The Matsumoto Trilogy: Omnibus Edition

by Sarah K. L. Wilson

  “They did not expect you to surrender, though, did they Ian?”

  “No. For that there will be…consequences,” he looked shaken. No wonder. This same council had literally ordered his father’s death only hours ago.

  “That will be taken care of,” I said coldly. No need to make him think I was his friend. That ship had sailed. He’d sworn, though, and that made both him and his government my responsibility. “Call a meeting of your Council for an hour from now. It’s time they heard from the Voice of their new Emperor.”

  THE EX-PACIFIST: 37

  THE ENTIRE MEETING TOOK THREE hours. Thankfully, I left them to it after just half an hour. That was all it had taken to convince the council that I meant business and to make them understand that they were now sworn vassals of the Matsumotos or soon-to-be corpses. Their choice.

  Once they were convinced of that I didn’t need to be there. Our protocols people would come with a delegation after the Empire had been apprised of the situation. Until then, there were a few documents to sign and charters for them to review. It was all formality, really. I left them to it, with Captain Travers’ first officer overseeing our end of things. That required little more than handing out and collecting papers and Roman and I had other things to do.

  Well that sorts out most of it, I said to Roman.

  Thirty hours later we were following the last known coordinates of Eads Mc Isaac’s small starcraft. Ian had informed us that the Capricornian navy was missing a ship, the Veritas IV. No doubt that was Eads’ current base of operation, if only we could find it. I was tensed in anticipation, still cradling my broken hand against my chest. Together, Roman and I stood on the bridge watching the main view screen as we gained on the slower vessel.

  I had no idea any of this was happening before he kidnapped me. Some investigator I turned out to be, I said. At least we have some answers. Soon we should have the rest.

  Roman tensed beside me like a hunter spotting game. We were hunting together and the quarry was getting closer.

  “There she is,” Travers sighed, relief in his voice. His heavy hand pointed at the sensor screen. “Get them on communications.”

  “They are sending through a video feed, do you want me to display it?” the communications technician asked Travers.

  “Yes,” he answered, ushering Roman and I closer to his screen.

  The screen shifted from its generic screen display to a live video feed. Eads was standing in a science lab. Behind him, a white coated man scurried back and forth looking at holo-displays and tapping the touch screens. Eads squared his shoulders and glared into the camera. I felt the force of his personality as he loomed through the video screen. He looked so much like an older version of his son.

  “This is Overseer Eads Mc Isaac. I demand to speak to Ambassador Matsumoto.” He waited, frozen in place. I would have thought the screen had been stilled, but the man in the lab coat was still moving in the background. I nodded towards Captain Travers and the camera on the top of his screen blinked red to indicate that the camera was on.

  “McIsaac,” I said, matching him stare for stare.

  “Ambassador, you are trespassing into a closed area of Capricornian space. Please redirect your ship elsewhere.” As if he was still in a place where he could make these calls! His audacity would shock me if it wasn’t so in character.

  “Eads Mc Isaac,” I said. “You have been replaced as Overseer by the Planetary Council of Capricornia, and Capricornia has sworn her allegiance to the Blackwatch Empire. We have full right to be here and to seize both your ship and your person. After the way you’ve treated members of our royal family, you should seriously consider what you intend to say to the Emperor when he renders judgement.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so, Ambassador. You wouldn’t dare attack me with just one pathetic ship, even with your marines to provide the manpower. Not when I’m holding all the aces.” He meant Denise, of course.

  “It’s my cousin that matters to me, McIsaac. Hand her over, and any other captives you have aboard, and you’re free to go where you like. You could join the People’s Freehold, or buy an estate in Endermann. It makes no difference to me.”

  “Ambassador, you are so charming! You almost make me forget that I’m the one in the position to dictate terms. This is how it will be. You and your guardian will come aboard Veritas IV. I will send your charming cousin back to your starcraft. Then I will keep you aboard until we reach the edge of Capricornian space. How else can I be sure that you won’t take me in so your Emperor can judge me? I’m not a fool, my girl.”

  I gave him a long look. Going onto his ship was a foolish risk. There had to be another way, but his starcraft, while not a military vessel, was at least an even match for our freighter, and we would have to get marine penetration teams onto his starcraft before they could rescue Denise. He could kill her before they ever got close.

  “Don’t play coy with me, Ambassador,” Eads said, returning my level look. His eyes were narrowed, but he gestured with hands open and wide, for all the world like an innocent, “Your silence speaks volumes. Let me explain this to you another way. You want your cousin back. She is in my possession. I am headed out of Capricornian space as we speak. You cannot afford to blast me to pieces, because that will kill my hostage. Right so far?

  “Then here are your options. Either exchange yourself for her and I will let you return to your ship the moment I break orbit, or I’ll take Denise with me. You have one minute to decide.”

  His video screen split and Denise appeared on a security cam. She was asleep in a white medical bed. He was being overly dramatic with the sentimental split-screen, but even so it seemed that I had no other choice.

  Don’t do it. He’s trapping you.

  What choice do I have? She’s my cousin, and even if that weren’t the case I’m a dead woman if I don’t return her to Nigel in twenty four hours. You don’t have to come, though. Your life it too valuable, and Nigel might not kill you if this all goes bad.

  The feeling from the other end of the channel was similar to a long sigh. Fine, but I will be at your back, that is non-negotiable. Partners, remember?

  Partners, I agreed, knowing it was no use to argue with him and realizing that I didn’t want to.

  “We’ll meet your terms, Eads Mc Isaac, but know this.” I raised one finger to forestall his growing smile. “If you harm me or kidnap me the Blackwatch Empire will hunt you down and kill you.”

  “Make no mistake Ambassador, I have fully considered that.” He sounded amused and energetic. “We’ll send our cutter over immediately. It will pick you up at the same time that your shuttle picks up Denise from our end. Forgive me if that is overly complex, but I’m a little short on trust here.”

  Really Eads? And who do you think should be the one short on trust? I wondered. How about the girl you’ve lied to and tried to kill?

  That goes for both of us, Roman said. Apparently he could still hear my random thoughts.

  Eads Mc Isaac stepped out of the communication feed, and his com tech took over, as did Captain Travers com tech on this end. They began arranging flight paths for the cutters. I turned my attention to the Captain.

  “Ambassador,” he said, following closely on our heels as we made our way to the cutter bay. “I understand the sacrifice you are making to save your cousin, but this risk to your person rises above the call of duty. There is no guarantee that he won’t harm you, too. I’m sure another hostage will suit his purpose just as well. One of the marines perhaps...”

  I threw up a hand to stop him. “Captain, I appreciate your concern, but this is my duty. I am the one that must go. Safe guard my cousin and make damn sure that you don’t let Eads slip away. Who knows how fast he’ll take off once we’re aboard? Keep an insertion team close. If we need them I’ll call the ship.”

  The Captain nodded. “That I can do, Ambassador.” He sounded resigned, but the way he hovered nearby was anything but resigned.

  I returned
his nod with a sharp one and clapped him on the shoulder as Roman and I ducked through the hatch on the shuttle. I keyed my implant. It was currently interlinked with the Hooded Peregrine’s on board computer network. The shuttle pilot ducked his head into the passenger area. He was standard military issue right down to his expression.

  “Ambassador, Captain Travers says we are clear to launch.”

  “Excellent,” I replied. “In that case we’d better get moving, Lieutenant.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  The familiar sequence of the last security protocols locking down the shuttle flashed through the monitors. A moment later the gravity disappeared and with the usual lurch we were off. The seconds ticked by slowly, but after about five minutes the pilot spoke again over the com unit.

  “The Veritas IV shuttle just passed us.”

  Well, so far Eads had held up his end. Ten minutes later I could feel the shudder of the shuttle docking and a moment later gravity returned. The lieutenant popped his head into our compartment again. “Their shuttle docked at the Grey Pelican right after we docked here. Captain Travers ordered me to tell you that your cousin Denise is now aboard his ship. I have orders from Veritas IV to depart as soon as you disembark.”

  His gaze held a question and I answered it, “Then do as they wish Lieutenant. Thank you for your good work.”

  I nodded to him in approval and then followed Roman out the cutter hatch. Time to face my fears. I felt a knot forming in my stomach and steeled my face in response. Matsumotos don’t let anyone see them sweat.

  Last chance, Roman, I said, through the channel.

  Whatever happens I want to be with you, he replied.

  Uniformed men stood a casual guard outside the cutter. One stepped forward to frisk Roman and remove his weapon. I stared at the wall beyond them, acting like they weren’t there. There was no need to frisk me, I was a Matsumoto. They frisked me anyways. My face grew hot and it was all I could do to keep from slapping their hands away. When they were finished they escorted us further into Veritas IV. She was a slick starcraft, not much larger than the Grey Pelican, but more modern and almost clinical in her cleanliness. She reminded me of Veritas III and I barely suppressed a shudder.

  Deeper down the rabbit’s hole.

  I don’t like this, Roman said. No surprise there.

  Neither do I, but what choice did we have?

  I felt his assent. Eads had left me with little option if I wanted to free Denise. This was the only way.

  I could have left you with the Hooded Peregrine. I reminded him.

  I’ve already told you that I’ll never leave your side again.

  That was sweet. Unnecessarily chivalrous, but sweet.

  THE EX-PACIFIST: 38

  WE WERE HEADING EVEN DEEPER into the belly of the ship, through the yawning corridors that seemed darker than standard lighting conditions should allow for. Finally our escort pulled up in front of a pair of bay doors. They had ‘Medical Bay’ stamped into the composite. That was strange. The doors swished open, and again I was greeted by the soft white of a sterilized environment. I felt my pulse speed up.

  The room was large and packed with complicated equipment, lab tables, stools and computer arrays. Even the floor was made of glowing white light panels. Eads Mc Isaac was standing in the middle of the room tapping at a touch screen and beside him was the other man who had been in the background of the video feeds. Eads looked up, and our escort indicated that we should enter. They filed in silently behind us.

  “Ambassador. How good of you to join us,” Eads was smiling at me with that same smile of assured control. “As you’ve doubtless heard by now, I’ve upheld my end of the bargain. Your cousin is safely at the Hooded Peregrine and we are heading ever more swiftly towards Freehold space.”

  I nodded, uncertain, but trying not to show it.

  “May I present to you Dr. Fritz Wehr, a fellow scientist and a great boon to Capricornia. And your companion must be Roman Aldrin.”

  I gave Fritz a long look. He was obviously as deep into Eads ‘research’ as the former Overseer was.

  “I suppose we should get on with what we came here for,” Eads smiled. The doctor nodded in agreement and then looked behind me. If my reflexes were faster, I might have been able to see the guards move. Instead, I was jerked off my feet as both my arms were seized from behind. I heard Roman grunt behind me and the sound of clanging instrumentation told me that he wasn’t felling charitable about the attack. I swivelled in the grip of my captors, and saw him overturn a table of testubes as he fought them off, but there were too many attackers. While he was fighting one of them another laid him out with a length of black steel. I signalled my implant preparing to radio the Grey Pelican.

  “Call them in and I’ll kill him right here and now. You wouldn’t want that, would you Vera,” Eads said calmly from across the room. He knew about my implant. “I knew you wouldn’t, because you are a kind and decent person, like me.”

  “I’m nothing like you!” I spat.

  “On the contrary. You are willing to put yourself at risk to save your cousin. I am willing to do the same for my people. Do you think I’m insane? Do you think that I expect to live beyond this crisis? Hardly.” His voice had been passionate and ironic before. Now it turned arctic cold. “But I have finally found a way to save my planet and I will see it launched before the end.”

  I twisted back towards Roman. He was conscious, but a trail of blood ran down the side of his face and his hands were securely fixed behind his back and three guards were holding him upright and in place. His scowl showed anger and determination.

  Are you ok?

  Sure, he replied, fury imbedded deeply into that one word.

  “What can taking us as your prisoners possibly accomplish?” I asked.

  “I need a little more time and some of those incredible genetics of yours. We had a chance to process the samples we collected when you were our guest. It seems you were a greater find than we had even hoped.” He turned to Wehr. “Tell her doctor.”

  The doctor was a small man with sandy blonde hair, olive skin and a distracted air, like someone who was playing a vid while speaking to you. “He’s right. Your genetics are fantastic – even better than your cousin’s for some reason. I have to say I was surprised. I would have thought you would be very close, but they must have done more tinkering with your side of the family. Your genetics show obvious signs of extreme engineering. Not only can we use them to build our children, we can build them stronger and better than the last generation.” He looked up finally and his tepid brown eyes locked onto mine. “That was a bit of a surprise. Both you and your cousin’s DNA are the first to even survive the genetic re-shift process. It’s incredibly resilient. I had almost given up on the theory altogether before Eads harvested a sample from your cousin. But yours is just that much better than hers. It’s perfect.”

  “Perfect or not, you won’t be able to use it. The moment the Emperor realizes what you are doing he will send the entire fleet against you. Our empire is much larger than your single system. We will destroy you.”

  “Yes. Which is why we needed you here,” Eads explained. “You are going to go back to him and tell him that all is well. You’ll bring your cousin back with you - she’ll have no memory of what has happened here, we saw to that – and then you will return to us at our special request to discuss bringing the world of Capricornia into the Blackwatch Empire.”

  “We won’t tolerate what you’ve done here.”

  “Oh don’t worry. We already assumed you wouldn’t want to do it willingly. But my dear,” and here he sounded fatherly again, “I suggest you consider it, if for only a moment.”

  “I won’t,” I said.

  “I hate it when I’m always right.” Eads sighed. “That brings us back to why you are here. We assumed you wouldn’t come willingly or do as we wished. Fortunately, we are good at our research and we’ve uncovered one of your family’s dirty little secrets – your lin
k to this man. The doctor believes we can hack that link and use it to control you. We both regret that we need to proceed this way, but our people’s future is very, very valuable to us.”

  The doctor nodded. It didn’t make it any better.

  “How…”

  “Never!” Roman cut me off.

  “You don’t think so? Neither did we when we first discovered it. The system seems impregnable, but there is one weakness. Where you can get in, we can get in.”

  “I’ll never allow it.”

  “Of course not. You’d have to be insane.” Eads smiled.

  Roman was nodding. I felt a moment’s triumph. Their plan was useless.

  “And we’ve thought long and hard about that,” the doctor said. “We have roughly twelve hours. It will be tight, but manageable.”

  “What?” I said.

  “In the next twelve hours we will reduce your human pit bull to a wobbling mass of mental jelly.”

  “I’ve been trained to resist torture.” Roman said. There was steel in his voice.

  “Then we will see how your training has paid off,” the doctor said calmly, motioning to the guards. In a moment they had his jacket and shirt off and the doctor was sticking tiny circuit boards with a single sharp needle in the middle all over this chest. The guards cuffed him to a chair, hands and feet both. The chair was made of heavy metal and bolted to the floor.