Veil of Reality (Cadicle #2): An Epic Space Opera Series

by Amy DuBoff

  “Not really.” She sighed and rapped her fingers on the computer console at her station. “Well, there was one thing. It looked like a shift change at some manned outposts, but we haven’t been here for long enough to know how frequently those occur. I’m not positive, but it appeared that the grid recalibrated for the new shift, and that there was a few second lapse in the sensor network. We might be able to slip through then, but all they’d have to do is look out the window to see us.”

  So many unknowns. “That also means forces will be doubled. Less than ideal.” Cris turned to Scott for suggestions.

  “Where can we get farthest away from the manned outposts?” Scott asked.

  Kari displayed the pattern of the Defense Barrier’s grid near the Vanquish on the front of the domed viewscreen. The grid was complex, but Cris’ trained eye caught one of its very few weaknesses. “Is that an open hole where the grid crosses between outposts?”

  Kari zoomed in. “Looks like it.”

  “Alec, let’s pull back. I have an idea, but we’ll need to wait for the right opportunity to make a move.” It’s downright lunacy. Cris sighed. Then again, everything feels like a sick joke.

  There was a somber mood in the Command Center, and Cris knew his dour expression wasn’t helping. They are driven forward by duty, but no one wants to be here. I don’t want to be here. It was his responsibility to maintain morale and encourage those on board, but, his own understanding of the circumstances made it difficult for him to rally his comrades. The war isn’t imminent—it’s already happening, just out of sight. And all their hopes rest on Wil.

  Cris struggled to keep his internal emotional turmoil at bay. He wanted to talk to Kate about what he’d just learned from Banks, but it would only be as a distraction. There would be time to deal with the revelations once Wil was home safely.

  He set his jaw and tried to focus. There were many more lives at risk than just the Vanquish’s crew and Wil’s, and he needed to see the mission through. But as they waited, the extent of the lies that permeated every aspect of his life was too much to ignore. It was all a setup. Is any of it real? He slumped dejectedly in his chair next to Scott, unable to answer the questioning glances about what he had discussed with Banks. For the moment, all he could do until the next shift change was hope for the best.

  * * *

  What do I do now that Cris knows? Banks lay back on the couch in his office. This changes our whole timeline with Wil. And Kate… He expected her to come storming into his office any moment.

  Information about the Bakzen War was closely guarded, and there had been no intention of discussing Wil’s role in the conflict until he was at least an Agent. Then again, we never thought he would be face-to-face with the enemy. Maybe it was for the best—an opportunity for him to be a part of fleet development, tactics and other preparations prior to taking formal command. Assuming we don’t lose him. He groaned aloud. The thought was too much to bear.

  There were still so many unknowns. Banks wanted to have complete confidence in Cris’ ability to find Wil, but he was up against a seemingly impossible task. Though he wanted to help Cris, Banks had nowhere safe to turn.

  If I say anything to the others now, no good will come of it. There was still a traitor somewhere in the TSS—and if Cris was correct about it being an Agent, it would be almost impossible to detect. Even still, responsibility for the infiltration would fall on Banks. I’ve worked for too long to get into this position only to let them take it from me. There’s too much to lose. Though without Cris and Wil, none of it mattered.

  Continuing to conceal Wil’s capture was risky, but it was his only real option. All I can do is wait.

  * * *

  It was time to move. The shift change had come.

  “Take her into position,” Cris commanded.

  Alec’s piloting ability would soon be put to the test. They had been over the plan several times, but it still sounded crazy to Cris. There was no guarantee that it would work, and there were too many variables to bother counting.

  Cris took a deep breath, watching the clock. “Okay, Alec. Let’s see what you can do.”

  Alec nodded, anticipated the order to move the ship forward.

  “Now!”

  With one touch on the console, Alec fired the jump drive for a split second, almost instantaneously shutting off all external power to the vessel—a textbook “phantom jump.” There was a jolt as the ship lunged forward, followed by a slight rock back as the lights dimmed and the ship traveled forward on inertia, surrounded by a spatial disruption from the near-subspace jump. The Vanquish continued forward into Bakzeni Territory.

  “I see no sign of pursuit,” informed Kari, much to everyone’s relief.

  That seems too good to be true. “Plot a course toward the primary planet.”

  * * *

  General Carzen looked over the message from Station 27 along the Defense Barrier. It was hard to believe that the TSS actually thought they could pass into Bakzeni Territory unobserved. Carzen sent back instruction to reactivate the sensor beacon that had been partially disabled for the sake of luring the dimwitted TSS Agents.

  Once captured, the TSS ship would yield valuable intelligence on the latest rift drive capabilities and frequencies for the navigation beacons. All of the information that Tek’s collaborator inside the TSS was unable to transmit would soon be at the Bakzen’s disposal. Things were coming together nicely.

  * * *

   The Vanquish floated in the star-speckled expanse of space above the planetary headquarters for the Bakzeni Empire. Cris had no idea how to proceed.

  Not only were the defense arrays going to be hard to bypass, but there was also a sophisticated shield around the entire planet. The only ways through the shield were rectangular openings that stretched several miles on a side, placed around key points on the planet’s equator. Naturally, the openings were the most guarded area in all of Bakzeni Territory.

  Cris had provided the frequency of Wil’s ID chip to Alec and Kari, but their scanning abilities were severely hampered by the shield.

  “So…” Alec began.

  Please tell me you have a lead. Cris perked up. “Any sign of Wil?”

  “Not yet.” Alec glanced over at Kari.

  She made no effort to mask her concern. “I don’t know how much longer they’ll be fooled by the disguised transmitting signal.”

  Cris nodded. “We’ve been far too lucky. Getting through the defense barrier without apparent detection, and then coming this far without being questioned. It’s all just so… convenient.” Led right into a trap.

  Scott nodded. “I agree. The word ‘convenient’ does seem to fit awfully well, but I don’t know what we can do.”

  “We have no choice but to stick it out,” Cris said. “We can’t turn back without Wil, no matter the risk to us.”

  “But keep in mind, the more time we take to make a move, the riskier it becomes,” Scott pointed out.

  “Yes, waiting around won’t do us any good,” Alec added. “We have nothing to learn about the planetary shield. It’s very similar to what the Taran colonies use. The longer we delay, the higher the likelihood of detection.”

  Cris held back a wave of anger. I hate being so close to the Bakzen base and not being able to retaliate. But we need to focus on finding Wil. “All right. We somehow need to determine Wil’s present location. We can’t do much planning before we know that.”

  “I’m working on it with a team,” Kari said. “It’s slow going, but I’ll let you know as soon as I find anything.”

  “Actually, I’ll help you,” Scott said. “We should let the others rest while they can. Let’s just call it ship’s night and work down in Communications.”

  Cris looked to Alec, and then back at his other officers. “Good idea. Alec, let’s run over the specs on the planetary defenses.”

  Alec nodded. “Okay. Let’s get to work.”

  * * *

  The secondary communications room
in TSS Headquarters was completely empty, just the way Arron Haersen hoped it would be. He slipped through the automatic doorway into the darkened room. The call he was expecting was far too sensitive for anyone else to happen across its content. Even though the call required interception so the Comm Command team wouldn’t detect it, Haersen had the utmost faith that everything would go smoothly. After all, his job as Mission Coordinator made him the overseer of all TSS communications.

  He walked over to the central monitor on the far wall in anticipation of the incoming call. Plotting against the TSS was not without risk, but his alliance with the Bakzen had already given him so much.

  The monitor flashed with the announcement of the incoming message before the image on the screen began to solidify. It took a little longer than usual to establish a stable link due to the distance of the subspace relays, but it gave Haersen more time to organize his thoughts. With the transmission routed safely away from Comm Command undetected, he could talk to his collaborator with a little less worry. Haersen looked up at the central screen. Colonel Tek’s sorrel eyes stared unwaveringly back. He didn’t look happy.

  “How is it going?” asked Haersen.

  Tek glowered. “Not as I had hoped.”

  Haersen swallowed hard. He knew that if something went wrong, he would be first on Tek’s hit list. “Well, the sabotage was a success. They were able to find a replacement cell more quickly than I anticipated, but the new rift drive should be disabled. Once you move to capture them, they’ll be trapped.”

  “Useful, but hardly a consolation prize if we don’t get to put the Primus Elite to use,” Tek replied with a scowl.

  “Is there anything I can do to help from here?”

  “There might have been, but it’s too late now that we have him. Carzen has been far too friendly for my liking—for our plan’s liking. It’s as if he actually thinks the Primus Elite can be turned. The incompetent fool.” Tek scoffed.

  “I see.”

  Tek looked even more sullen. “The Primus Elite is much stronger than any of us thought. That’s excellent for us, but once Carzen realizes that he cannot be turned in the same way you were, he may destroy him before I have a chance to fulfill our plan. What a shame it would be to end his life without releasing his potential. Not to mention, a major setback.”

  “You can’t expect immediate results. Turning me was quite a different matter—”

  “This isn’t about you!”

  Haersen flinched at the outburst. “Yes, sir. All I meant to say was that—”

  “What?”

  Haersen wet his lips. “It’s just that, unlike me, the Primus Elite was raised within TSS Headquarters. They poisoned his mind early. Someone like me, with a more neutral background—well, I could immediately see your superiority, what you could offer me. But, I do believe that he could be swayed to your—our—side, if it came down to it. He is rational, after all. It just might take a little bit longer than it did with me. However, you know best if he is more useful as an ally or as a tool to expand Bakzeni Territory.” Haersen let out a shaky breath. Both Tek’s and Carzen’s plans sounded unlikely to succeed, but it would be so much better if they at least shared a common vision. One double-cross was enough.

  Tek still looked skeptical, but he let Haersen’s reasoning do for the time being. “I should probably get back before they are suspicious of my absence,” Tek said after another uncomfortable silence.

  “Yes, as should I,” Haersen agreed. At first, he hadn’t liked having their communications transmitted through the TSS, but Tek had threatened to back out of their arrangement if Haersen couldn’t prove his loyalty by flaunting his betrayal. Now, as much as Haersen feared getting caught, every moment his plans went unnoticed, he felt more pleased with himself for outsmarting those who had always looked down on him. It wouldn’t be much longer before he would finally be able to show them just how superior he could become. “We’ll talk again in two days, then?”

  “Yes. Two days.” Tek ended the transmission.

  Haersen stared at the blank screen as he sighed with relief. Their plans were being played out even as they spoke, but it would all be in vain if Wil was too resistant too early on. He left the room as quietly as he had arrived. His plotting had gone unnoticed for the time being.

  CHAPTER 8

  Wil bolted awake from what he hoped was a very bad dream. Heart racing, he looked around the Bakzen cell—his waking nightmare. At least they didn’t kill me in my sleep.

  He wasn’t sure how long he had be out, though it felt like nearly a full night’s rest. He was disappointed in himself for letting his guard down, but at least he felt refreshed.

  He sat in contemplation for several minutes, weighing his options. Eventually, he decided that he would have to play along with General Carzen and Colonel Tek’s game—if they were playing the same one—and hope to be able to make an opportunistic escape.

  Getting up from the bed, Wil walked over to the barred front of the cell. He craned his neck to see past the bars. Six guards sat at a small table near the end of the hall. They were playing some sort of game that looked vaguely like Fastara, except with colored blocks rather than cards. They moved the blocks telekinetically, keeping the game suspended in midair above the table’s surface.

  “Hey! Guard!” Wil yelled out and waited for a response. When none came, he tried again a little louder. “Guard! Come here. I’d like to talk with General Carzen about our alliance.”

  With that, one of the sentries let out an exasperated grunt and lowered his blocks onto the table. He shoved back his chair and stomped over toward Wil while his comrades continued their game.

  Wil took a step back from the cell bars. I think I pissed him off.

  The guard looked identical to the others Wil had encountered earlier, but there was a distinctive scar along his jaw that Wil hadn’t seen before. “You want to talk General, eh?” he jeered with a thick accent. “General busy. You need appointment. Wait until he want see you.”

  Wil flashed his most charming smile. “In that case, why don’t you inform him that I’m willing to talk now and that he can call for me at his leisure.”

  “Sure. I do for you.” The guard strolled back to the other guards.

  There’s no way that message is going to make it to Carzen. Wil’s heart sank as he watched the guard walk away. As he turned around to sit back down on the platform bed, he heard a tussle among the guards, just out of view. The scarred guard came rushing back to the entrance of Wil’s cell, a fresh bruise forming on his temple.

  “I sorry, sir,” he said, “I not know who you are. General Carzen see you right away. I not told who you are… I somewhere else most times. I not know you even here—”

  Stars! Now they’re groveling? “It’s fine. You’ve been quite kind to me as it is, being a prisoner and all, but—”

  The guard ran his wrist over a pad on the front of the cell door and the bars swung open. “Oh, no, no, you not prisoner. You are guest.”

  “Okay…” I’m done trying to figure out what’s going on.

  The profuse apologies continued all the way to General Carzen’s office. Wil was ushered through the office door and left alone in the room with the Bakzen general.

  “You wanted to see me?” asked General Carzen.

  Wil nodded. “Yes, sir.” He set up a firm mental block to keep Carzen from probing his inner thoughts, and then took a deep breath. “I was raised to view the Bakzen as a distant enemy. We both know that. But in my short time here, I have begun to understand that you are not the people I was led to believe. It didn’t take long to start seeing ways in which you are superior to the TSS. Your sheer discipline alone is what the TSS could only dream of one day achieving. They are so unnecessarily showy and far too reliant on pointless comforts.”

  “I’d tend to agree,” Carzen said.

  “I’ve been thinking about what you said during our last meeting, about me being turned to your side,” Wil continued. “Obviously, I c
an’t change my loyalty overnight. In fact, I hated the idea at first. But, I’ve had some time to reflect on what the TSS has given me, and… well, it isn’t a very long list. So, let’s just say that I am now open-minded, as you hoped. After all, I’m barely into my teens and I’m already almost as powerful as their most senior Agents. When it comes down to it, there’s just no way the TSS can properly train me. I realized that a while ago, but I never thought I had another option. I’m curious what you can offer me. Maybe we can explore ways for the Bakzen to help me rise to my full potential.” Wil hung his head, feigning anguish. “I’m sure you can appreciate how hard it is for me to admit that—after being taught to hate you. But… at some point, I do need to think of myself.”

  Carzen’s face contorted into his unnatural smile. “I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m pleased you are considering the different angles of this matter. My colleagues—”

  “Colonel Tek?”

  “Er, yes, even Colonel Tek, will be happy to hear of your reconsideration. There are many mutual advantages to such an arrangement.”

  Wil nodded. “I know it would take time for us to learn to work together, but I owe it to myself to become everything I can.”

  General Carzen rose from his chair. “I look forward to talking further with you on this matter, but I must go. I have an appointment to keep.”

  Wil stood up. “Thank you for your time, General.”

  “Certainly.” Carzen walked toward the door. He glanced back once, looking Wil over, before he stepped into the hallway.

  Wil couldn’t help but wonder if Carzen’s sudden meeting was a fabricated excuse to leave. He seemed genuinely surprised that I was so agreeable. I hope I didn’t come on too strong.

  Guards came in to retrieve Wil after Carzen left. As they escorted him down the hall, he found they were going a different way than the prison wing where he had been staying. Wil tried to keep track of where they were going, but he was soon lost.

  The guards stopped at an open door, gesturing Wil through. After a slight hesitation, he obeyed. Fully furnished quarters met his gaze. So I have been upgraded from prisoner to guest.