Arkship Conquest

by Niel Bushnell

  ‘What the hell are you doing with her?’

  It was Faron Dulac with the other leaders of the Harvest Union. Halstead smiled, trying to hide his tension. ‘It’s a means to an end,’ he replied.

  ‘To what end?’ Chief Sinclair asked, herding their group towards the wall, away from prying listeners.

  ‘The death of Orcades Draig and the end of the civil war.’

  ‘You’re going to do all of that by yourself?’ Faron asked, mocking him.

  ‘This is serious!’ Halstead snapped. ‘I know what you’re thinking: she’s going to betray me. You’re probably right, I’m thinking the same thing, but if there’s even a slim chance of this succeeding, then I have to try it.’

  ‘How can you say that?’ Lady Addington asked, disgusted.

  ‘Because we’ve all lost too much. This way, there’s only one person who has to die.’

  ‘And if you fail?’ Faron asked. ‘If you’re killed?’

  Halstead smiled. ‘Well, that’s a small price to pay.’

  Faron gripped his arm, yanking him closer. His face was full of fury. ‘What about Bara? What about your son?’

  Halstead tore himself free, hiding behind his bluster. ‘I know what I’m doing!’

  ‘Do you?’ Faron said, letting the question linger.

  Halstead turned away in time to see Valine above him on the stairs. Quickly, he looked away, back at the members of the Harvest Union, hoping they hadn’t seen her. ‘Please, I have to do this.’

  ‘No, you don’t, not alone. We have enough evidence to accuse Orcades of war crimes. The Harvest Union can rally support against him.’

  ‘Which will take time. By then the only way to stop him will be to fight his arkships. Thousands more might die.’ Halstead stepped away. ‘Forgive me.’

  He turned before Faron could say any more, rushing towards the stairs to meet Valine.

  ‘Your friends don’t look happy,’ she said with a satisfied grin.

  Halstead ignored her, pulling Valine further up the curved stairwell, out of sight. ‘You’ve done a lot to make them unhappy.’

  ‘Me? If they just got to know me, I’m sure they’ve love me, like you do.’

  Halstead let go of her, his rage threatening to consume him. ‘Be careful. You might slip.’

  Valine smiled, her confidence never wavering, and walked past him.

  ‘What are we doing here?’ Halstead asked, standing his ground.

  Valine stopped, checking if anyone could hear her. ‘You know what we’re doing.’

  ‘But how?’

  She turned her back and continued up the stairs. Halstead went after her, catching her at the next level where the stairs joined a wide thoroughfare.

  ‘How are we going to kill him? Tell me.’

  Valine made him wait, enjoying her power over him. ‘I don’t know.’

  Halstead’s brow creased. ‘You don’t know?’

  ‘I had planned on getting on board Orcades’ shuttle. We’d kill him on the way back to the Haukr, then you would declare yourself prince of both Houses.’

  ‘With you as my second-in-command, presumably.’

  ‘Naturally.’

  Halstead watched her smiling, and he wondered how long any alliance with Valine would last before he wound up dead.

  ‘I’m guessing there’s something wrong with your plan to get on his shuttle?’

  She gestured around them, at the Inquisitors who stood like statues along every wall. Security was incredibly tight. ‘Each shuttle has its own bay, with far more security than I had expected. If I had more time I could find a weak spot, someone who works here with something to lose.’

  ‘This is the Firmament,’ Halstead reminded her. ‘People don’t work here, it’s a vocation. They’re devoted to the Church. Your blackmail schemes wouldn’t work here.’

  She shook her head. ‘Everyone has something to lose.’

  Halstead looked beyond her, at a figure approaching them.

  ‘We need someone like a Reader,’ he said, smiling.

  Valine turned to see what he was looking at. Reader Aditsan approached them, a tiny smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

  ‘If you’re going to be foolish, the least I can do is help you,’ he said.

  Halstead grinned, slapping his hand on the Reader’s shoulder. ‘Thank you.’

  Valine eyed him up and down. ‘I’m Valine.’

  ‘I know who you are,’ Aditsan replied.

  ‘This is Reader Aditsan, my friend,’ Halstead explained.

  ‘How nice for you,’ Valine replied. She looked the Reader in the eye. ‘Do you trust him?’

  ‘With my life,’ Halstead replied.

  ‘Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,’ Valine said. ‘I quite enjoy living, don’t you?’

  Reader Aditsan muttered something under his breath.

  ‘We don’t have to be friends,’ Valine grinned. ‘All I need from you is access to Orcades Draig’s shuttle. Do you think you can help with that?’

  DRIFTING

  By the time Orcades Draig had made it back to his shuttle, he was exhausted. He didn’t have the same strength as he used to before his death, and the day had been an ordeal. He could ignore the physical pain, but his mind itched for the simple release of gravel. He’d been clean since his return, but his body remembered, tempting him to fall back into the old ways. So far, he’d resisted, but as he climbed the entrance ramp, the lure of a chemical oblivion overwhelmed his thinking.

  ‘No,’ he muttered to himself. ‘Too much to do.’

  As the ramp closed, his pilot greeted him. ‘Valtais, welcome aboard. Did you enjoy the ceremony?’

  Orcades waved him aside, not looking at him.

  ‘We have clearance to leave,’ the pilot said as they walked towards the cockpit.

  ‘Good,’ Orcades replied. ‘Contact the Haukr. I want to speak to Orava.’

  ‘Yes, Valtais.’

  They stepped into the cockpit and Orcades dropped into his seat, closing his eyes. The chatter of departure faded into the background, softened by the noise of the shuttle’s engines as they powered up. He felt the tilt as they left the pad, the pleasant change in gravity as the shuttle compensated for their acceleration, then calmness. He opened his eyes to check they were in space. The Infinite lay ahead, its light exciting the particles of dust that drifted around the Firmament. The shadows of dozens of arkships dotted the view, little islands of life in a sea of death. Some of them were Draig arkships, loyal to Valine. Now that the ceremony was over, and he had delivered his message to the Scribe, he turned his anger back onto her. Soon, her reign would be over and the House of Draig would be whole once more. But first, rest.

  He stood, stretching his aching limbs, and turned towards his room.

  ‘Can I get you anything?’ the pilot asked.

  Orcades didn’t respond. He left the cockpit and walked the few steps to his cramped quarters, letting the door close behind him. In the private sanctuary of his room, he let his resolve fall away. He sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands, acknowledging the yearning in his mind, the pain in his body, and he began to cry. As his sobs grew louder, Orcades cursed his weakness, but he was unable to stop it. Living was torture. Finally, exhausted, he lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling, his mind calmer now.

  That’s when he noticed the other person in the room. He bolted from the bed, making for the door, when someone slammed into him, throwing him to the floor, a foot on his chest. He looked up into the face of his half-brother, and Orcades laughed.

  ‘Prince Halstead. Come to kill me?’

  ‘Yes,’ the prince replied.

  Orcades couldn’t see a weapon. He doubted Halstead could have gotten one past the Firmament’s strict security. He pulled at Halstead’s leg, throwing the prince off balance. They rolled together, punching and kicking, a primal brawl between siblings. Had it always been destined to end like this? Orcades wondered. The two of them, killing each other with
their bare hands? Yes, he liked that. He drove his finger into the corner of Halstead’s eye, gaining the advantage as the prince screamed. Orcades pinned him down, throwing his fists into his face. It wouldn’t take long, a few more punches and it would be over. But his hands no longer moved. His arms were held behind him. Someone was dragging him off Halstead, pulling him to the floor. No, not someone; two people! Orcades struggled to see his attackers. One of them wore the robes of a Reader. Was that how they got aboard? The other was a woman with a hard face, beautiful but ruthless.

  Valine caught her breath, smiling at the prone figure beneath her.

  ‘Never thought I’d see you again,’ she said to Orcades.

  ‘I’ll pull out your eyes and keep them by my bed,’ Orcades promised, grinning. ‘You can see me all the time then.’

  She looked up at Halstead. ‘Do it!’

  Halstead clenched his fists, hesitating.

  Orcades began to laugh. ‘I’ve been dead before. Why do you think you can stop me now?’

  He knew he didn’t have long. Halstead wouldn’t hesitate for much longer. Out of the corner of his eye, Orcades registered the gun he kept taped to the underside of his bed. The Reader gripped Orcades’ hand, pinning it to the floor, just out of reach. But he was an old man, and Orcades could feel the effort in the Reader’s muscles.

  Orcades tensed, preparing himself.

  ‘It’s a shame. I was hoping to speak to you at the ceremony,’ he said to the prince. ‘I wanted to ask your permission.’

  Halstead stared at him, confused. Good.

  ‘For what?’ he asked.

  ‘A leader needs someone by his side, don’t you think? I thought your wife would make a good choice, once I’ve killed you. But I thought it only fair I asked you first.’ Orcades laughed, bracing himself.

  The expected blow came as Halstead’s foot swung for Orcades’ head. He turned with the impact, letting it push him closer to the bed. His fingertips clawed at the concealed gun and he ripped it from its hiding place. In a blur, he aimed and fired, missing Valine. The Reader’s head tore apart, and his body fell backwards.

  Valine retreated, freeing Orcades. He crawled from the floor, aiming the weapon at Halstead and Valine.

  ‘Now,’ he said breathlessly, wiping blood from his face. ‘This is interesting, isn’t it?’

  DEMON

  Halstead couldn’t speak, the breath had left his lungs. In the blink of an eye the room had turned into a horrific image painted in red. Off to one side was the body of his friend, Elan Aditsan, and at its center was the grinning, demonic Orcades Draig.

  ‘It would have been so much fun growing up with you, brother,’ Orcades said, holding the gun in front of him. ‘The things we could have done together. Such a pity.’

  He gestured with the weapon for Valine to move closer to Halstead. She obeyed, her composure unchanged. It was as if none of this had affected her.

  Orcades walked towards the door, opened it and stepped into the corridor.

  ‘Where are you going?’ Valine asked.

  Orcades said nothing, his smile fixed as the door closed behind him. Halstead heard the dread sound of Orcades activating the locking mechanism, and he realized that they had lost.

  Immediately, Valine began to check the room, searching through the drawers beside the bed. Halstead went over to the bloody body of Reader Aditsan. Kneeling beside it, he removed his tunic and placed it over the remains of Aditsan’s head, saying a silent prayer for him.

  ‘There’s nothing here,’ Valine said in frustration. ‘Help me find something!’

  ‘What for?’ Halstead replied wearily. ‘He’ll be back to kill us soon.’

  ‘Don’t you ever think, Halstead? He won’t kill us here. He’ll take us to his flight deck and broadcast it to the other Draig arkships. He’ll execute us there to show them he’s in command. Once we dock with the Hauk we’re as good as dead.’

  FORTUNE

  As Orcades returned to the shuttle’s cockpit, the pilot glanced up and gasped at the sight of his Valtais.

  ‘Are you hurt?’ he asked.

  ‘Far from it,’ Orcades grinned as he slumped into the empty chair. Adrenalin numbed the pain, and he felt more alive than he had in days. ‘How long till we dock?’

  ‘Twelve minutes.’

  Orcades nodded, staring at the navigation holograph. ‘We have two intruders locked in my cabin. I want them captured alive and taken to the flight deck. Understand?’

  The pilot nodded. ‘I’ll inform the Haukr.’

  Orcades let himself relax. This was a fortuitous turn of events. Halstead and Valine had made his job so much easier.

  CONDEMNED

  Halstead could feel the shifting vibration of the shuttle’s engines through the cabin’s floor as they prepared to dock. They didn’t have long now. He sat on the edge of the bed, resigned to his fate while Valine became more and more desperate. He watched her, thinking of Bara and his unborn son. Soon, Halstead would be dead and there would be a new prince to lead the House of Kenric. He pitied the poor child. Having the terrible burden of leadership on his shoulders from birth would destroy any possibility of a normal childhood. His would be a life of duty and expectation, without the luxury of choice.

  ‘Are you just going to sit there?’ Valine asked as she tore at a drawer.

  ‘What else can I do?’

  ‘You can help! You can defend yourself.’ She took the front of the broken drawer and smashed at a mirror on the wall, but the material refused to break.

  ‘It’s over,’ Halstead said.

  ‘Not for me.’

  There was a series of thuds and clunks as the shuttle came to rest, then Halstead heard voices coming closer. He stood, straightening his shirt, prepared for death. Valine swore, retreating from the door with her improvised weapon wielding in front of her.

  The voices receded, and the shuttle fell silent.

  ‘What are they waiting for?’ Halstead wondered.

  Valine glanced up at the air vents built into the wall, cursing. She grabbed a pillow and pushed it up to the grill. ‘They’re going to gas us. Help me!’

  Halstead watched her, listening to the gentle hiss of air, feeling a serene sense of calm.

  ‘Sol! Do something!’ Valine cried desperately.

  Already Halstead felt tired, and he sat on the bed again. Valine fought with the grill, tears lining her cheeks as she began to succumb to the effects of the gas. Her movements became slow and disordered, and she fell to the floor. She looked at him, her face pleading with him to help her, then she closed her eyes and her body became limp. Halstead slumped sideways. He closed his eyes and he resigned himself to whatever fate awaited him.

  POWER

  ‘Ah, yes. He’s awake at last. Good, good.’

  Halstead blinked, trying to focus. The light was painful against his eyes.

  Something struck his face, twisting his head.

  ‘Come on, Halstead, time for you to die.’

  His eyes adjusted, and Halstead saw Orcades Draig standing over him. They were on the flight deck of the Haukr, just as Valine had predicted. Halstead glanced to his side and saw her sat next to him. Around them were a troupe of Draig soldiers with their guns ready. Behind them was the arkship’s commodore, a broad-shouldered man with an impassive face.

  ‘Welcome back,’ Orcades said. ‘Please stand.’

  Halstead obeyed, his legs feeling weak. Valine remained seated until one of the soldiers lifted her up. In front of them, three camera drones hovered, transmitting the spectacle to the Draig fleet.

  ‘Orava? Are they working?’ Orcades asked.

  The commodore checked a console, nodding.

  Orcades smiled, wallowing in his moment. ‘My people,’ he said to the camera. ‘This is a great day. I have returned to you from the jaws of death to bring peace to the House of Draig. I am the rightful ruler, Orcades Draig, your Valtais. My face may be burned, my body broken, but I am still Draig!’ He turned to gesture
to Valine. ‘This imposter tried to take my place, but she has brought nothing but ruin to our House. The fighting ends today. From this day forwards we are one House, with one leader.’

  He paused, turning to Halstead. ‘We have many enemies, those who hate the House of Draig and would see it crumble. We will crush all who oppose us, and they will suffer the same fate as Prince Halstead of the House of Kenric. It brings me no joy to see him die, but he has been found guilty of crimes against our glorious House, and he must pay for those sins.’

  Halstead cut in. ‘I am not the enemy of the House of Draig, only of Orcades Draig.’

  ‘You have no right to speak.’

  ‘Surely the condemned man has the right to a last word?’

  Orcades smiled, stepping closer. The camera drones moved with him, broadcasting every word to the watching Draig citizens. ‘Out of respect to your father I will allow you this. Orcades Draig is fair and just in all things.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Halstead said, his heart pounding. ‘You are my half-brother, Orcades. We should never have been enemies, but you started this conflict when you destroyed the Ark Royal Obsidian and tried to take my birthright.’

  ‘It was my birthright, not yours!’ Orcades barked. ‘I am the eldest! The House of Kenric was mine to take. All I ever wanted was to bring our houses together.’

  ‘You killed thousands of people, including our father. But it’s not just the House of Kenric you have offended. You have let your own people suffer and starve while you live in luxury. This civil war is about more than who is their leader, it’s the consequence of your neglect. You do not deserve to lead the House of Draig. You are not worthy to call yourself Valtais.’

  Orcades laughed as he jabbed a finger at Valine. ‘You think this imposter is a better leader? She schemes and plots, she smiles while the knife sinks in your back.’

  ‘I am your closest living blood relative. I am your half-brother and I claim my rightful place as the leader of the House of Draig. I will finally unite our two houses, just as you wanted.’