by Damon Alan
“You are a gutsy SOB,” Peter whispered. Again he yelled out the door. “Okay, I'm coming out to blindfold you and restrain your hands. If you make one wrong move, Malco will kill you.”
Alarin chuckled. “I think your bluster isn’t needed. But I surrender, and you must take me to meet your Sarah Dayson.”
Peter took in a deep breath and steeled his nerves. “I'm coming out. Keep your eyes closed.”
“Tight as night, Peter Corriea,” Alarin said.
It unnerved Peter that the adept knew his name, but he slowly walked toward Alarin. The adept allowed himself to be bound and blindfolded. “Do I need to gag you too?”
Alarin shook his head. “Our gift isn't a ritual, Peter Corriea, there are no words. Just sight and thought.”
“Great,” Malco muttered between translations.
“Just don’t make any sudden moves then,” Peter said.
“One more thing. I have guardsmen at the inn. I pushed them into deeper sleep before I came down here with the other adepts. I don't want them harmed, and Merik will have them killed for losing me.”
“We’re not bringing your soldiers with us. Who is Merik?”
“The one who orchestrated the destruction of your sky sword, and the greatest danger any of us will ever face. She believes herself to be between human and god, above all people, above even her fellow adepts.”
Peter looked at Malco and made a sour face. “Oh. Great. She sounds like a charmer.”
“I am not asking you to bring the guardsmen, Peter Corriea. Just get a message to them that they must hide in the wilds until I return.”
“If it will keep them alive, that's fine, as a gesture of good will. Eislen, can you write a note like that?”
Eislen nodded, “I can, but those soldiers come here and torment the villages. Why should they be spared?”
“Because we all need to once again learn what it means to be human,” Alarin replied. “If you do this for me, I will assist you in growing your gift. You are completely untrained and have much more potential than you suspect.”
“I don't need a bribe,” Eislen responded. “I don't trust you. We’ll see the soldiers warned. The people of my village have more love and kindness than you’ve ever known.”
The adept paused a moment, then Peter heard him sigh. “You are very wise, Eislen. And probably right.”
Peter interrupted, this was no time for banter. “Eislen. Malco and I are going to walk this man to the shuttle. I am going to land here in the street and pick up what we can of the bodies of these two marines. Will you be safe here?”
“I doubt it, but I can always move to a different village.”
Peter sighed. Captain Dayson was going to kill him. “No, come with us, we will set this straight for you. Besides, we could use another set of friendly eyes to watch the adept.”
Eislen’s eyes lit up. “Good thinking, Peter Corriea, I will go with you.”
“Be ready to go.”
Eislen “I can do that. I'll get the note to the inn, and wait here for your return.”
Peter looked around, and occasionally a head would peek through nearly shut windows of nearby houses. “Keep these people inside.”
Peter tried not to think of the two marines. He vowed he wouldn’t leave their bodies behind. He bent over and grabbed an automatic rifle from the ground. It had belonged to the frozen marine, the one who had joked about having his baby just an hour earlier. The gun was still cold, but was tolerable to touch. “Here, Malco. Keep alert. You'll have to guard him in the shuttle.”
Malco sighed, and took the weapon. “Get to know the universe the recruitment brochure said. See exotic places.”
If the corporal was still cracking jokes, he was holding together.
* * *
Peter and Malco arrived at the shuttle with the adept. They keyed in the code to lower the back hatch, and walked Alarin into the ship.
“Sit down here,” Peter said as he guided Alarin into a seat and strapped him in.
“Malco, sit across from him and if his blinders come off or his hands get loose, empty the rifle into him.”
“Then I'll beat him with it.” Malco translated the conversation for the adept.
“It's good you fear me,” Alarin said. “If you underestimate Merik it will cost all of your lives and your sky swords. Fear is good, Malco Vander. Just don't kill me before I talk to your Sarah Dayson.”
“She's not my Sarah Dayson. If anything, I'm her Malco Vander,” Malco huffed.
Alarin’s voice rose in pitch. “You serve her? That's unexpected.”
“Not slavery. Loyalty. Commitment,” Malco replied, frustrated. “Just shut up.”
Judging by the tone of his voice, Alarin was not afraid.
The shuttle lifted off and settled down on Kampana's main road to pick up the bodies of the marines.
Eislen ran up to the door as Peter stepped onto the street. “I delivered the note to the inn.”
“Then we kept our word,” Peter replied.
Eislen helped Peter load the marines into the external cargo boxes of the shuttle. The pieces of the frozen marine were starting to thaw. Peter picked up all the parts he could find while trying not to vomit. Eislen dealt with the gore much better than Peter did.
“How’s the Elder doing?” Peter asked.
“He’s dead,” Eislen answered. “I wrote his name in the dead book. Now the gods will know he’s coming.”
Peter’s heart sank. The old man was clearly important to Eislen. “I’m sorry, Eislen.”
“The adepts did this, Peter Corriea. Not you. No more should be said of it.”
“Okay. Let’s get going.”
Eislen put his hand on Peter’s shoulder. “You have been my friend, so I will call you by one name if you will allow it.”
Peter stared at Eislen in surprise. Eislen was far tougher than Peter expected. “I’m honored, Eislen. I’d like that.”
“Then get that, Peter.” Eislen pointed to the burnt marine’s combat rifle. “My people might get hurt if you leave it.”
Peter smiled as he picked up the rifle. It was partially melted. Peter tossed it into an external cargo box and boarded the shuttle.
An hour later the shuttle was in space.
“We might be on this boat for a bit, Malco,” Peter relayed over headsets. “I'm not about to take this guy anywhere near the fleet. Once I contact them by laser link, I'll tell them our status.”
“Understood,” Malco replied. “Sleeping is going to be great fun.”
“Yeah. We'll keep a watch. Between you, me, and Eislen it shouldn't be too bad.”
“Lieutenant, how do we fight these people? This Merik character destroyed the Amalli with her mind.”
“I have an idea, Malco. If we survive this and get back to the fleet, that is. But it's hush-hush until I run it past the Captain. That guy said he can't read our minds. Let's hope he's telling the truth.”
Chapter 23 - A Near Miss
16 ORS 15327
Sarah struggled to control her temper. “You have what on board?”
She waited three quarters of a second for her response to reach Corriea and return due to light speed delay. The wait seemed like a day to her impatient mind. Eislen’s head bobbed up and down behind Corriea as he tried to see Sarah’s face. At another time that would be amusing.
Corriea looked haggard, and a bit scared. “I have an adept. He claims to be important... well, I think he is what he says, and wants to surrender to you. That's how he put it. I am guessing that he wants to negotiate, not surrender.”
“So you're stuck out in the middle of nowhere, away from the fleet. What's your plan now? You can't bring him back here. He wouldn't want to be that close to our singularity and I don’t want him here anyway.”
“He's not one of the adepts that attacked our fleet, but he knows who did. And no, he doesn't want to be near the singularity. He's already talking about seeing it near Fandama, and there’s discomfort in his voi
ce when he does. He’s respectful of our ability to control such a creature. I haven't told him what it really is.”
“Did he kill the marines?”
“No, another adept did. Alarin killed that adept.”
“Really… Tell Corporal Vander I'm sending an unpiloted shuttle for him. Eislen can stay with you to translate on your end. I'm not risking another marine. If the adept decides to kill you, there’s nothing I can do, Peter. After he and I talk, you can take him home. I won't allow him at the farm dome either.”
“I understand. The risk is mine, Captain, but it felt like it might be worth it if he can help fix our problems.”
“It’s a huge risk, but for a noble goal. I'm not sure I would have done it.”
This shit is almost enough to make me join Harmeen's religion.
Corriea nodded. “Understood.”
“Put the adept on screen.”
Sarah heard a bulkhead door open, then listened as Vander explained to the adept how the conversation would work. When he finished, a man appeared in front of the screen, with a ripped t-shirt wrapped around his head, covering his eyes. He was young looking, and smiled at a point off screen.
Malco translated for him. “I hear your voice Sarah Dayson. You are a woman. That means the two people I fear most in the world are women,” Alarin said. “My earliest trainers warned me that the sisters of Jalai were the greatest of threats, but I didn't listen.”
“Your trainers were wise... I don't think I know your name?”
“Alarin Sur'batti. I am the Second Adept of Zeffult, not that this means anything to you. Your people do not possess the gift.”
“Alarin. Are you responsible for destroying my ship?”
“No, I’m not. The First Adept of Zeffult is responsible. Her name is Merik Sur'batti. Within a few days she will be aware of my collaboration with you. She is your enemy, and now mine as well. I have come to warn you that your lives mean nothing to Merik, and aid you in removing her from power.”
“Fantastic. Why do I want to remove her from power?”
“She destroyed your sky ship.”
“We provoked her, Alarin. We didn’t know our presence would cause her pain.”
“She is planning to destroy you, Sarah Dayson. She is growing more and more violent as time passes. I am here because she ordered me to destroy a village and leave no survivors. I am not a murderer.”
“A village?”
“Yes, Eislen’s village. Kampana. She wants news of your presence there erased.”
Sarah heard Eislen yelling in protest in the background. He sounded outraged.
Shit.
“How will your absence change that?” Sarah asked.
“Not at all. She will be more angry, as I said. Losing a possession isn’t something she handles well.”
Shit.
Sarah considered Merik’s limitations. “Is it even possible to kill this person?”
Alarin laughed. Sarah admired how calm he was considering his situation. “It is possible to kill anyone. She is flesh and bone as I presume you are.”
“You share the same second name. Are you related to Merik?”
“We are not related by blood, but by promise. We are due to be married.”
“Yet you’re here betraying her?” Sarah’s eyebrows raised, and she looked at Seto. Seto looked back at Sarah with wide eyes.
“Indeed,” he replied. “I am not a murderer. I serve the gods. Merik has left me no choice but to find a way to save the people from her madness.”
It sounds like if she’s dead, this misunderstanding comes to an end. And we might save Eislen’s village.
“Where do I find her?” Sarah asked.
Alarin smiled, Sarah suspected he knew her intention. “If you send demons to kill her you have a chance. She will detect and destroy any mortal assassin.”
“If you can tell me where she is, she'll never see it coming. Describe the place, and the building she will be in. Where is she, Alarin?”
“I wish you didn't have to kill her.”
It annoyed Sarah to ask three times where Merik was, especially with the communication lag. Maybe it was something cultural. “Alarin, she's killed my people without remorse, and now wishes to harm Eislen’s. Tell me where she is, and the adepts and my people can be at peace.”
Alarin described the city of Zeffult. “The building is marble, black marble from Grennar. It is the only black marble building in Zeffult as such stone is rare and precious.”
Harmeen responded immediately. “That’s the large town by the boiling bay.” Harmeen put the map of the area on the screen and zoomed in on the city.
Harmeen entered the search parameters and the computer selected buildings that fit the description. One building passed all criteria, and the computer highlighted it on the view screen.
Sarah cut her mic. “Lieutenant Harmeen, get an orbiter over that city. Top priority. I want to see the result of what is coming.”
She turned her attention back to the incoming transmission. “If you hurry, you can save Eislen’s village,” Alarin was saying.
“Excellent, Alarin. I am curious, why not just kill her yourself?”
“You live in the sky, you have the blessing of the gods. The people will accept your judgment as agents of the gods. If I kill her, I’ll be seen as murdering her for political gain, and Zeffult will descend into chaos. But I’m in this with all I am. Merik must die or she will kill more innocents.”
Sarah had heard similar from politicians before. “You’re not like that, I presume?”
“I’m a religious man, Sarah Dayson. I’m told by Jalai that I’m a steward of the people. Not above them. You’re an opportunity to put that view on top.”
“So you believe the people, like Eislen, should have a say in their own destiny?”
“The gods set these rules. I can see from what I've read in Eislen's mind that you’re people of a like mind.”
“That sounds honest enough. Do you expect to rule if I kill Merik for you?”
He paused for a long time, before responding. “No. I expect you to kill me too. It's what I would do, to be safe.”
“I admire your honesty, so I'm going to be honest with you, Alarin. We don't kill our allies. If you become a threat, I'll reconsider, but if you're upfront and honest with me, I think we can work together.”
Change of leadership… Alarin a potential ally… this might work out with minimal bloodshed.
Sarah cut her mic again and looked at Harmeen. He was setting up a strike package for the target selected by the computer. She was delighted to see he was ahead of her, and gave him a thumbs up. A ground attack railgun indicated ready to fire on her status display.
“Fire, Mr. Harmeen.”
Harmeen keyed his holodisplay, and a single projectile launched from the ship.
“What are your plans for her, Sarah Dayson? Will you send a demon?” Alarin asked.
“Something like that,” she replied.
“Put the video feed on screen the moment you have it, Mr. Harmeen. Relay it through Corriea's shuttle if you need to overcome radio noise.”
“No need, Captain. I have a laser lock on the orbiter. Our package arrives in three hours and twenty eight minutes. The orbiter will be in position by then.”
“Thank you, Mr. Harmeen.” Sarah smiled.
Sarah listened as Seto explained to the fleet why the Stennis fired. “Tell them we’ll have a fleet wide briefing later, Seto.”
“Yes, sir,” Seto replied.
A success would mean Corriea's risk paid off. “Alarin, I want to think about what we've discussed. Thank you for your sacrifice. It will help my people as well.”
“It's my honor. My reward will be in the next life.”
Sarah was glad the adept couldn’t delve into her mind. “I will speak to you in a few hours.”
“I anticipate this,” Alarin replied.
“Corriea?”
“Yes, Captain?”
“We h
ave initiated a ground strike on the palace Alarin told us about. Observe your prisoner, and see if he changes his behavior in... three hours and twenty four minutes. If you feel he's legitimate, you can release him. I leave that entirely up to you.”
“I'll think about that. Right now he makes me more nervous than hand carrying antimatter.”
“I’m hoping your gamble pays off, Peter. Dayson out.”
* * *
“Sixty seconds, Captain.”
“Thank you, Mr. Harmeen. Mr. Seto, get Lieutenant Corriea on visual.”
Seto pointed toward the main screen. “Already in progress, Captain.”
Sarah waited for the connection.
“Shuttle 43B, Corriea.”
“It’s Captain Dayson. Twenty seconds. Put him on visual.”
“Aye, Captain.” Corriea swiveled the holocam toward Alarin, who was standing next to the cockpit blast door. He still had the tee shirt wrapped around his head.
Harmeen counted off. “Ten. Five. Three... two... one... impact.”“
Seconds later the image on the main screen showed a white flash at the location of the targeted building. A dust plume shot into the sky, obscuring the view from the orbiter.
If she was there, she’s gone.
“No response from the prisoner,” Corriea said.
“I see that. Let me talk to him.”
Malco brought Alarin forward to the holovid and translated.
“Hello again, Sarah Dayson,” Alarin said.
“Can you tell me if Merik is still alive?”
“She is. Your demon missed, and she is angry. At the moment her guard is down, releasing her emotions for any adept to read. She will regain her senses and become invisible to me soon. At the moment, however, I'm picking up broken visions of what you did. Impressive. Too bad it failed.”
Was there no justice in the universe? Sarah hoped the non-adept casualties were minimal. One thing was for certain. If Merik wasn’t certain about her attack on Sarah’s fleet, she probably was certain now. “Damn. Does she know where you are?”
“No, she is looking for me in the wrong place, I'm sure. I know roughly where to find her. I can't, sadly, tell you exactly where she is except that she can see a cloud of destruction rising over Zeffult.”