“This too is war, O Imperial Noble. You people have killed scads and scads of even better people. I’m shocked a soldier like you would level such a charge at me.”
Dohkfoo was technically correct, but hearing that come out of Dohkfoo’s mouth stoked a towering anger inside him.
“Now then, what do we do from here?” Dohkfoo crossed his arms.
“We ought to message ol’ Tomasov,” said Anguson.
“Don’t tell me you believed me when I said that? That man is far too square to be wallowing in narcotics. He is, of course, an enemy to be respected.”
“So you TRICKED me?” Anguson’s face turned red, possibly out of indignation.
“I didn’t trick you. It’s the Chief Executive I aimed to trick. Think how trite it’d be to let him pass on with a clear mind, secure in the knowledge he’d entrusted his future affairs to a trusted subordinate.”
“You’re rotten, Dohkfoo,” said Anguson.
Jint concurred.
“Pay your respects to the dead, mates,” said Anguson, looking at the subordinates behind him. “He was a nasty rotter, but he wasn’t a coward.”
While Anguson’s men stood confused, Jint got up and saluted the heap that used to be Maydeen.
Anguson shot him a surprised look, but soon he was mimicking Jint’s Abh salute in his own crude way. Anguson’s henchmen followed suit.
“Never mind that, we need to think about our next moves,” said Dohkfoo, spoiling the solemnity of the moment.
“We have another hostage,” Anguson pointed out. “He’s a crybaby, but come to think of it, that makes for a better hostage.”
“Listen to me: we cannot afford to be picking fights with the Empire. I don’t think we’ve any other option besides letting His Nobleness run back home. He’ll be a bit unnerved, but he’ll forget all about goings-on on this tiny planet soon enough.”
“I can’t,” Jint whispered to himself. Could you not talk like I’m not here, please?
“That right? If it were me and I got a gun pressed on me, I wouldn’t ever forget about it. Though that might just be because I’m not a baby,” said Anguson.
“That’s all well and good, but we can’t make the situation any worse than it already is.” Dohkfoo crossed his arms and fell silent.
“Then MANAGE,” ordered Anguson, with a mighty aura of intimidation.
“That’s easy for you to say, but...” Dohkfoo looked at Jint with pleading eyes. “Ehm, I truly don’t want to start a fight with the Empire, but if we were to, say, threaten you, could you stop them from boarding?”
“I’m just the Lady Agent Adjunct. I don’t have the authority,” he answered, voice flat.
“All right then, could you please recognize me as the Citizen Representative?”
“I’m just the Lady Agent Adjunct. I don’t have the authority,” he repeated expressionlessly.
“Dammit, I’m at a loss,” said Dohkfoo, scratching his head. He flinched at the idea of antagonizing the Empire, but he was even more afraid of antagonizing Anguson. Looking at Anguson’s thick brawny muscles, it wasn’t hard to see why.
“Who’s got the authority, then!?” asked Anguson, irate.
“The Lady Agent, obviously,” Jint deigned to respond. “Her Highness is currently in orbit.”
“Threaten her. Using him as a hostage!” said Anguson, pointing at Jint.
“But... but...” Dohkfoo looked as though he could break into tears.
“If you can’t, then you’re a coward. And I won’t shake hands with a coward. I’d never be able to face my dead mother. So I’ll be killing your ass first.”
Half of the men in the room raised their weapons, glaring at Anguson. Seconds later, the other half brandished their own with a chorus of clanks. Nervous tension permeated the crowded room.
“Now, now, that’s enough of that. A shootout in a place this cramped? Between allies?” said Dohkfoo, waving a hand.
“Then do it! Show us you’re not a coward!”
“Fine, I will.” Dohkfoo’s shoulders slumped, but a moment later he’d collected himself. “Establish a line with the Lady’s Manor, if you would!”
Jint gazed at the leader of the Central Zone with pity in his eyes. While Anguson was even worse, Dohkfoo was clearly lacking in knowledge about the Abh. To think he would choose issuing threats to the Empire over the more sensible option: dying here and now.
Lafier was staring at the map of Rajay Island on the main display screen. Now was right around the time Jint’s group would arrive at the West Correctional Zone. Yet there had been no call, no message.
“Captain, a message from the next-term Citizen Representative,” said Ecryua.
“Ignore it,” ordered Lafier. She couldn’t ignore a message from the current Citizen Representative, but Dohkfoo was still just a landworld citizen at the moment. Dohkfoo was only slated to inherit the role once the current one, Maydeen, left Lohbnahss II, and the Basrogrh left this territory-nation. If things proceeded smoothly, she might never have to return, and moreover, she might never have to see Dohkfoo’s stupid face again (not even over the communication line).
“Captain, this time it’s a message from Rearguard Lynn.”
“Put it through.”
“It’s from his wristgear.”
Is there no transmission equipment at the new command post? Lafier could only frown. The circumstances must be harsher than she’d expected.
“Are you there, Your Highness?”
Lafier’s expression turned grimmer still. The voice the bridge was playing host to wasn’t even Baronh, let alone Jint.
“Who are you?”
“The newly inaugurated Star System Premier, as of right now. Dohkfoo. Now please, receive my call. This thing is too difficult to use. Though I do admire its small size.”
“Captain, a call from the next-term—”
“Put it through.”
Video of Dohkfoo replaced the map of Rajay Island.
“Explain,” said Lafier.
“‘Explain,’ as in explain why I’m holding your Adjunct’s transmission device? Uh, well, to be frank with you... I took it.”
“Is the man alive?”
“Yes, of course. See for yourself.”
The camera panned toward a sitting Jint. He clearly didn’t know what to say. “Hey,” was all he said, smiling a bashful smile.
How very like you, Jint, she thought to herself.
Dohkfoo strode back into the picture, next to Jint.
“Now for my demands.”
“The answer is no!” she cut in immediately.
“Please, at least hear me out,” said Dohkfoo, wounded. “We are holding His Excellency, your Adjunct.”
“Return him. Now.”
Dohkfoo looked up at the ceiling. “Honestly, doing so may be in our best interests...”
“Quit that,” said somebody offscreen. “Talk terms with her, Dohkfoo!”
“You aren’t the one in charge?” quibbled Lafier. “If so, show the face of whoever is.”
“No, I, uh, am the one in charge, so to speak. Or at least, I like to think I am.”
Sobash came to her side and whispered: “Captain, we’ve cross-referenced that voice print. He’s the leader of the East Correctional Zone, the man who only ever called you the one time. Named ‘Anguson.’“
Lafier nodded as a sign she’d understood. It came as no surprise — she knew the inmates of the East were the ones who sparked the uprising to begin with.
“I never signed up to be under you, Dohkfoo,” came Anguson’s voice. “I refuse to return the baby. Not as long as those Abhs keep taking away the girls!”
“Jint is NOT a ‘baby’!” Lafier shouted angrily, despite herself.
“But he is! He was shaking in his boots, even hurled chunks!”
“Oh yeah,” said Jint, “I forgot to tell you something important. Mr. Maydeen got executed. You should name the new Citizen Representative in accordance with the line of succ—”
/> “You keep your mouth shut!” A burly leg kicked Jint in the head from offscreen.
“Bastard...” Lafier’s hands curled into fists. She wanted to touch down onto the landworld’s surface that instant. She wanted to teach that filthy criminal reprobate (even just hearing his name in the back of her head made her skin crawl) by her own hand just how nasty the vengeance wrought by the Kin of the Stars could be.
“I’m not afraid of death, Abh.” Anguson finally entered the video. “Being unable to have kids is the same as being dead. Stop taking the women. If you don’t, I’ll kill him. You may be able to kill us, but you can’t ensure he stays alive.”
“Kill you?” Lafier was a little taken aback. “Are you joking? We aren’t that merciful.”
“What do you mean?” Confusion warped Anguson’s face.
“Oh, allow me to explain, Mr. Anguson, Mr. Dohkfoo,” said Sobash, in a pleasant manner. But that was where the pleasant facade ended. The agreeability of his smile lasted for a mere moment, soon shifting into the type that had grown notorious throughout humanity — the “smile of the Abh.”
“We think exacting revenge in a conscientious and upright fashion is a reason to get up in the morning. And we make it our policy to have those who are involved in a fellow Abh’s unjust demise experience for themselves the fact that in this galaxy, there’s something far more abhorrent than death. Mr. Anguson, you say you aren’t afraid of death. But what form of death do you refer to? If you’re picturing us simply blasting you with a laser beam, then your assumptions have deluded you. And I guarantee that you will be given ample time to realize how delusional you once were. Once you’ve had a taste of the vengeance of the Abh, you will beg to be allowed to die. You will beg for death, no matter how agonizing. But you will not be granted permission to die. We don’t believe in any religion, but we do believe in hell. We know it’s very real. That is because it exists in this very galaxy, in ours, the realm of the Abh. I invite you to see firsthand just how despicable what our ancient Emperor, Dugnac, and the dark corners of science and technology have devised.”
“Wait, hold on a second,” said Dohkfoo, flustered. “Revenge only breeds more hatred. Then hatred gives rise to even more hatred, leading to a never-ending cycle...”
“Revenge may not be very productive, but our reputation for exacting vengeance does protect us. When I was young, I would often visit strange lands, and tread over exceptionally thin ice. That I remain in good health to this day is, I think, a testament to how thoroughly that Abh notoriety has safeguarded me — far more than the thickest armor ever could,” said Sobash. “I hope that holds true now as well, Mr. Dohkfoo. For you and us both.”
Dohkfoo looked at Anguson with pleading eyes. Anguson, for his part, stood there, expressionless. There was no means whatsoever of asking him what was running through that head of his.
“No,” he uttered. Whatever he was feeling, it didn’t bleed into his tone of voice. “I’m not like you — I believe in God’s teachings. And I believe in a hell that’s not within this galaxy. I realized when I was thirteen that that’s where I’m headed. Experiencing the phony hell you people cooked up will be good training for the real one God created. So if you take the girls, I kill him.”
“Is that right?” said Lafier coldly. “Fine then. But don’t you dare die before I get there.”
“I’m against this!” yelled Dohkfoo.
“You’re a coward, too, Dohkfoo,” railed Anguson.
“What a shame,” said Sobash. “Please drop us a call if you change your minds.”
“Hold on...” Dohkfoo wasn’t willing to give up — he sought to keep this powder keg in check.
Yet Lafier was no longer paying Dohkfoo’s words any heed. “Jint...”
In fact, the eyes of the Royal Princess were no longer registering the two inmate leaders.
“I am an Abliar. Abliars do not cry. If I weren’t an Abliar, then...” She herself didn’t understand what she was saying. The second she cut the transmission, she cast her eyes downward.
“Captain,” called Ecryua without delay. “The Luisaith has been on the line. It’s a call from Mechanics Linewing Samson.”
“Put it through,” said Lafier, head still hanging.
“I’m so sorry, Captain,” said Samson. “I should have followed him.”
“It isn’t your fault. The man made his decision.”
“But...”
“It’s okay. It’s his responsibility that he got caught, and my responsibility that I’m abandoning him.”
“Are you planning to abandon him? Because I’m calling in the hopes you’ll order me to return to the surface and rescue Rearguard Lynn.”
It was tempting, very tempting. If she dithered for even a moment, she knew she’d wind up issuing just such an order, with herself standing at the head if at all possible. But Samson and his subordinates were hardly land war experts, and they were few in number to boot. The rescue operation would be tricky in the best of times — this was just impossible.
“Come back aboard,” she murmured.
“But Captain! They said outright that they don’t want to fight the Imperial Star Forces head-on. I don’t think they would fire at people wearing these uniforms.”
Given the preceding transmission, she knew Samson was being overly optimistic. First of all, there was no way the insurgents were that disciplined. They were an armed mob first and foremost. Moreover, the leader of the East Zone would never forbid his henchmen from engaging in combat. And most importantly, they were already threatening to kill an imperial noble — it was hard to think they’d then abstain from killing starpilots and NCCs. She could easily see the mission ending in her losing her precious subordinates.
“You had best resume your actual work duties,” insisted Lafier.
“I’m begging you, Captain, allow me to fulfill my responsibility. I don’t plan on taking my subordinates. I’ll go it alone. I aim to throw the dice, because I bet they’ll try to avoid a fight. All they need is a jolt. They’ve failed, and deep down, they know it, but people are generally poor sports about acknowledging it when they’ve blown it. My going down there will jolt them into admitting their failure, and they’ll give us our kiddo back. So please, let me make that wager.”
“SILENCE!” A white hot anger flared inside her head. Anger not toward him, but toward her mission, and toward her own powerlessness. Still looking down, she pounded the console. She was thankful to her bluish-black hair for masking her face. “Don’t disregard me, and don’t tell me you’ll go it alone. I told you already — you don’t bear any responsibility in this. So be silent, Samsonn Borgh Tiruser Tirusec!”
Samson was speechless.
“Captain,” said Ecryua. “The Merctérh is calling. It’s Unit Commander Gabautec.”
Before she could order her to put it through, the line came through.
“Your Highness,” said Gabautec, saluting hurriedly. “I’m aware of the situation. I can organize a land platoon of no more than fifty. I believe it would be optimal to land the traffic ship within our corps near where Lonh-Roïcfariac (His Excellency the Lady Agent Adjunct) is being held, and storm the compound.”
Lafier raised her head, only to realize Sobash and Ecryua were staring at her.
“What are the chances of success, then?” asked Lafier. A small ray of hope had emerged.
“There are too many unknowns to be sure, but I’m told it’s anywhere between 0.08 and 0.21.”
“And if you were to fail, what would become of the ground platoon?”
“They would all be stranded. The chances of success are the same as the chances the traffic ship remains intact by the end of the landworld operation. We haven’t taken into account the possibility of making it through the rioting all the way to the amphibious ship, so it may suit us to view the actual rate of success as slightly higher. Please, your orders.”
Lafier stayed silent for a moment. Then, at last, she quietly stated her orders .
“Lend all your efforts to making sure the relocation boarding goes smoothly.”
“Are those your orders?”
“Correct.”
“Understood.” End transmission.
Ecryua sighed disappointedly.
“Who is the next Citizen Representative? Skipping over the man who called me earlier, of course,” asked Lafier.
Sobash pulled up the info. “Looks like it’s a person named Tomasov.”
“Call this Tomasov immediately. We’ll make it official summarily.” Lafier sat up straight. “For the time being... we have to forget about him!”
“Can you forget him? Your Highness,” muttered Ecryua.
Lafier scowled at the Rearguard Starpilot. This is the first time she’s ever called me “Fïac,” she thought.
Guess they left me to die.
But in his heart, Jint felt strangely relieved. His mortal fear hadn’t gone, but when she said, “if I weren’t an Abliar,” he noticed her long eyelashes were shaking, and felt something close to contentment.
Meanwhile, Dohkfoo was pacing the room in a state of agitation. “Do you realize what you’ve said? I, for one, want nothing to do with an actual living hell. Besides, you don’t even do Alkyke.”
“Because it goes against God’s teachings. What about it?” replied Anguson vacantly.
“What other reason is there to be so attached to this planet? Granted, we can’t exactly get them to put us on the next flight out, but we ought to take the next opportunity to relocate wherever we so choose. Then we can have so many kids we’d struggle to remember their names.”
“...Ah.” Anguson’s eyes opened slightly wider. “Hadn’t occurred to me.”
“Give me a break!” Dohkfoo sank to the floor right then and there, like a feeble leaf. “The only reason we’re stuck on this miserable rock is because we can’t forget the sweet taste of Alkyke. But the first thing I do once I become the official System Premier is give you a license to relocate. So don’t be so obstinate; let’s let this young man go home.”
“No. A real man never goes back on his word. Besides...” To Jint’s surprise, Anguson’s expression looked sad and lonely. “There isn’t a planet out there that’d take me in. This is the only place I’ve got, Dohkfoo.”
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