by Kal Spriggs
Lucius sat back. His mind ranged over how the young man had overturned his world in only a few minutes. He would have made a great Emperor, Lucius thought with regret, I will have to do my best to rule as well as I can.
***
“Did you know?” Lucius asked as Kandergain stepped into his quarters.
She gave him a sad smile, “I suspected. I've been around enough social upheaval in my life to realize that things wouldn't be as smooth as some people expected once you recaptured Nova Roma.”
Lucius sighed, “Will this work?”
She shrugged, “I don't know. I can't see the future, Lucius, I just have hints.”
“What about what Admiral Dreyfus said, how nine out of ten futures, we fail?” Lucius wondered if the Admiral had seen Lucius as the new Emperor of Nova Roma, if that was why his cabal had fought their return to the system so hard.
Kandergain came over and settled onto the couch next to Lucius. “My love,” she said, “the future isn't some percentage game like Rory and Feliks play.” Lucius smiled as he thought of Rory and Feliks shouting between them to determine the fate of millions. “There are possibilities, some more likely than others. From what I understand, there are millions or billions of possibilities, many of them fundamentally similar to each other. What we're doing is trying to work our way to the one we want.”
“Which is?” Lucius asked.
“Which is the survival of the human race as something other than cattle for the Balor,” she replied sharply. “If you think that I orchestrated your appointement as Emperor, I'm afraid I don't quite match up to the sinister manipulator role you've cast me in. Actually,” she said with teary eyes, “I'm quite a bit hurt.”
Lucius bit back a curse. He embraced her, “I didn't mean it that way.”
“You did,” she said. “And trust me, Lucius, it hurts the most because I have done worse... but you have to understand I'm not doing this for me. I'm not even doing it for you or for our daughter. I'm doing it to prevent the extinction of the human race.”
“I know,” Lucius said, “but sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed.”
“Hah,” Kandergain let go of the embrace and sat back, “try being me. You just have to be the fearless leader, I've got to be the assassin and spy who can't ever fail.” She sighed. “Those possibilities that you are afraid of... well, I strongly suspect that Admiral Dreyfus's wife was shown those for a reason.”
Lucius's eyes narrowed, “What do you mean?”
Kandergain didn't meet his eyes, “John Mira was known to be... selective about what futures he showed psychics. He was able to block out parts of his mind, futures that he saw, in order to manipulate people. What I'm concerned with is that the futures that Admiral Dreyfus relayed to you were all very similar themes... lost battles and failure. I wonder if John Mira hadn't manipulated him into thinking there wasn't hope, in order to remove him from the picture.”
“But, why?” Lucius asked. “He could have killed me. He may have killed our daughter, if he was behind the kidnapping. Hell, he forced us to use a fraction of our forces to fight a desperate battle to liberate Nova Roma...”
“And that all might have been necessary,” Kandergain said. “I don't know. I'm just as much a puppet as you. None of this is guaranteed, either, it's all weighted risks, from what I understand. But think on this: If he knew Admiral Dreyfus wasn't mentally flexible enough, that he would lose more battles than he won...”
Lucius shook his head in instant denial… but he couldn't discount the possibility. He felt his heart ache as he saw the level of cold calculation involved in convincing a man to sacrifice everything he knew in order to save humanity... and then to manipulate him into betraying the people who trusted him in order to get him out of the picture.
“I'm not sure how much I can think about that before I start to wonder if we're playing for the wrong team,” Lucius said.
“Yeah,” Kandergain grimaced, “tell me about it.” She sighed, “And stop worrying about our daughter. I told you. I have my very best team on it. They will bring her back.” She stood up from the couch, “Which brings me to... us.”
“You've got to go, then?” Lucius asked.
“Yes,” she said. “and this time I'll be gone for a long time. Decades, probably. Things are heating up with the Shadow Lords and I've a score to settle with Mistress Blanc as well, especially since she's cut ties with Admiral Collae.”
Lucius hadn't heard that, but he had noticed the psychic's absense. “Anything I should know about? Any way that I can help?”
For just a moment he saw her hesitate, as if there was something about Mistress Blanc that she wanted to share, but the moment passed. “No, nothing you need to worry about,” she said. “Just... don't feel like you need to live a hermit's life, miserable and alone. I want you to be happy, Lucius, so if you find someone...”
“I see,” Lucius said. He stood and went to the window and stared out at the city. “I have already found someone, I'm afraid.”
“Oh?” He could hear a catch in her voice. “That's good. I mean, that's great. Really, great.” Her voice was leached of emotion, though.
“Yeah,” Lucius said with a slight smile, “She's intelligent, wise, and she's even got a wicked temper.” He turned around, “She's also the most dangerous person I know... and she's got my heart so completely that there could never be anyone else.”
Her chocolate brown eyes melted and she stepped forward, “I see.” She embraced him again and he felt her heart beat against him. “You're terrible.”
“I know.” He cleared his throat, “I know you have to be off, save the universe and all that, but do you think we have time to take care of something?”
Kandergain snorted with laughter, “I'll clear my schedule for the rest of the afternoon if you'll do the same, Emperor Giovanni.”
Lucius growled at that. “Better make it the whole evening.”
***
Tommy King froze as he stepped onto the bridge, shocked by what he saw.
Lauren stood, arms outstretched, at the center of the compartment. The captain’s chair was gone along with the other consoles, replaced by an empty platform. She stood at the center of the platform, her head tilted back, eyes open and staring at the ceiling. “Hello, Mason,” she said.
“Are you…” He caught himself before he could finish the absurd question. Of course she wasn’t “okay.” Tommy cleared his throat, “What are you doing?”
“Communicating with the ship,” she said, without changing position. “I can feel her Mason… and my God it feels amazing. Did you know that vacuum has a sound? I can hear it, the void brushing against our skin…” She trailed off. He saw her shudder a bit and then her arms fell to her sides and she straightened and looked him in the eye, “What brings you here?”
“I just talked with our boss,” Tommy said with as genuine a grin as he could give. “It seems that Baron Giovanni can sort of accept the idea of Tommy King the privateer… as long as you’re around to keep me straight. We’re keeping the letter of marque.”
“Oh?” For the first time, she gave a smile of her own… though Tommy didn’t miss the edge of hunger in that smile. “Who are we going after now?”
Tommy felt his heart leap a bit. It was only a little thing, that smile, but it was a connection they still shared. “Well, that’s where it gets fun. It seems that some of the Colonial Republic don’t like the United Colonies… we’re going to go show them that it is best that they mind their own business…”
***
Lucius took a seat at the table. Around him sat the leaders or representatives of seven other systems, including Harris Penwaithe, Interim President Quzvini, and others.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Good morning... Emperor,” Harris Penwaithe said with a bit of vitriol in his tone.
Lucius gave the man a level look. The official announcement was still pending, but there was no doubt about it anymore. The surviving Nova Roma nobili
ty had voted almost unanimously for it, while the popular vote had been less so, it looked as if he had carried it by a wide enough margin that no one would oppose it.
As much as I might wish otherwise, he thought.
“We are here to settle admissions into the United Colonies,” Lucius said. “Now, all of you have worked out the details with Minister of State Bueller, but I've asked you all here in order to lay all the cards on the table.” Lucius brought up the display, “The various concerns that most of you have revolve around being outnumbered and losing local autonomy... along with a healthy dose of fear of being absorbed by a Second Nova Roma Empire.”
He saw several of the men and women around the table nod at that. “Now, then,” he said, “First off, I want to state that while your individual worlds all have unique cultures and social mores, they all share one thing: all of you have recently thrown off the yoke of tyrants. Whether that be the people of Halcyon throwing out Nova Corp or those of Tehran and Nova Roma ousting the Chxor Empire, all of us have experience with tyranny and all of our people will not forget that. As part of this constitution and as voting blocks, I think we'll see quite a bit of anger any suggestion that some of the voters force others to adjust their behavior. We've also worked some precautions into the systems already, so that we won't get a mob mentality that seizes power later on.”
“This sounds acceptable,” Interim President Quzvini said. “You have already addressed my general issues. My main question would be about certain rumors we have heard in regards to the Chxor Empire and some of their worlds.”
Lucius sighed, “You are speaking of whether or not Chxor worlds have asked to join the United Colonies?”
“I am,” he said. Lucius wondered if Quzvini had asked that question in such a neutral fashion to preempt one of the others from doing the same in a less friendly manner.
Either way, Lucius still had an answer. “I have been approached by three Chxor worlds asking to sign on with the United Colonies. Right now we are investigating their systems to verify that they wish to join in good faith and that they will comply with our rules about individual freedoms.” He shrugged. “In truth, if they check out, and everything so far suggests that they are willing to play fair, I'm inclined to allow them to join. Those worlds are, by the way, Saragossa, Garan, and Norbar. Saragossa's envoys included both Chxor and Humans.”
“I'm not certain I feel safe having Chxor with voting power,” Ambassador Matis of Wenceslaus said. The big blonde man shrugged, “We are going to be at war with them, after all.”
“We are,” Lucius nodded, “Though perhaps not as long as you may fear.” He didn't want to say more, but the Chxor Empire had withdrawn from many human worlds after their defeat at Nova Roma. Some of those worlds they had left as charnal houses, but on others they had abandoned the systems without further atrocities. In some, they had actually formally surrendered to Lucius's forces and asked for asylum.
From what he had heard from Kral, there was a war on between the Benevolence Council and their opponents... and the defeat of Chxarals had been a serious blow for the Benevolence Council's supporters. The time might well come soon when the Chxor Empire was in the hands of allies, rather than enemies. Oddly, much of the hatred to the Chxor had been blunted by the efforts of Kral and his forces to help liberate Nova Roma. There were even some efforts to support “our” Chxor in their fight against the Benevolence Council on both Nova Roma and the United Colonies.
It is going to be an interesting future, he thought.
“In any case,” Lucius said, “membership by new worlds will need to be ratified by by a vote of congress. Which, if you elect to join, will include representatives from each of your worlds.”
“Well, then,” Interim President Quzvini said with a smile, “Where do I sign?”
***
Faraday Colony
United Colonies
June 5, 2404
Lucretta Mannetti looked up as someone stopped outside her cell. “Oh,” she said dourly, “it's you.”
Colonel William Proscia stood there with an implacable look on his face. “You nearly killed the Baron, you know.”
She shrugged, “So? Before you lecture me on how important he is... remember, William, I know your secrets.” She left it open that she could expose him.
“I'm afraid we're past that point now, my dear,” Colonel Proscia said as he stepped up near the bars. He nodded at the security cameras. “I'm not here.”
“You're going to help me escape?” Lucretta breathed. She had thought that after her spectacular failure, then surely Marius would let her rot in jail or just have her killed. Come to think of it...
“I'm afraid not,” Colonel Proscia said. “You're headed to interrogation in five minutes. I'm not going to kill more good Marines just to get your useless carcass free.”
“I could ruin you!” Lucretta snapped. “You were my agent, here, I could tell Lucius and...”
He shook his head, “I was never your agent. I've always been loyal to the Baron's interests... through his father's efforts, of course. You know that, you've just lost sight of the big picture.” Colonel Proscia gave a tight smile, “Then again, you never were good at the big picture.”
“What are you going to do?” Lucretta asked. Her mind raced, yet it was a muddled race, she couldn't seem to form any plan. I've been drugged, she realized.
“You'll go to interrogation. They'll administer locapan. You'll suffer an allergic reaction, quite a painful death, but it's the least I can do for all of the Marines who died because of you,” Colonel Proscia said.
Lucretta sagged back. She tried to speak, but she couldn't seem to form any words.
He leaned close to the bars. His voice was the last thing she heard, a soft, almost loving tone, “Burn in hell, bitch.”
***
Tannis System
Independent
June 19, 2404
Reese straightened as Marius Giovanni stepped into the interrogation room. The past few weeks had been a living hell as Marius's agents had grilled him about everything he had done, everything he had seen, and every thought he had during his escape from Halcyon.
They had not resorted to torture, though they had interrupted his sleep and used drugs at least twice from what he could tell about the fuzzy gaps in his memory.
Yet they had ceased their lines of questioning the day before and then they had told him that Marius himself was on his way to meet with him. “Sir,” Reese nodded respectfully. He understood why they'd done what they had. Admiral Mannetti had clearly been badly defeated and as the only one to make it out, they were suspicious that he might have had a role in that defeat.
“Hello, Reese,” Marius said. He gestured at the chair next to his bunk, “May I?”
“Of course, sir,” Reese said. He took a seat on his bunk a moment after Marius sat.
“First off, congratulations, you are the father of a healthy young boy, I understand,” Marius said. “I hope that you'll get to meet him, but right now, I'm afraid that you aren't a favorite with my daughter.”
“I see,” Reese said. “What... what is my son's name?”
“Anthony William Giovanni,” Marius said.
Reese felt his eyes tear up a bit. “Anthony, a good name.” He respected Anthony Doko, though he disagreed with the dog-like loyalty the other man felt for Lucius Giovanni. I will break my son away from that bastard before it costs him his life, Reese thought.
“Now, then,” Marius said. “I have some good news for you, Reese. I've had a position open up with my forces, now that Admiral Mannetti is gone.”
“She's dead?” Reese asked.
“I'm afraid she died in interrogation,” Marius nodded. “An error with the dosage of drugs. My agent wasn't able to facilitate her escape.”
Reese just shrugged at that. He didn't much care what had happened to her. Taking her position, though, that meant quite a bit. “I would be your public face, then?”
“Absolutely,�
�� Marius said. “My personal agent. I truly appreciate what you were able to recover from the base at Halcyon... and we'll be pouring over the data from the systems for years, I'm certain. Quite a bright future for you with us, Reese... and one day, you'll be reunited properly with your son and my daughter.”
Reese nodded at that, “Of course, sir, I'd be honored.”
***
Shadow Space
June 19, 2404
Marius Giovanni sighed as he read the news article. It was clear that President Spirodon didn't control things as well as he thought back on Elysium. The latest round of protests showed that, even if the recent assassination of his niece didn't.
He turned at a giggle and saw his granddaughter had pulled herself up on the edge of her crib. “You're a very smart little girl,” he said with a smile, “too smart for your own good, I'm afraid.”
She blew a raspberry at him for that and lowered herself down. He ignored the disrespect, for now. Soon she would be old enough that he would begin training her in proper behavior. For now, it was important that she bonded with him. She would be more malleable if she felt he had genuine affection for her.
Which I do, he thought, as I also regret the necessity to kidnap my own flesh and blood. His son had given him no real option, though. He had refused his offered alliance and then had the termidity to declare him an imposter.
Granted, Marius had seen the writing on the wall before that, which was why he'd had his commando team make contact with some unhappy locals and pressed them to take action. Their marginal competence had provided the perfect screen for her abduction and the idiots hadn't even realized which of the children they took was the actual Kaylee Giovanni.
Marius still felt the name was too light. His grandmother's name didn't fit the child, she would be a warrior, he felt, and she should have a warrior's name.