Forever Series 5: The Forever Alliance

by Craig Robertson

  “Sick bastards,” remarked Bin Li.

  “Keep in mind they don’t feel that way. They have believed with a singular passion for the last million years that their way is the only way,” I responded. “It works for them, so they stick with the winning formula.”

  “Thank you, Dr. De Jesus. I will now ask for comments and proposals,” said Katashi.

  “Are you certain the information you have obtained is reliable? This Anganctus fellow might have guessed we obtained the key to their technology from the Battle of Azsuram. If so, he might be putting out an enormous smokescreen of misinformation,” asked a senior officer.

  “Excellent point. Dr. De Jesus?” asked Katashi.

  “We’ve actually considered that possibility. The honest answer is there’s no way to be certain. The scale of the deception would be almost unimaginable and the consistency we observe would be nearly impossible to fake, but you are correct in worrying.”

  “Is there some way we could test the information we receive?” I asked. “Some way to have them communicate something that would confirm they were broadcasting legit intelligence and not deceptions?”

  Toño thought long and hard on that point. “I suppose so.”

  “Such a thing has been done before,” said Katashi. “It is a common issue in the encryption community.”

  “But it would be difficult,” remarked Kipchoge.

  “General Ryan. You are a man inclined to the covert and iconoclastic. I will ask you to come up with a plan to test the Berrillians’ reliability. Whatever personnel or resources you need are yours for the asking. Please have some preliminary ideas ready for our next scheduled meeting.”

  Yeah, I think Katashi disapproved of my style, but he was the boss. And hey, the next meeting was three days away. I had all the time in the world. Maybe I’d take up a new hobby with all my spare time. I always wanted to learn backgammon.

  THIRTEEN

  “The situation concerning my niece has gone from the simply tragic to bizarre. I want to know how she got out of her cell, how she killed those two guards, and I really want to know how it’s never going to happen again,” JJ shouted at the chief of security.

  Ertins Legram-Som was a proud man. He didn’t appreciate being scolded like an ill-tempered child, but he understood JJ’s frustration. There was no way the prisoner could have escaped, and there weren’t any marks on the bodies to suggest how she’d killed them. In fact, the doctor doing the autopsies didn’t know why the two men didn’t hop off the table and walk away. They suffered no trauma, no poisoning, and no medical conditions whatsoever. They seemed to have been switched off more than died. Ertins had derided the doctor just as JJ was scalding Ertins now.

  “JJ, I am speaking as your life-long friend and your security leader when I tell you we have no idea. As far as I can tell, the woman couldn’t have left her cell, and the guards shouldn’t be dead.”

  “Tell me again what the cameras showed.”

  Ertins bristled. He had answered that question ten times already. He had gone over them with JJ twice. “Nothing.”

  “That’s not possible.”

  “It is possible because that’s the truth. A clever person could easily doctor the holos to make them show whatever they want to. You know that.”

  “Dory is neither clever nor had access to do so.”

  “Then clearly she had help.”

  “Who? And how could they have killed two armed men without a struggle or a mark?”

  JJ frustration was getting the better of his judgment.

  “We’re investi—”

  “I know. But while you are, more lives are at risk. What are you doing to protect our citizens?”

  Ertins took several deep breaths. “There are two guards in her cell at all times. The number of cameras has been tripled. Armed personnel walk the building’s perimeter between temporary gun posts. She will not escape again. I promise you that with my life.”

  JJ shook his head in defeat. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to an honor death.”

  There was a rapid knock on Ertins’s office door.

  “Come,” he barked out.

  A frightened officer rushed into the room. He was breathing heavily, suggesting he’d run some distance quickly.

  “What is it, Resstok?” asked Ertins.

  “Sh…she’s…she’s gone, sir.”

  “Who’s gone?” As if he couldn’t guess.

  “Dolirca. Her cell is empty.”

  “Resstok, I personally assigned you the position of remaining in her cell until I relieved you. How could you disobey my direct order?” Ertins stood from his chair threateningly.

  “On my family, I swear I didn’t leave. You and I put her in the cell. I sat staring at the girl the entire time. Then, she just wasn’t there.”

  “What do the cameras show?”

  “The same thing. She was sitting there looking out the window, then she wasn’t. It is like she became invisible.”

  “That’s not possible,” replied JJ.

  “I wouldn’t know about that, sir, but that is what it looked like to me.”

  “And nothing else? No one entered, no one left, no one reached through the window?” asked Erins, livid.

  “No, sir. Well, not unless you count the butterfly.”

  “It’s so lovely up here, Callophrys. It’s beyond peaceful,” said Dolirca.

  “You deserve to renew yourself, sweetest Dolirca. After what your enemies did to you, I wanted you to have this,” replied Callophrys as she flittered near her face.

  “I am not familiar with this place. Where are we?”

  “Far from danger, my lady.”

  “Yes, and for that I thank you. But where are we?”

  “It is a place beyond your physical limits. It is a space that exists more in your mind and in your heart than in your universe.”

  Dolirca frowned. “I hear riddles. Why won’t you just tell me? I thought we were friends.”

  “Oh, but we are. If I told you, my lady, I fear you would not comprehend. Please don’t make me embarrass us both.”

  She suddenly beamed a happy smile. “Of course, silly. If you say it is so, I can accept that. Thank you.”

  “I live only to serve you, my lady.”

  “How long are we to remain here? What will we do?”

  “Those questions can only be answered by you. We will stay as long as you like, and we will do whatever it is you wish to.”

  “Truly this is paradise.”

  “No, my lady, it is not. This place is lovely, but it is not paradise. That blessed state can only be had by you back on your world of Azsuram. Only after the last of your enemies are dead and buried. Only after you wear the sacred crown of Azsuram can you be said to be in paradise.”

  Dolirca’s face twisted. Was that true? Why couldn’t she be happy here? She certainly was safe.

  “I don’t want to go back there. They all hate me and want to kill me for no good reason. They want to kill my pets. Oh, Callophrys, can you bring my Toe here? If they were here with you and me, my world would be nothing but bliss. We could all be so happy together. Can you do that?”

  “No, my sweet empress, I cannot. I could never be happy knowing the evil hearts that plot against you at this very moment against still beat in the chests of traitors. You are their ruler by divine right. They cannot resist you, yet the twisted minds that control your subjects try only to harm you. No. We must put you on your throne and put the subverters in the ground.”

  “But I don’t want to. I want to be happy without them.”

  “I cry, sweet lady, that the corrupters have clouded your mind. My tears burn my skin, as they are mixed with the hate those evil-doers bear toward you. Some acts can neither be forgotten nor forgiven. As you yourself said, they hate you. They wish you gone. You have said you will strike them all dead.”

  “I said that…” Dolirca trailed off absently.

  “Yes. You told me your soul would know no peace, your body
no rest, until you smite all those who wronged you. Do you not recall those very words?”

  “I don’t think I do.”

  “Then they have already won. You are already crushed. There can be no recovery. If they can make you forget what you said and felt, how can we defeat them? They are too strong. My lady, forgive my failure to you. I must go away. I can never return. To let one so pure and noble as you down must be punished beyond all mercy and for all time. Goodbye.”

  The butterfly slowly lifted into the air and distanced herself from Dolirca.

  “Stop. Wait. I do remember now. Yes. You don’t have to leave. I recall now. I must destroy those who worship false idols. With your help, we will punish the guilty, reward the innocent, and I shall rule Azsuram forever. Come back to me, purest Callophrys. We shall return at the next council meeting, where all my subjects will be gathered.”

  She landed on Dolirca’s shoulder. “I live only to serve you. Here are my suggestions.”

  FORTEEN

  “Okay,” I said to the war council, “I have some thoughts as to how we can confirm that the Berrillians are not feeding us false information.

  “Excellent. I understand you have come up with two options,” said Katashi.

  “Uh, yeah, I guess so. Neither one’s very structured at this point.”

  “Proceed,” he replied.

  “My first plan is the simplest. I go to one of their assets and damage it. For example, I go destroy one of their ships. If they accurately report the act, we’ll know they don’t suspect we’ve broken the code.”

  “I do not like this plan,” responded Katashi immediately. “It is too simple and does not advance our position. If a ship is destroyed, they would rightly suspect us. Therefore, broadcasting that it happened would not harm their war effort. Frankly, General Ryan, I’m profoundly disappointed in you.”

  Yeah, but how do you really feel about me?

  “I said it was preliminary and not fleshed out, didn’t I?”

  “We face extinction if we miscalculate or underestimate our foe. We cannot tend to know or sort of understand. Do I make myself clear, General?”

  “Abundantly. Okay, plan two. This one’s tough. It involves significant personal risk. If my mission fails, you lose Wrath. Without Wrath, the war is over before the first battle begins.”

  “Times of war, General. The fortunes of war are never easy to accept. However, any such decision is mine alone. You needn’t worry about the ramifications of your success or failure. Please continue.”

  Off my Christmas card list forever and a day, that’s what he was. Maybe ten thousand years from now I’d still address one to him just to have the satisfaction of tearing it to shreds.

  “Happy to, Kash.”

  He nearly stood to strike me.

  Good, the imperious boil on my butt.

  “I can travel to an occupied world. Once undercover there, I can let it be known I have some knowledge or device the Berrillians would die to get their paws on. Reports of such an operation would be highly classified. So, if they reported or discussed the matter, we’d know we were in the clear.”

  “Is that all? You’re finished talking?” responded Katashi. He balled both fists and clenched his jaw. It had been a long time since I’d drawn that response out of a superior officer. Man, I’d forgotten how good that felt.

  “Admiral, if I might?” said Toño. “Jon, are you serious? That plan is far too risky. Think it through. To convince them you’re not a spy planting misinformation, they’d have to believe without a doubt you were a local and that the asset you held was both important and had escaped their previous, viciously thorough investigations.”

  “Yup. That’s the plan.”

  “I will reassign this task to someone less flippant and unprepared to complete this assignment. Forgive me for over-estimating your scope of competency, General Ryan. I will not suffer you to experience it again. I would like to…”

  “No.”

  Apparently that we me speaking. Oops.

  The full weight of Katashi’s sternness and disdain hit me like a dam burst.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Beg if you’d like, but you ain’t gonna get it.” I said just enough and didn’t run off at the mouth. He could be as mean to me as he wanted to in private. But in public, to attack the horse’s ass who saved everybody more times than I could accurately count? No way, baby. It wasn’t just that he insulted me. It was that he thought he could assault the legend. Now, I’m not so full of myself—thank you very much—that something like that mattered to me. But it meant a heck of a lot to a lot of people. To see their hero muddied would make their lives harder. I represented hope in a crazy, hostile galaxy.

  Plus, what the hell, I was pissed. I had to put up with Saunders. This joker? Not so much. Time to take the Kat-man to school.

  “Security, please escort General Ryan to the brig, pending his court martial. I will not brook such insubordination, even from someone with this man’s history.”

  “Court martial, is it? Wow. You know I’ve been gone a lot. Can you tell me if I still get a last cigarette when you prop me in front of the firing squad? Just curious. I promised myself I’d quit the damn things, but maybe I won’t have to bite the bullet after all.”

  No one moved to take me into custody.

  “Silence. You are only making matters worse for yourself,” responded Katashi.

  “No, Katty, you are. You’re the only person in this room with a shovel. You’re digging faster than a frightened mole, by the way. Might want to level off. Word to the wise.”

  “Is there a point to your outburst? Do you wish to add mutiny to the charges I will bring against you?”

  “Well, thanks. I didn’t anticipate a tight ass like you’d give me a choice. Here’s what I choose. You shut up before you verbally end your otherwise dubious career. Your act may work on plebes at the academy, but it doesn’t cut muster here in the real world populated by seasoned people who know the score. You got that?”

  Katashi stood to leave.

  “I don’t have to…”

  “No, and I wish you wouldn’t. However, as of now, you’re in command, and we’re at war. I don’t want to see you next to me in front of that firing squad convicted of desertion. I wouldn’t want to die next to a loser like you. It would impinge upon my ultra-cool reputation.”

  The admiral sat back down.

  “We would not be facing a firing squad, Ryan. Shooting a robot would be too dignified—not worth the price of the bullet. I will see you switched off and melted for scrap. You sully the humans who fight for survival while you joke your way through eternity. I’d say you are a disgrace to the uniform you wear but, fortunately, you’re literally not man enough to wear it. You insult the honor of all those who serve in the military. You insult common decency by your very existence.”

  “Wait, wait. Hang on a doggone minute. No one told me you were the person in command of common decency too. Man, do I feel stupid. I would never have mouthed off if I’d have known that. I blame myself, but darn I wish someone’d told me.”

  “Ryan, this is the last thing I’ll say to you. I will hold you in contempt at your court martial. That way you may be gagged before the proceedings begin.”

  “Dude. So many choices. You’re too generous, giving me so many ways to go. Okay, cheap shot first. Do you promise that’s the last thing you’ll ever say to me? Ba-dum-bum-CHING. Now the serious part. I hold you in contempt. You’re about ten feet below anyone’s contempt, but my comeback is more impactful if it bounces off of yours. You’re the disgrace to any person who’s ever served in uniform because you don’t get it. You put yourself first. That’s not how it works, jocko. The service part comes first. You and I, our opinions, fancies, and pleasant misconceptions, they don’t count. And our prejudices may never make the list of what’s important.

  “You sit there thinking you can court martial me for being insubordinate to you when you put yourself over those y
ou’re sworn to serve and protect. Well, here’s a little clue, seeing as you’re badly in need of one. That’s not how it works, egg-sucker. You should be so lucky as to get a coffee and cookie reception your last day of work. I suspect you’re looking at a jail cell. Except for Stuart Marshall himself, I’ve never been more disappointed in a person than I am in you. And Stuart had a reason. They screwed up his download. But you, you corrupted yourself with your ego, you arrogant bastard.”

  “I have always detested robots. You pseudo-humans make me ill. That you’ve been permitted to father children is beyond disgusting. And I’ll bet you can guess what I think of the slut who spread her legs for a machine, can’t you, robo-papa?”

  That did it. I rushed toward him with an intent of snapping his neck.

  Toño stepped in front of me and put me in a bear hug. I tried to get around him, but let’s face it, he was as strong as me.

  “Stop, Jon. This is not the way. He’s baiting you.”

  “Jon, he’s right,” yelled Alexis as she sprinted over. “This isn’t the way to do it.”

  I relaxed into Toño’s arms and tried not to start crying.

  “This is the way you do it,” said Alexis.

  She stepped over to Katashi and slapped his face with impressive force, then whipped the back of her hand across his other cheek with equal intensity.

  Katashi reached up and seized her hand and began to pull her toward him. His face was twisted with hate.

  Alexis grabbed the water pitcher on the desk with her free hand and clunked him good with it.

  Katashi lurched back into his chair, stunned.

  Two MPs lifted him up and began dragging him away.

  “Sick bay first, boys,” Alexis called after them. “And try not to drop him too many times along the way, okay?”

  She stepped over to Toño and me and joined our embrace.

  After that abortion of a meeting, I went to Wrath. I wanted to be alone to think. It didn’t take Kayla long to learn what happened and come to join me. I’ll admit it, I had left the wall open. I guess if I really wanted solitude I would have closed it.