by C. S. Harte
“Alliance has always been a misleading name for them. At best, they are a loose confederacy centered on a cult-like religion. Most of the Alliance worlds are gone. The remaining leaders saw Mimics as a post-rapture fate. The followers saw them as Gods. In return for their fealty, Mimics have spared them.”
“Cowardly bastards…” Meomi bared her teeth. “We should’ve wiped them during the Colony Wars…”
“What they did to you, we can’t be certain. We believe Mimics have corrupted Entrents for their own bidding.”
“Wait, are you saying Mimics can now use Entrents?” Meomi’s eyes widened. “The all-powerful, genetically engineered, telepathic beings?”
“Not all Entrents. Just some.” Whisper shook her head. “Perhaps, more by now. You’ve been asleep for almost a week.”
“A week!” Meomi shouted. “What’s wrong with me?”
“You were in terrible shape when we found you. We don’t know how long they held and interrogated you. But Nume, our resident Entrent, has been trying to heal the damage done to you. Her efforts are why you are awake now.”
“Can she really fix me?” Meomi placed her hand on her heart. “Make me feel normal again? Whole?”
“That’s… not an easy question to answer.” Whisper took a deep breath. “We still don’t fully understand what Entrents are capable of. Now that Mimics have the aid of Entrents, it changes the calculus of the war. You seem to be someone important to them. Do you know why that is?”
“I’m…” Meomi hesitated, not wanting to relive her experience as an alien host. She also couldn’t be certain this moment wasn’t yet another illusion. “I’m not sure.”
Whisper nodded and frowned. “I understand. Our enemies were always formidable. Adding Entrents to their list of weapons… Well, you can imagine. Things must be really confusing right now. But I hope you’ll be able to arrive at the truth of reality once more.”
“I hope so too,” Meomi sighed.
“It’s not the lies you need to be afraid of.” Whisper held Meomi’s hand. “Those are easy to spot. They stand out like a blinking pulsar when compared to the truth. It’s the partial truths that are more insidious. Those appear plausible enough to sneak under the defense of reason.”
“If that’s the case, then this could very well be another illusion. Because you seem so real.”
“Meomi…” Whisper squeezed her hand.
Meomi flashed to the memory of Roni squeezing her hand in the Shanghai hospital. Her mouth gaped open.
Whisper leaned back. “I’m not here to ask you questions. I’m here to give you answers.”
She stared into Whisper’s eyes, looking for any possible hidden deception. “What exactly did the Mimics do to me?”
“We had Nume scan your recent memories. It would appear our foes went through great efforts to place you under multiple layers of illusions. Each time you woke up from a lie, a new, slightly more believable one replaced it. Unfortunately, we don’t know how long you’ve been under their interrogation and how many iterations you’ve experienced. They wanted something from you. Some piece of information.”
This made sense to Meomi. It would explain why her thoughts had been so jumbled. Every single person in her illusions asked her about her embedded Aorgarian technology. Mimics really seemed afraid of what she was capable of. Fear on one side was hope on the other. “What’s the status of the war?”
“Our situation is dire. We are dealing with enemies on multiple fronts.”
“Such as?”
“Believe it or not, the greatest threat does not come from Mimics, but from within.” Whisper sighed.
“Within? Traitors?”
“Traitors isn’t the right word.” Whisper rapped her chin. “I consider them more subtle, more dangerous than traitors. Conspirators. They hide in plain sight and move about like normal. They are all too well-versed in duplicity. Many factions of humanity have desired this outcome, to see our worlds ruled by an alien species. For what reason, I cannot fathom.”
Meomi jerked her head back. “I cannot believe there are humans that want to see the subjugation of their own species. That is the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Any corrupt truth can be the foundation of a corrupt world.” Whisper scoffed. “Once they believe that corruption, no amount of truth can dispel their beliefs.” She snorted.
“All of this funny, somehow?”
“The irony is.” Whisper nodded. “Our most powerful enemies are ones we created for peace — Entrents. Not all of them, mind you, but enough to be disastrous. Elder Entrents, ones that have decades of experience in honing their telepathic abilities seem to be on the side of wiping out mankind and have subverted many to join.”
“But why? Weren’t they designed for the betterment of humans, to be a bridge to other species and to allow the exchange of knowledge and society?”
“Why don’t I let you ask one yourself. We captured an Entrent when we freed you.”
“Roni…” Meomi thought back to the cheery, teenage girl who pretended to help her.
Whisper nodded. “We believe she was the one interrogating you.”
Meomi bit her lip and grimaced. If she could have seen through Roni’s lies sooner. “What happened on Dressa? You disappeared on us?”
“No.” Whisper stood and crossed her arms. “The mission had priority. Fleet Command, those that weren’t compromised, needed to know about the Mimic infiltration. They needed the list of imposters in the Admiralty. After I delivered the intelligence, I came back to Dressa and began my search for you. I waited for days looking for their weaknesses and a way inside. Then one day, all the guards disappeared along with all the prisoners. The facility was scrubbed spotless. Not one clue remained.” She bowed her head slightly. “I lost you. I’m sorry.”
“You would’ve never found us, anyway. Not where we went.” Meomi scoffed. “What you said about the lie being truthful enough…” She stared at the back of her hand. Her eyes remembered the faint outlines of the Aorgarian tattoo like an afterglow. “What I’ve been through should have been impossible, but it felt so real.”
“These past few years, I’ve learned to redefine impossible.” Whisper furrowed her brow. “I think humanity is in the process of an awakening… from its own hubris. For centuries, we thought we were the only species in this galaxy and therefore the most powerful. Earth was the epicenter of that might. We’re learning all too quickly, and at a steep cost, how little we knew about the universe and those that inhabit it with us.”
“What’s the current status of the 5th Navy?”
“Roughly twenty percent of the ships remain. Admiral Cananach has assumed command. They’re coordinating a last stand near Mars.”
“Admiral Cananach?” Meomi smiled. “I should have known she’d make it. She’s part Furyn fungus, nearly impossible to kill. Why haven’t Mimics attacked Earth yet?”
“The short answer is, we don’t know. Jonas was on a mission to answer that question before he was captured. Lucky for you. We would’ve never found you otherwise.”
“Thank you.” Meomi nodded her head.
Whisper nodded back. “Before he was captured, Jonas found references to a previously unknown society called the Strixs. We believe the members of this clandestine organization have been plotting with Mimics for decades, positioning themselves in seats of influence among the Commonwealth government and military, setting the stage for an invasion.”
“The Strixs must have Entrents in their fold? How else could they have stayed hidden for so long?”
“We don’t know for certain.” Whisper shook her head. “But I can tell you one thing, they had a masterful plan which they executed to perfection. As a spy all my life, I can’t help but appreciate the beauty of it all. How so few people orchestrated the fall of a technologically superior empire spanning the width of the Milky Way Galaxy, defeating a population of nearly 200 billion.”
“I see it as a fatal flaw in our nature — ho
w the many are so easily manipulated by the few.”
“Not all humans are this way. But your point stands. Humanity, should we survive the coming storm, will have very dark times ahead.”
“Whisper, we’re ready for you,” said Alyana’s voice over the comm system.
“Acknowledged,” Whisper replied. She headed toward the door before turning back to Meomi. “We’re about to interrogate the Entrent we captured while rescuing you. Perhaps, you’d want to sit in?”
11
The Zephyr was a century more modern than the Cerberus, Meomi’s former ship. It featured bio-electric, self-healing conduits. An army of maintenance droids roamed the decks, capable of repairing any issue from processor replacement to hull breaches. In a pinch, the droids had pulse lasers to fend off intruders. Its faster-than-light engines were capable of warp 9.98 for over 12 hours, the equivalent of traveling eight light years.
“It’s hard to believe this ship and the Cerberus was part of the same navy...” Meomi said, standing at an intersection. She placed her hand on the hallway console and asked, “Zephyr, where is the brig?”
A holographic guide materialized and directed her to follow it.
Meomi strolled down two decks, stopping in front of the brig entrance.
“Hello again, beautiful,” Ori greeted Meomi as she entered. “I saved you a seat next to me.”
“I’m fine standing.” She brushed him off and leaned against the door.
Ori smiled. “Why don’t I just keep it warm for you? In case you change your mind.”
“Hello, Captain Hana.” Nume smiled. “I must urge you to sit until you’ve regained your strength.”
Meomi complied and sat next to Nume while Whisper finished preparing for her interrogation of Roni.
“I see you’re doing better today, Captain Hana,” Nume said.
“I am. I have you to thank for that.” Meomi bowed her head. “So, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Nume sighed. “I’m sorry I could not do more. The damage Roni caused to your brain was severe. It will take more time to fully heal.”
“It’s not your fault.” Meomi tapped Nume’s hand. In that brief moment of contact with Nume, she felt as though something struck her chest, knocking out all the air in her lungs. Pushing against Meomi was a massive, soul-crushing sorrow, the kind of sadness one feels at a funeral of a loved one. She wasn’t sure if the anguish came from the Entrent or if she magnified the grief in her own heart.
Nume quickly pulled her hand away and went silent.
This triggered thoughts of Inoke and how secretive he was. There was always something held back within him, a truth he loathed to share. On the surface, Nume seemed cheerful and happy as she greeted Meomi. Her eyes were a sparkling ocean blue and her lips curled up into a carefree smile. But Meomi wondered how much turmoil laid underneath the surface of her calm.
Whisper began the interrogation.
Nume’s eyes changed instantly, to a fiery red and gold.
Rage flared in Meomi’s heart. She had the burning desire to punch something or someone.
“I’m sorry,” Nume said and rested her hand on Meomi’s thigh. “That was not meant for you.”
Instantly, her anger dissipated. “What just happened?”
“We should give careful attention to the interrogation.” Nume ignored the question.
Roni sat in the center of her prison, her hands magnetically cuffed to the table. She looked tired as if someone had drugged her. Roni could barely sit up straight. Her skin was blue like she was taken out of a freezer and recently thawed.
“Excuse me.” Nume got up and left the room with Whisper in tow.
During the pause, Alyana greeted Meomi. “We haven’t formally met. I’m Alyana Harrow, pilot of this fabulous ship.”
“Meomi Hana.” They shook hands. An uncomfortable silence followed as Meomi stared too long at Alyana’s face. “I’m sorry.” She caught herself. “In my mind, we’ve met before… in the world Roni created. You and Captain Barick look exactly how I remembered.”
“First time getting your head scrambled by an Entrent?” Alyana grinned. “It’s supposed to feel disorientating.”
“Scrambled?”
“That’s what I like to call it.”
“Does scrambling often happen to you guys?”
“Not me, personally.” She laughed. “I’m just the pilot — a damn good pilot — but a pilot who’s smart enough to stay out of harm’s way, especially if that harm is in the form of a telepath.”
“Are we safe here?” Meomi glanced at the prisoner. “I know Roni is restrained but…”
“Well, most Entrents need to be in close proximity or even touching you for their mind magic to work. Roni is also heavily sedated, which should keep her dark powers at bay. She’s conscious but not psychotic at the moment.”
Meomi glanced at Roni. “I hope you’re right.”
“Also, thanks by the way.” Alyana smirked.
“For what?”
“Before you, I was the subject of Ori’s attention. So thank you for taking some of his attention off me.”
Meomi scoffed. “Well, you helped save my life after all. So let’s call it even. But I should warn you, if he hits on me one more time, I might break his face.”
Alyana leaned in and whispered, “I don’t think anyone would mind.”
“What about Lael? He doesn’t chase after her?”
“Nooooo,” Alyana giggled. “Not even a Dirus viper like Ori is stupid enough for that. Unless he doesn’t care to keep all his male body parts attached to him...”
Whisper re-entered the room without Nume. She blinked through the brig force field and took a seat across from the prisoner. “Roni. Shall we begin?”
“Lael… It’s so nice to finally put a face to a name,” Roni said with her usual sugary voice and smile. “I would shake your hand but…” She rattled her cuffs. “You seem to think I’m capable of hurting you and your friends. Something I wouldn’t dream of doing. Perhaps you can take them off? They are a tad uncomfortable.” Roni pouted.
“Fleet has no records of your genesis.” Whisper continued without acknowledging her request. “Who created you?”
“A great question, Lael.” Her eyes looked up. “Shall we start at the beginning? Get the full picture? I am the product of generations of human hubris. Humans who thought themselves Gods. This could not be farther from the truth. There is only one true Creator. And it’s certainly not humans.”
“I see…” Whisper sighed. “It’s far too early in the interrogation to…”
“I would say it’s too late to bother with interrogating me. Humans have already lost the war against Mimics.” Roni planted her stare at Meomi. “You are all too blind to see it.”
“Interesting.” Whisper leaned back in her chair. “And why do you believe this?”
“For so long, your kind has been balancing on the edge of destiny, ignoring the ills of your society. You treat each other differently based on something as arbitrary as your place of birth. You despise one another because of the faith they keep in their hearts. You murder one another in the name of greed and power. You have shown time and time again you are willing to harm your neighbors if it betters your station in life. Tribalism. Concentration Camps. Slavery. Genocide. This is, and always has been, your nature. Flawed. Corrupt. Inherently evil.”
“So what is your solution?” Alyana yelled through the force field. “Wipe out hundreds of billions of lives? What does that accomplish?”
Roni’s lips curled into a sinister smile. “Humans are a plague on the universe. As with any other disease, the only solution is eradication… by any means necessary.”
“How can you say this?” Meomi could no longer hold her tongue. “You were human once. What changed you?”
“I was fearful and ignorant. Like you,” she said addressing Meomi. “But Mimics are not demons. They are more akin to angels. You call them Reapers, but they are not messengers of death.
They are a force of evolution. By joining them, humans can finally sever the parasite leeching away at their soul.”
“What do you mean join them?” Meomi asked. “I’ve only ever seen Mimics kill.”
“The individual may die, but the collective becomes its full potential.”
“We should just kill her,” Ori said nonchalantly. “This one is certifiable.”
“Hate to say it, but I’m with Ori on this one,” Alyana said.
“Kill me if you must. I have already accomplished my purpose in this life. Your destiny, however, still awaits you.” Roni’s expression changed to a sly smile as she turned toward Jonas. “I can hear your thoughts more clearly than others, Jonas Barick. Why is that?” She drummed her fingers on the table. “Saera. Yes. I know her…”
Everyone in the room turned to Jonas except for Whisper who kept her attention on Roni.
“Say the word, Whisper,” Ori said. “I’ll be more than happy to end this monster.”
Roni laughed. “I am but one cell of a much greater being. Ending my life does nothing.”
“That’s enough questions for one day.” Whisper tapped her wristguard. The electric barrier shifted to a solid white color, hiding Roni from view. She blinked out of the holding cell. “Did anyone find anything of value in that conversation?”
“Value?” Ori asked with his eyebrows raised. “I’ll be surprised to find one credit of sense left inside her head.”
“Edge of destiny… Destiny…” Jonas said to himself. “Edge… Does anyone remember that name? It can’t be a coincidence I’ve been hearing it from my contacts.”
“What are you talking about?” Meomi asked.
“About three centuries ago, there was a pauper’s rebellion on Mars,” said Jonas. “The miners on the planet which were a large majority of the populace, protested the autocratic government for stripping away their basic rights one after another so that corporations could further line their pockets.”
“I remember reading about this in my ancient Earth history books,” Alyana said. “This was around the time of the Martian Civil War.”
“Yes.” Jonas nodded. “The winning side formed a political party called the People’s Destiny. Later on, a para-military arm formed and named themselves Destiny’s Edge.”