Yanni replied, stumbling on his words a bit.

  Casimir noticed the expression on his daughter’s face. “Not that you are not welcome to stay as long as you like, Mister Hiller. However, the original cores will be sent back to Earth relatively soon. I just assumed that you would be returning with them, seeing as how you were tasked with their safekeeping.”

  “Yes, that would be correct, sir.” Yanni glanced at Deliza, expecting her to say something, but she did not.

  “I’m sure that Deliza will miss the stimulating conversations the two of you have shared on so many occasions,” Casimir added, a knowing smile on his face.

  Deliza gave her father a look, as if to tell him not to speak any longer. “Yes, I have enjoyed our scientific musings a great deal,” she said. “They will indeed be missed.”

  Casimir had to fight to keep himself from laughing out loud. “Well,” he said, taking a deep breath and standing. “If you will excuse me, I must tuck Nalaya in for the night. A good evening to you, Mister Hiller. Deliza.”

  “Father,” Deliza replied tersely.

  The room was silent until Casimir departed and the door had closed behind him.

  “Why did you not tell him?” Yanni asked in a whisper.

  “That I’m in love with you? I’m not yet of age,” Deliza reminded him.

  “Actually, I was talking about you going back to Earth with me, as a scientific consultant, but…”

  “He would have seen right through that, Yanni.”

  “So what?”

  “If he knew that we were—you know—he would kill you!”

  “He’s not going to kill me, Deliza. He’s not that kind of man.”

  “That’s what I thought before I found out he was the leader of the Karuzari.”

  “Deliza, he’s your father. Besides, you’re a grown woman. On my world, you’d be old enough to marry…”

  “This isn’t your world, Yanni. It isn’t even mine, not really.”

  “It’s alright, Deliza,” Yanni said, rising from his seat and moving around the table to sit next to her. “There is still plenty of time. The translations will take a few more days. Besides, it’s not like they have a jump shuttle on standby waiting to whisk us away. Transportation will have to be arranged…”

  “I just don’t want to lose you, Yanni.”

  “You’re not going to lose me, Deliza. I promise. I can stay here if I have to. They don’t need me to go back to Earth with the cores. Perhaps we can convince them to send the copies back, and keep the original cores here, on Takara. Then I can remain here as their caretaker.”

  Deliza looked at Yanni. “You’d do that? You’d stay here, with me?”

  Yanni moved in closer to Deliza, putting his arm around her. “Of course I would. You know that.”

  * * *

  Jessica reached the bottom of the stairs that led from the guest suite down to Ellyus Barton’s real estate office. He had told her that he usually worked for an hour or two after the office had closed and everyone had gone home for the day, so she figured it might be a good time to talk more with him. Although she still did not trust him, she thought she might try to glean some more information about the Jung in the Tau Ceti system, as well as the state of mind of the citizens. Were they happy? Did they hate the Jung? Did they love them? More importantly, would they fight alongside them if the Jung were attacked?

  She opened the door slowly and stepped into the dark offices. The corridor lights were off, and the only light came from Ellyus’s office at the far end of the corridor. She glanced toward the lobby and saw that it was dark as well.

  Jessica went down the corridor to Ellyus’s office. As she approached, she could see him sitting at his desk, turned to his left, facing the side wall. She approached, taking care to make enough noise that she did not appear to be sneaking up on him.

  She got to the doorway to his office, and tapped lightly on the door frame. “Mister Barton?” she called, but got no response. His attention seemed to be focused on his computer screen. “Ellyus?” Still no response. He also didn’t appear to be moving. “Ellyus?” she said, this time a bit louder. Still, there was no response. She looked behind her, back down the corridor, then entered the office and closed the door rather hard, again hoping to get his attention. She moved across the office to her right, in front of Ellyus’s desk. As she reached the point where she could see him in full profile, she realized he was not staring at his computer screen. He was staring straight ahead, at the wall.

  “Ellyus?”

  He was breathing, and his skin color appeared normal, yet he sat there, unmoving, as if in a catatonic state, unblinking, staring at a blank wall. She reached out and waved her hand in front of his face.

  Ellyus blinked, then turned his eyes toward Jessica, becoming startled by her sudden presence. “Oh, Jesus,” he exclaimed. “When did you come in?”

  “You didn’t hear me calling you?” Jessica asked.

  “It must have happened again,” Ellyus mumbled, rubbing his face with his hands.

  “What happened again?”

  “I don’t know what it is,” he explained. “My kids used to call it ‘the stares’. My wife called it ‘switching off’.”

  “So, this has happened to you before?”

  “Yes.” Ellyus stood up and moved to the small refrigerator in the corner of his office and pulled out a bottle of water. “It used to happen a lot, maybe once or twice per week.”

  “How long has it been going on?”

  “I’m not really sure. For as long as I’ve been married, at least. It may have happened before then, but since I was usually alone, no one told me it was happening.”

  “You mean, you don’t realize it’s happening to you?” Jessica asked, taking a seat.

  Ellyus finished taking a long drink from the bottle, then sat down again. “Never. When my wife first told me about it, I figured I was just deep in thought, and she hadn’t really tried to get my attention as vocally as she had claimed.”

  “Did you ever see a doctor about it?”

  “I told my wife I did. I told her they couldn’t determine the cause. I don’t drive because of it.”

  “Why didn’t you see a doctor about it?”

  “I didn’t want to blow my cover. When I first arrived on Kohara, there was some kind of illness going around. Like a flu or something. It was something that the Jung had brought with them. Everyone on Kohara was being vaccinated, including me. I had a bad reaction to the vaccine and spent several days in the hospital. They found some abnormalities in my blood. I was lacking something that everyone else around here had, some enzyme or something that comes from eating food grown here. I left before they could ask more questions. I’ve stayed away from doctors ever since.”<
br />
  “Do you think it was caused by the vaccine?” Jessica wondered.

  “That’s what I thought at first as well, but I’ve spent thousands of hours on the networks, and I’ve never found anything like this as a result of the vaccine. Not even close. Personally, I think it’s a side effect from the five years I spent in DMS on the way here.”

  “We don’t call it ‘decreased metabolic state’ anymore,” she told him. “The common vernacular is ‘cold-sleep’ or ‘SA’. Of course, we don’t use that technology at all these days.”

  “You don’t?” Ellyus seemed surprised. “Then how did you get here?”

  “Let’s just say that our ships are much faster now.”

  “Amazing.” Ellyus looked at her for a moment. “So much must have changed on Earth during my absence. It’s hard to comprehend it.”

  “You don’t know the half of it, Ellyus.”

  “I know you don’t trust me, Jennifer, and I do not expect you to, but I do hope that someday, when whatever is about to happen is over, you will tell me more about Earth.”

  Jessica laughed. “What makes you think something is ‘about’ to happen?” she asked.

  “Why else would you and your friend be here? And why would you have a deadline?”

  “A logical conclusion, I guess.” She looked at him a moment. “So, you really don’t have any idea when it happens to you?”

  “None.”

  “No headaches, no dizziness, not even dry eyes from staring?”

  “None. Actually, the times that my wife has been there to witness the event, I have even felt somewhat refreshed, as if I had taken a nice nap. I think that’s where she came up with the description, ‘switching off’.”

  “And how long do these events last?” Jessica wondered.

  “According to my wife, only a few minutes. Odd thing is, I haven’t had one in, I don’t know, maybe twenty years? I honestly thought whatever it was had cured itself, until now.”

  “Well, maybe after whatever is ‘about to happen’, as you put it, is over, you’ll be able to see someone about it. So, any progress on the files?” she asked, changing the subject.