Oblivious to Merlin’s low tone, Uther smiled. “Ah, a wife. I’d want a wife like Igrain though. She’s so smart, strong, beautiful, and loyal. She’d be perfect.”
Merlin nodded. “Yes, she would be.”
Far away from Uther’s plans, Galois stood in Tintagle. His own city far smaller than Uther’s and he had been cultivating the earth rather than focusing on the machines and the cities. But he knew that was because he had the leisure to do so; Uther’s job was what his father would have done. He had to lead the people. Galois got lucky and had a much easier task.
“I just thought there would be another way,” he said to Lot whose large face loomed on the screen behind him. “I’m glad you are far away on Lothian though. I don’t want Morgause mixed up in any of this.”
Lot had been arguing in favor of the mecha all night though. “I just don’t understand, Galois. What’s wrong with using these things? They seem pretty awesome to me.”
Galois hated to play the I-am-older-and-one-day-you’ll-understand card, but he couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“Uther wasn’t like this at the academy,” he said instead. He reclined in his chair and put his feet up on the desk, trying to relax. “That place was the school of dreams for him. I was the rough one.”
Interest came over Lot’s face at that. “I never went, of course, but you two are rather different. I always wondered how you came to know each other.”
“Well, we knew each other before that,” he replied. “We grew up together. Him, Constans, and Ambrosius too.”
“Who?”
Galois’s eyes were blank as they surveyed the past playing out before him. “The eldest of the three. I think,” he sighed, “I think Uther has forgotten him. He was always tormenting Uther. Telling him he was worthless and would never make it into the academy. But not Constans. No, Ambrosius loved strong, brave Constans. So did their father. Uther was rather forgotten amongst all the guts and glory of his elder brothers. And he was born defective.”
“What do you mean?” Lot prompted when Galois stalled.
“Premature. He was so weak and starved because his mother was a soldier and did not take the needed time off.” His voice dropped to a wretchedly bitter note here. “Like Igrain, in that sense I suppose.”
Lot’s eyes shot up. “No, Galois, Morgause is a great girl. Igrain didn’t do anything wrong.” It warmed Galois’ heart to hear his son-in-law jump to his daughter’s defense so quickly. Their genuine love always guided their defense of each other.
But Galois just shook his head, his eyes still watching the past. “Uther did all he could to be as great as Ambrosius. Constantine kept Uther out of the academy though. He said that if two sons become ship’s captains then Uther could do whatever else he wanted. So, naturally, he aimed higher.
“No one ever knew exactly how or why Ambrosius died. Just one day, he went out in his ship and didn’t come back. Uther was probably nine at the time. I was eleven and in my first year at the academy. And soon enough, Uther was admitted.” He raised his brows, mildly surprised. “Fifteen years dedicated to the academy and then six of service.”
Lot’s eyes were attentive, aware of his father-in-law’s struggle to tell this story, but he couldn’t see why. “So, what happened?” he pressed. He noticed his own voice came softer now as though they were dispensing secrets.
Galois shook his head. “He was smart. Took us all by storm and Constantine was criticized for keeping him out of school.” He closed his eyes and winced at the memories. “He cannot be allowed free reign of this planet. I say this to you in confidence, Lot. The gods only know what he’d do if he thought I was plotting against him.”
“Are you asking me to pull out of his military?” he asked cautiously. “I don’t know if I can, Galois. Not now. Morgause never would. Even if I did.”
He shook his head, his face hidden in his hands. “No, I’m not asking you to do that. I’m asking you to please be careful. I love you both and could not stand it if we were on opposite sides of a war. Should it happen.”
Lot sensed that the conversation was over. Galois looked older now. He didn’t have the stress that he had become accustomed to and kept him young and on edge. Lot had tried to mimic that energy when seeing Morgause because she had admired it in her father so much. But he lived by more a traditional code: loyalty, king and country.
“We were thinking,” he said when the quiet got too long, “about starting a family.”
Galois raised his face, smiling. “You never had a normal life on the ship. I am sorry about that. For both of you.”
“We’d like a son, to carry on Lothian—someone we can pass our heritage down to.”
This was the kind of conversation men wanted after finding a new home.
6
Put Asunder
“Move the smaller mecha for the soldiers to hangar bay seven,” Uther ordered from his perch on a walkway high above the command room where dozens of men spoke into com-units and fingers flew across glowing screens. On the overhead screen, Uther saw a large conveyor belt start up and slowly move six Avamechs across the floor to the door to hanger seven where they would be moved by pilots.
“The assault Avamech weigh roughly thirty tons when quipped so we moved them to the lower levels,” Lot said as he gazed into the screen across his eyes like glasses. “The virtual tour I’m in right now shows we have about forty of them and about sixty heavy Avamechs. Those are the ones with more armor than weapon power.”
“Does height matter?” Uther asked Vivian who stood stoically beside him, her hands clasped behind her back. “Some of these are roughly twenty meters high.”
Vivian closed her eyes before she spoke. “The height only depends on the ability of the pilot. Obviously a taller mecha is harder to control unless you know it.”
Behind Uther, Galois and Irgrain stood quietly watching their friend make these warlike arrangements. They had spoken the night before about how much they disagreed with Uther on his tactics. This wasn’t right. Not for new, peaceful Camelot.
“Uther, may I speak to you?” Galois asked in a soft voice as the Avamech paraded before them.
“Get the assault mecha’s sub-generator torque checked, we want these things to be in perfect shape,” he said into his headpiece before facing Galois. “Yes, my friend?”
“Igrain and I have some concerns—” he began, but Uther barked over him.
“No, check all the main generators too! We want to fly,” he shouted into his piece again. “I’m sorry, go on, Galois. What about Igrain?”
Galois’s face fell into a confused frown at the mention of his wife. “Do you remember why we came to Camelot, Uther? I mean why we’re even here?”
Uther crossed his arms over his new rank symbols and starched uniform. “Our ancestors wanted us to have a better life than they did. The Camelot Project was in course for years. We honor them by fulfilling their wishes.”
Galois shook his head. “But what are you doing? This planet is beautiful and we have so much to learn. We haven’t even begun exploration like we should and already you are fighting with a fellow human being who came to this planet for the same reason you did.”
“Ah.” Uther lowered his arms and stepped away from the command console. He backed up to the sliding doors but did not leave. “You’re angry that we’re fighting Vortigern.”
“Yes!” Galois hissed to keep his voice low. “I know you’re in command, but will you listen to what I think?”
For a moment, Uther thought he would. After all, Galois was his best and longest friend. But what Merlin had said the night before still hung in his mind. He was in charge. Like a king, he needed to make the choices necessary to keep his kingdom safe. He had taken up the mantel of protector and leader; this had become his purpose.
“Do you not understand that Vortigern is threatening us?” he asked. “He wants Camelot for himself. I must defend my people.”
Galois waved his hand dramatically to
ward the Avamech. “Like this? With these huge machines? Have you tried speaking to him?”
Uther exploded in a rage, stepping angrily at Galois, his fists clenched. “The man killed my brother!” he screamed. “I have no family left now. I must be the strong one. How many more brothers must die for you to understand that as a leader of my people, I must make hard decisions?”
The command room had fallen silent and all eyes were on the quarreling men. Vivian smiled and shook her head.
“This is what happens when man is given the means to kill greatly.” She left without looking back.
Uther turned back to Galois after the door hissed shut behind Vivian. “Please, don’t let me fight him alone. I need you with me.”
“Sir,” Lot called from his throne-like seat where he consistently looked into the visor over his eyes. “We have a communication from a close planet. The messenger calls himself Pellinore, king of the planet Listenoise. I’m afraid only the D.R.U.I.Ds speak his language. Shall I have Merlin translate?”
Using all his strength, Uther turned away from Galois. “Can you send in a vid-com request? I’d like to see our neighbor.”
Lot typed on the flat screen then waited. A second later, a message flashed on the screen that Listenoise would show its face to the new residence of Camelot. “Ready when you are, sir,” Lot said.
“King Pellinore?” Uther asked the blank screen. In a flash, color ignited and an alien humanoid became visible on the screen.
The creature loomed tall and its skin shimmered a dark, murky green. What should have been hair from his scalp grew tangled weeds and glossy vines like an elegant, decorative plant. Its eyes were narrow and angular with cat pupils. It had no lips and a flat nose and yet it held itself high and proud like royalty. The arthen clothes were scarce and hardly covered the alien’s body and patches of skin on it seemed to resemble bark. It moved with slow, flowing movements. On its head, a crown of pure gold in the likeness of twigs and moss gleamed.
It opened its mouth and replied to Uther, but its language came in moans and whispers that he could not understand.
“Where is Merlin?” Uther barked just as the D.R.U.I.D entered from the sliding door. “Thank the gods, Merlin, we’ve made contact with an outside planet and I cannot understand its language.”
Merlin stepped forward so the alien could see him. He made a small bow. “Honored, we are, King Pellinore of Listenoise. Too long has it been since your people sought out mine. Would you not favor this young commander with his own tongue?”
Uther arched an eyebrow. “He knows our language? Then why didn’t he speak it?”
Merlin whispered close to Uther’s ear, “Listenoise people show respect by speaking in native tongues.” He cocked his head a little. “I suppose he did find you worthy of his respect. You’ll have to work on that.” He smiled as Uther dropped his mouth in mild shock and anger.
“Humans in such ships need not know everything about everyone before their engines have cooled,” King Pellinore sighed. His tone was still that of his people: sighing and slow, but his lipless mouth smiled. “And that for which I have come to speak to you about is not a joyful thing.”
Uther frowned, confused by the alien’s strange way of speaking. “What does he mean, Merlin?”
Merlin answered King Pellinore for him. “We have been threatened by one of our own. Things are not unwinding as it was written they should. Matters must be settled. You understand this.”
“I, for one, do not,” Galois jumped in. He addressed Pellinore. “I pray you mean us no harm as we have much to sort out ourselves here on this planet.”
The king raised his non-existent eyebrows. “So, bold a man to me speaks. I can see many things, human. Not in the future, are you. You gone should already be. Fight this war, young Pendragon, I will aid you surely.”
“Listenoise are famous for their prophetic visions in this system,” Merlin explained. “Though it remains unexplained by your science.”
“I don’t like it,” Galois said warningly to Uther. “We cannot involve other planets in our own civil war.”
Uther rolled his eyes to his friend. “You do not like anything strange and unusual. Pellinore,” he looked back to the screen. “We have D.R.U.I.D armor and Avalonian mecha on Camelot. We plan to use it to fight Vortigern.”
“How brave to make mention of the Avalon armor,” Pellinore sighed. “Fortune is to you, for I know your D.R.U.I.D well. A foolish man, you are Uther Pendragon.” His voice had dropped to a low, moaning hiss. “Allies we shall be. My aid in this war for you, I will give. I do not wish to see such suffering. Quick and speedy must the victor be.”
“No!” Galois cried out. Igrain ran to his side and placed one hand on Uther’s shoulder.
“Uther, please listen to my husband. I know that you think you’re doing the right thing, but think!”
Chancing a look into Igrain’s pleading eyes, Uther felt his heart break a little. “Are you proposing treason, Galois?” he shot at his friend instead, not being able to bear Igrain’s sad eyes.
“What?” Galois gasped. “Uther, I said no such thing, but you are bringing in a whole new planet into this war for the sake of, what, your revenge? Constans would hate what you’ve done!”
With a scream of anger, Uther threw a heavy punch into Galois’s jaw and then kicked him to the ground, igniting an energy dirk as he leapt to him. Igrain screamed and lurched to grasp her husband, but Merlin pulled her out of the way as Uther’s sizzling dirk swished through the air. Galois caught his hand just above his face and flipped Uther off of himself. The men stood and charged one another again.
“Stop!” Lot cried leaping between his father-in-law and his commander. Fortunately, Galois and Uther halted before the electric dirk found a home in the young man’s chest.
The whole bridge grew quiet again. Igrain pulled away from Merlin and stood next to Uther, tears dripping down her face.
“Call the Listenoise down. Resume your war preparations. We will not be a part of it.” She turned and strode out of the room, her boots clopping the whole way out the sliding door.
Galois stepped back, pushing Lot away from himself and turned on his heel to leave as well.
Just as the door slid open to release him, Uther called, “If you leave me now, I will count you among Vortigern’s army and no friend of mine. You will be a traitor to Camelot. And to me.”
Galois stopped and stood for one hopeful moment. He turned his head as if to look back at Uther and whispered, “I cannot follow you like this.” His eyes flirted to Lot, but he did not linger.
When he was gone, Uther waited. He prayed Galois would come back in, beg forgiveness. He’d be all too happy to accept it and take back his friend. But the doors didn’t hiss open again. Galois would be gone to Lothian, away from the planet, and perhaps never return to Camelot.
Lot waited transfixed, confused and afraid of where he now stood. “Sir?” he said quietly to Uther.
“You are relieved of your duties, Lot,” Uther sighed, his eyes on the floor and not on the screen where the king had just witnessed his most fantastic blunder and weakness. “Take thirty-two hours then either report back to me or go to Lothian with your fiancé and her family. The choice is yours.”
After Lot left and the men half-heartedly went back to their work, Uther faced Pellinore. “You have seen my weakness,” he said stiffly. “You see how I am. Do you still wish to align yourself with me should this war grow?”
Pellinore’s alien eyes turned down in sadness. “Young Pendragon, your heart is broken I see. By my dead son Aglovale, and my unborn sprig Percival whom my wife carries even now, I swear I will uphold you and council you when I may. No man should have to be king alone.”
Uther bowed a thanks as the screen faded out. He turned to Merlin. “Now, let’s get those Avamechs ready for battle.”
Merlin put up his hand to stop Uther. “What of Galois? What will you do should he come at you with an army of Lothian pirates? Will
you fight your friend?”
Uther thought. Yes, of course he’d fight Galois if he had to. He had insulted the memory of Constans. Called him a coward. Doubted him. He’d have to fight him sooner or later if they were to live in the same solar system. Or he could prevent a fight. He could make sure they never fought again. That would be the best thing, but Igrain would be heartbroken. Igrain.
“Merlin,” Uther smiled and began to walk out of the command room. “Tell me more about Avalonian metal and this cloning process you all use for medical purposes.”
7
The Face of a Friend
The suns had set hours ago as Uther stood straight and proud in one of the many sparse, sterile labs under his palace. He had not even tried to talk himself out of the procedure he was about to plan. All around him, D.R.U.I.Ds prepared their instruments and the precision machines they needed to proceed. A soft table covered in white awaited him where a D.R.U.I.D stood, empty eyed and clothed to perform surgery. Merlin entered at last, but with more haste than Uther expected. Something agitated him.
“What is it, Merlin?” he asked lightly as he began to remove his clothes and walked toward the sterilization chamber. “You seem out of sorts. A malfunction?” he smiled.
Merlin humored him with a smirk that was more fake than his android bones. “Sir, are you sure about this? Galois is your friend.”
“I am sure,” Uther said, he slipped his shirt off and stepped into the chamber. The door hissed closed and Vivian entered the lab behind Merlin.
“This will cause the Avamech not to function as it should,” she said quietly. “Excalibur answers to his DNA. If he taints it with the blood of Galois and mixes with Avalonian metal, Excalibur will find out something is wrong. It will reject him and wait for one of pure blood. Uther will be less human after this. Less a Pendragon.”
Merlin clasped his hands behind himself and frowned. “Long have I served the Pendragons, lady. Longer than you know.” A gleam came into his blue eyes. “I am trying to ensure things happen as they were meant to.”
A New Home: A Sci-Fi Arthurian Retelling (The Camelot Project Book 1) Page 6