Serge Parsons, the latest in a long succession of Parsons and an old adversary of Admiral Norris Jons, would not likely welcome their arrival, and the tattered remains of the small squadron did not have to wait long to find out. The communications screen filled with a creature made out of yellow, at least that was Mike’s initial reaction. When he got over his surprise he made out an alien face feathered in bright yellow, with matching eyes, beak, crest, and ears, even a yellow tongue. The only non-yellow features were tiny black pupils within the yellow eyes. Its voice, surprisingly deep and mellow, greeted them without the slightest indication of warmth.
“Cruiser Beta IV, state your intentions.”
“Private communication for Serge Parsons,” Admiral Jons stated calmly.
“Standby.”
A new face, that of a middle-aged human with brown hair, widely spaced, commanding brown eyes, and a pointed beard showing the first signs of gray, filled the screen almost immediately. “To whom do I owe the pleasure?” he asked, without humor or welcome. “Show yourself.”
Jons nodded to the communications officer, and the video link energized. A grim smile appeared on Serge Parsons’ face as his brow furrowed in thought. “Jons, my favorite Fleet troublemaker.” Peering more closely, he added, “Why, you’ve been promoted! Congratulations, Admiral. What’s on your agenda today? What have I done to risk your ire this time?”
“We need a tightbeam conversation, Serge. Can you arrange it on your end?”
“That’s a military tool, Norris. You know that. I wouldn’t have any idea how to do such a thing.”
“Serge, I’m not here to threaten you. Just do it.”
Parsons searched Jons’ eyes for a time. “I’d feel a little better if you’d shed some of that delta v. Looks to me like you’re bent on getting here in a hurry.”
“I am in a hurry. I’ll shed a little v if it will make you feel better. Heck, I’ll even swing the conn over a few degrees, but I don’t want to waste a lot of time. Get back to me as soon as you can."
It took the communications officer and the ground controllers ten minutes to set up the link. When Serge Parsons returned, he was seated behind a desk in a comfortably appointed office.
“Okay, Norris. You have my undivided attention, but don’t think things aren’t hopping down here.”
“How secure are we?” Jons queried.
Parsons’ eyes narrowed. “What’s going on, Norris? Nothing’s absolutely secure, you know that.” He paused, then added carefully, thoughtfully, “We’re probably more secure than you realize. We have a few tricks you haven’t figured out yet. You didn’t get rid of much delta v by the way. You’d better talk fast.”
“Do you know about the coup?”
“Of course. You know I have excellent intelligence.” His eyes narrowed. “Not you, too, Norris. Don’t tell me you’ve switched sides. I won’t believe you.”
“Would you believe me if I said I’m requesting asylum?”
“Hmm . . . that’s a twist.” He ran a hand through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck while considering. “Parsons’ World is not in the business of offering asylum to Imperial squadrons. And, no, it doesn’t fit. I don’t see you giving up, Norris. Your coming here will just attract a lot of unwanted attention. Go somewhere else.”
Jons gave out an exasperated sigh. “It’s not for me, Serge. It’s for my passengers. I’m just the delivery boy. We can’t discuss this over the comm. I’ll guarantee safe passage if you’ll come up for a meeting.”
“Not a chance, Norris. I might be willing to offer safe passage for one ship to come down. A small ship.”
“Serge, that won’t do. These are special circumstances. I give you my word that I’m not here to fight.”
“Sorry. We have too much history behind us, you and I, and not all of it honorable.”
Ellandra of the Chosen stepped into the video pickup, her gaze locking onto Parsons.’ His face drained of color. He rose slowly from his chair as if a great weight had suddenly been placed on his shoulders. “I see . . .”
The connection broke. Jons broke his end of the transmission, as well. Moments later Serge Parsons’ visage appeared on the screen, indicating the tightbeam transmission had been terminated.
“I’m coming out to meet you, but I won’t come aboard. You have my personal guarantee that anyone who boards my ship will be returned safely. That squadron of yours will have to remain out-system. That’s the best I can do.” He broke the connection.
Jons turned to the others. “Can’t say I’m surprised. Our coming to the planet with a cruiser is a risk he’s unwilling to take. I would probably do the same in his shoes. Do we call it off?”
Mike broke the silence. “We need to do this. We also have to think about the Queen’s safety. What . . .”
Ellie interrupted. “Mike, there’s still Alexis. She can remain here to ensure the line of Chosen continues if something happens to me. Serge Parsons is a businessman. We must negotiate with him, but only I can determine if he is a true scoundrel or a man of honor.”
Admiral Jons cleared his throat and said, “Based on our values, he’s a scoundrel, Your Majesty, but from his point of view, he’s not. He has a personal code of honor to which I believe he remains true. As for his associates, I can’t speak for them. I believe you can trust his personal guarantee of safety.”
“Then it’s settled.”
* * * * *
Ellie, Mike, Reba, Val, Otis, Jessie, and Admiral Jons were escorted to Serge Parsons’ office aboard his ship. They found him sitting at a personal command center in his office engrossed in the net, probably ensuring they kept their end of the bargain. He kept them waiting for a time, then lifted the helmet from his head and rose, stepping out from behind his desk to approach the Queen. He did not kneel.
“Welcome, Your Majesty,” he stated with pursed lips. “Your ships appear to be moving off.”
“As promised, my fleet will not threaten you provided you keep your end of the agreement.”
“Huh! Some agreement! Never thought I’d see the day . . . Would you care for refreshments, or would you like to get down to business?”
Admiral Jons introduced the group, then spoke for all of them. “Serge, we’d like to propose, well, heck, it’s pretty obvious why we’re here. We need help.”
Serge leaned back to sit on the edge of his desk. Crossing his arms, he said, “I’m a simple man. You know how I operate. What’s in it for me?”
Ellie spoke up. “Perhaps legitimacy, Mr. Parsons? I may be able to work something out along those lines.”
“Legitimacy! What would I want with legitimacy?” he asked, perplexed. “That would take all the challenge and profit out of it.” Looking closely at Ellie, he said, “I do not seek, nor do I need, legitimacy, Your Majesty. My business is not at all hindered by your fleets’ best efforts to shut me down. You’ll have to do better than that.”
“What is it you seek, Mr. Parsons?”
“An open-ended offer like that?” He thought for a time, then rose to face her. “This coup is bad for business. For the moment, things are in turmoil and the pickings are easy, but the long-term prospects are bleak. No one will be able to hold all this together. I’m already adding more armaments to my ships for their own protection. Before you know it, piracy will be rife. Every planet’s going to have to protect itself, and interstellar trade, including my own, is going to drop off to nothing. It’ll be too risky. I like avoiding duties and taxes, but I’m no pirate. I want things to go back to the way they were.”
“You’re not a pirate?” Mike asked, surprised.
“Of course not!” Serge replied. “Where’s the long-term profit in that? Hasn’t Norris told you what I do?”
“I think inferences were made, but nothing specific.”
“Care to do the honors, Norris?”
“Serge, even I don’t know everything you’re tied up in. Illegal ship modifications and smuggling are what I’ve gone after you for. I
suspect weapons manufacturing and distribution, drug smuggling, hiring criminals. For all I know you’ve sunk to slavery, assassination, transporting mercenary armies, and who knows what else.”
“And you came here in spite of those beliefs?” Serge asked incredulously. “Maybe I’m working for the other side. Have you thought of that?”
“Are you?” Ellie asked sharply.
“No, Your Majesty, I am not. Nor do I condone assassination or slavery. Any drugs I carry have antidotes and are used by those who choose their own fates. As to the rest, we have standards here. Any of my people caught operating outside our standards have everything they own confiscated and are not allowed to return.”
“Honor among thieves, eh?” Ellie scoffed.
“There you have it, Your Majesty,” Serge answered proudly. “I’m a thief, but only in the eyes of the Empire. In my little fiefdom, we stick to the Code. Your Empire can afford it,” he added, amusement showing in his eyes.
Ellie walked up to him. “Perhaps with a little modification of the Code to fit our present reality, we can forge a temporary alliance.”
“I repeat, what’s in it for me?”
“Is a return to the status quo adequate?” Ellie responded immediately.
“What’s it going to cost?”
“Lots, maybe all that you have. Perhaps even more. The only thing I can promise is that in return you will get plenty of that ‘challenge’ you crave.” She stood her ground before him, adding, “By your own words, you admit that your success is based on the success of the Empire. Like it or not, that makes you a part of the Empire. I am your Queen, Mr. Parsons. I require your help, and I am asking for your help.”
“Humph,” he grumbled. “I’ll not fall into that trap so easily. I may be willing to help in small ways, but my personal fortune would not dent the resources you’re up against.”
She smiled. “Then we’ll just have to use it wisely, won’t we.”
“What is it you need?”
She grimaced and turned away from him, pacing, her hands clutched behind her. “I plan to attack the problem on two distinct levels: political and military. A political solution is, and will remain, our highest priority. My military forces will help provide the means for us to get our political message out.
“I rule the Empire, Mr. Parsons. To rule in the manner of the Chosen is to serve. I will continue to serve with every fiber of my being. I would welcome the opportunity to give up that responsibility, but I cannot and will not do so until our legitimate political process makes that demand of me. The Rebel leadership has led everyone to believe the line of Chosen is ended, that there is no hope of restoring the Empire as it was. My job is really quite simple, at least on the surface. I have to prove to the Imperial Senate that the line of Chosen is not ended. After that, the Senate can choose whatever form of leadership it so desires, as it has always chosen. It is the very reason my line is referred to as ‘Chosen.’ As much as I might wish it otherwise, I believe the royal family will have the requisite popular support.
“So, we need a strong, loyal military to keep these Rebels in check while we pursue the more fundamental track to permanent resolution in the political arena. One cannot happen without the other. I will not stop this coup militarily, I am not willing to subject the general populace to all-out civil war, but I cannot rebuild the necessary political foundation without a strong military force behind me.
“We start with the military side of things. That force is almost nonexistent right now. It will need a leader which I will supply, and it will need a secure base of operations, something you may be able to help us with until it gets on its feet. We might also take advantage of some of those unusual ship modifications Admiral Jons referred to.”
Mike went to Ellie’s side. He met Parsons’ gaze squarely. “There you have the gist of our plan, Mr. Parsons. We need to flesh it out with intelligence, we need a base, a few ship repairs, and help getting around for a while. Beyond that, we can’t say at the moment, but there will be more.”
“Call me Serge, all of you,” he said to Mike, Ellie, and turning to encompass the rest as his head nodded. “As strange as it may seem, and I find this very strange indeed, we seek the same ends. You’re right, Your Majesty,” he said turning back to her, “when you say that in the long term Parsons’ World needs the Empire. A year ago I would not have agreed with you, but now . . . now I believe we’re on the same team. Perhaps only for the moment, but we’re on the same team.”
Turning to Mike, he asked, “What happened to your arm, First Knight?”
Mike grimaced as he looked down at the arm strapped across his body. “A little run in with the Chessori, I’m afraid.”
“Ah, yes. The Chessori,” Serge mumbled as he looked away, troubled. His eyes rose back to Mike’s. “They’re in it up to their missing eyebrows. And they’re cutting into my business. I’m hearing rumors about a disgusting psi weapon they’ve designed. Can you tell me if these rumors are true?”
“Too true, I’m afraid, though we suspect the weapon may be inbred. Do you have any information to the contrary?”
“Inbred, eh? Interesting.” Serge thought for a moment. “No, only rumors. But if I can get my hands on one of them, and I’m working on it, we’ll soon find out. I’ve dealt with the Chessori. I don’t think they’re all bad. They’re excellent traders,” he added grimly.
“We need information on the coup, Serge. How good is your intelligence? Do you know who’s behind it, how extensively they’ve taken over?”
Serge turned to Ellie. “You don’t know?”
“We know very little. We suspect a lot. I was away at the time, trying to work out a treaty with the Chessori. I have not yet returned to the Palace. What can you tell us?”
“Two squadrons escorted you on that mission. Are the nine ships out there all that have returned?” Serge asked, worry in his voice.
Ellie rose to stand before him. “It’s time for me to determine your true loyalties, Mr. Parsons. Will you submit to a Test?”
“I will definitely not submit,” he said, taking a step back and holding out a hand to ward her off. “We may be on the same team temporarily, but I, too, have state secrets to protect.”
“My gift can be controlled, Serge. I give you my word that I will not probe. I only wish to determine the truth of the words you speak. Without agreement on this we’ll be forced to leave. You’ll have to decide how to deal with any future governments on your own. I do not offer a second opportunity for this.” She folded her arms as she awaited his response.
“I’ve sworn an oath to never submit to your probe, Your Majesty. It’s against our Code.”
“I’m not Testing you under duress, Serge. I am not interrogating you, and Admiral Jons has not captured you, but I must determine the truth of you as it relates to me. Nothing more. Each of the others in this room has been through this and will vouch, I am certain, for the fact that I never, ever, reveal to others what I discover without their permission.”
“I believe in two-way deals. How can I be certain of your words?”
“Is thousands of years of precedent not adequate?”
He turned away from her and thought long and hard before reaching a personal decision. When he turned back to her, gone was the light, devil-may-care attitude. He spoke softly. “These are unusual times and the stakes are the very highest. Many will be forced to make personal choices.”
He smiled a sad smile. “Indeed, your very presence aboard this vessel means that our old world is gone, perhaps forever. Whatever happens, my people will have a new order to contend with. Parsons’ World may not survive the coming conflict, certainly not in the style we now enjoy, if the Rebels succeed in their efforts. But more fundamental, my forefathers would insist we choose that which is right over that which is convenient. I will do my best to see that Parsons’ World does so.
“For me personally, what you intend is right. For our mutual benefit, I hereby pledge my personal support to you
along with my very considerable resources. I will see this through to its end with you. As for Parsons’ World, my people will have to speak for themselves. I believe I can swing things in your favor, but the task will not be easy, nor will it happen overnight or in secrecy. Initially, the help I offer will be limited. You may proceed with your Touch.”
He sat down on the edge of his desk, and Ellie placed both of her hands around his head. She entered his mind, as only a Chosen could, and did her thing. Mike wasn’t certain, but he thought he detected a momentary look of surprise on her face. When she was done, she dropped her hands from his head to his shoulders, leaned toward him, and said softly, “Thank you, Serge. You speak true.”
Poor Serge was still shaking his head to clear it as she stepped away.
“You have pledged your support, and I accept that pledge, but only after you understand the full depth of my plight.” His eyes rose to meet hers, and she added, “Truth is a two-way street, Serge. You deserve to know. I set out with two squadrons and nearly five thousand people. Of those, one damaged ship, four people, and one Rider survived. Admiral Jons, his ships, and three of the four Knights here were not part of the treaty mission. They have each endured staggering risks to keep me alive. The ships of Admiral Jons squadron, each of them severely damaged and understaffed, are the extent of my forces at the moment.”
Serge continued to shake his head. “Did I hear right? Only five made it back?”
“If you call this ‘back,’ yes, five people made it back. In my mind, we have not and will not have made it back until we stand free in the Palace.”
Serge was stunned. “What happened?”
“Soon after our arrival on Dorwall, we experienced the mind weapon of the Chessori for the first time. My Protectors, led by Sir Otis, got us off the planet, but none of the other ships made it. We escaped with only one ship, and almost everyone on the ship had been killed. We picked up Sir Mike and Lady Reba at our first stop and we fought off more Chessori, but a Rebel squadron was waiting for us as soon as we made it off-planet.”
Last of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book One) Page 57