Kircla’s ship exploded.
Torrak barely registered Faan screaming with joy and didn’t come back to reality until she planted a kiss on his lips.
“I don’t know how you did it, but you did,” Faan returned to the console to get a damage report, which kept her from seeing Torrak’s bright, red face. His knees wobbled so hard he could barely stand. Giddy, he looked down at the weapons console in front of him.
His joyful moment deflated. The targeting computer readout indicated that all the shots fired missed the oncoming ship completely. Not only that, but apparently his frantic mashing of buttons opened the cargo bay door, vented out half their air, turned on the internal cooling system, and fried all the light panels in the back half of the ship. Right before he told Faan that he may have actually caused damage instead of helping, she pointed out a flashing light on her console.
“There’s someone trying to communicate with us,” she said.
“Do you think Kircla survived?”
“I hope not.”
At the moment Faan hit the open communications button, Kalil, Preeaht, and Nuis entered the cockpit, all talking at once.
“Sounds like you’re having a party,” a gravelly voice crackled over the speaker. “Hope I’m invited after saving your butts.”
Torrak’s jaw dropped open at the group of six fierce-looking attack cruisers that appeared off their bow.
“Who said that?” Kalil asked.
“Kid, is that you? How’s the knee?”
Kalil’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “It’s Opute!”
“Opute?” Nuis asked. “Hey, man! It’s me, Nuis.”
“Nuis?” Opute’s voice blared through the speaker. “How did you manage to get mixed up with this lot?”
“It’s a long story.”
“You think you could tow us in?” Torrak asked. “I’m afraid to know how much this little ship is smoking.”
“I wish I could tell you it’s not as bad as you think…. Hang on while I attach the docking clamps. See you in a few. Opute out.”
On their way out of the control room to gather their things, Kalil turned to Torrak and whispered, “What is that Corenthian going to say when we return his ship in this condition?”
Torrak threw his arm around Kalil’s bony shoulders. “Only you could come out of a near-death firefight and still be worried about returning the ship in one piece.”
“I’m young. I don’t want to put a bad mark on my credit.”
Torrak laughed. “Well, don’t worry. The ship was registered under my name.”
*
Once everyone settled into Opute’s cruiser, Torrak filled Opute in on how their group got together and their plan.
“Pretty gutsy,” Opute remarked, as the Nikana jumped up onto the table and lay down in front of him, growling softly at the newcomers. “Sounds like a lot is riding on chance.”
“Well, it’s the best we can do with what we have. And we have to do something.”
Opute paused for a moment. “This all happens tomorrow, right?”
“Right.”
“And there’s the five of you, with you as bait.”
Torrak winced. When said straight-forward like that, the situation seemed pretty ridiculous. “That sounds about right.”
“Well then it looks like today is your lucky day.”
Torrak blinked in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“There’s something you don’t know. This Commander Xiven hired some heavy muscle to help him.”
“What muscle?”
“A woman named Exarth and over half a dozen of her top battle cruisers.”
“I’ve heard of Exarth,” Faan chimed in. “But only as a rumor.”
Opute’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve had enough...experiences with her to think she’s real. And lucky for you guys, I happened to intercept her ships. You are standing on the main vessel of the fleet she sent to meet up with Xiven.”
“Why didn’t you tell us she was helping the Aleet Army?” Kalil asked.
“I didn’t know.”
Kalil raised his eyebrows. “Then why did you attack her fleet?”
Opute turned and looked at Torrak. “Exarth put the hit out on Lang.”
Torrak’s whole body tensed. “So his death is settled?” he asked.
Opute growled. “Not yet. Exarth wasn’t with her fleet or I would have introduced you to her corpse.” He paused in his regret. “But I have a runner-up prize. Do you remember the disk those two men were looking for in Lang’s store?”
“You decrypted it?”
Opute nodded. “It had a list of coordinates and dates. The coordinates are planets and the first date on the list is tomorrow. Want to take a guess as to which planet came in first on the list?”
“Sintaur,” Torrak answered.
“Right as usual,” Opute responded, while calling up the disk information from the console in front of him. A three-dimensional image flickered to life. “The more I looked at the rest of the list though, the stranger it seemed.”
“How so?”
“The first planet is Sintaur, heavily populated, a good military defense system, and high up in the ranks for trading and business. But the rest of the planets…” Opute pointed them out as he scrolled down the list. “They are all small, non-influential, and minimally populated. I don’t know why Exarth or the Aleet Army would have any interest in them.”
Torrak’s thoughts exploded like fireworks ricocheting around inside his head. His brain raced through ideas as he added together all his previous knowledge about the Aleet Army with what he had just learned. His mind analyzed the theories in microseconds, interweaving different scenarios, and finally came to the only possible conclusion.
“I’ve been wrong the whole time,” Torrak mumbled. “Xiven’s not rebuilding the Aleet Army. He’s setting it up to fail.”
Mirrored looks of confusion crossed their faces.
“What are you talking about?” Opute asked.
“What’s the one thing the Liberator governments wouldn’t want to happen again? For the Aleet Army to return with a leader who has Jacin Jaxx’s powers. So why would Xiven purposefully use Daith, someone who has Jacin’s powers, to lead his army? He would meet a ton of resistance and be constantly fighting battles.”
“Then why use Daith at all?” Kali asked.
“Sintaur was one of the first planet’s to establish the Liberator government. Their purpose was to remove the Aleet Army presence. After they did that, many believed they should no longer be in power. We all know a rift has occurred on multiple planets between the military division and the Liberator political party, but it’s the strongest on Sintaur. So if the citizens think the Liberators are in league with the Aleet Army, they’d overthrow them, right?”
“What would make them think that?” Nuis asked.
Torrak sat. He tried to ignore the shakiness in his hands. His skin itched. His tongue felt swollen in his mouth. He was so close to figuring it all out.
“Xiven chose a large target as his first point of attack, right? So he obviously wants to make a big display of power and force. Sintaur won’t be able to fight back because they won’t be expecting the attack and maybe Xiven will spin it or he has a fake recorded conversation as if the Liberators are in league with or being controlled by the new and improved Aleet Army. As proof, he will show Daith, who is the daughter of Jacin Jaxx, and that she has all his powers and is controlling the governments. Once that happens, Xiven assumes the citizens will rebel against their governments and overthrow them, like the Liberators did before.”
“How could he know that? Maybe the citizens wouldn’t believe it.”
“That’s where the smaller planets come in. If I wanted to ensure a rebellion, I’d need to establish propaganda and instigate the coup. Maybe Xiven set up his own followers to take charge of the rebellion or he sent missionaries to spread rumors. Once the news gets out about the rebellion on Sintaur, other planets will begin to do
ubt their own governments.” Torrak’s breathing quickened again. He almost had it all out. A symphony playing its final notes.
“No one will pay too much attention to a couple of backwater planets, but if it spreads to five, ten, twenty planets, someone will notice. And if someone notices, they will start to ask questions and perhaps doubt their own governments, too.”
“So,” Faan concluded, “Daith is a prop. Xiven doesn’t need her to gain control of the planet; he only needs her to demonstrate her abilities.”
“Exactly. After tomorrow, there’s no need to keep her around. Or even alive. I’m sure Xiven knows he won’t be able to control her forever. He will most likely kill her, or even worse, give her over to the mobs.
“And that’s why Xiven can attack so soon,” Torrak finished. “He doesn’t want Daith stable. The less controlled, the better, because she will be easier to manipulate. Once he gets her to use her abilities against the planet, everyone will remember what happened under the control of the Aleet Army and join Xiven, no questions asked.”
“If Xiven doesn’t want to be connected with this first attack, will he even be there tomorrow?” Kalil asked.
“I’m betting he’s the only one who has any control over Daith so he’ll have to be there,” Torrak said. “I just wish I knew why he wanted to do this.”
“Does any of this change our plan?” Preeaht asked.
“No. In fact, it makes it more important that we succeed. Especially for you and Nuis,” he told Preeaht. “Xiven will be counting on a lack of defense, so you two will have to make sure Sintaur fights back.”
“Add my new ships,” Opute said, “and Xiven will definitely have his hands full.”
Torrak looked at him with surprise. “You’re going to help us?”
Opute shrugged. “If it gets me closer to Exarth, I’d take on Jacin Jaxx himself.”
Torrak nodded. “Another blow they won’t be expecting. Xiven doesn’t know you intercepted Exarth’s fleet. But make sure during the fight you keep an eye out for our escape craft. I don’t want you to blow us up in your enthusiasm.” Torrak said with a look of gratitude. He knew having Opute there would help cut down on casualties, and hopefully force the Aleet Army to withdraw more quickly.
“No problem. I’ll be watching.”
Now that he’d figured everything out, Torrak’s brain reset back on a fixed path, with knife-like direction. It felt good to have his doubt gone. He’d been worried that out of the whole group, he’d been the only one not prepared for what lay ahead.
But now, Torrak was ready to fight a war.
And win it.
Trey entered his office after he left Daith’s quarters. Things were going better than he hoped, although he still wondered why he hadn’t heard from Exarth that the monetary exchange went well. Even if she did double-cross him and didn’t show up at Sintaur, he and his crew would still do fine. Sintaur would be fighting blind, but the larger the assault, the more terrifying it would be to the civilians. And he knew it would get great media coverage because Trey had his own planted citizens ready to tip off the news crews. Still, he would like to know...
Trey contacted the bridge. “What is the status on Exarth’s fleet and her progress to Sintaur?”
“Exarth and her reinforcements have not yet entered this area. We are continuing passive scans, but are running silent so we aren’t detected by Sintaur’s satellite security system.”
“Very well. Alert me when her ships come into range.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Trey paced his office. Daith still needed a stronger push against the Controllers. He didn’t like that she shifted the blame of Dru’s death onto herself. He knew she’d help them fight, but that wasn’t the point.
He needed her to want the Controllers to die.
His door chimes rang. “Enter.”
Lieutenant Koye came in, growling. “Commander, I believe the assassination attempt on Torrak Spirtz failed.”
Trey’s jaw muscles hardened like rocks. “What?”
“The most recent report we received from Kircla on the Shadow stated she had successfully tracked Torrak Spirtz’s ship and would engage it. No communiqué since.”
Trey immediately sent out a transmission to Kircla’s ship. No response.
Trey cursed. “This can’t be. Torrak Spirtz’s records indicate he had no contacts in this sector and no flight combat experience. He could not have fought off and defeated the Shadow.”
“The tracking device is still attached to the hull. His ship is docked on Sintaur, in the city of Wolina. He is with one other, a young male named Kalil, his roommate from back on Fior. They have been speaking quite… loudly about the Aleet Army returning to Sintaur.”
“Send a team down immediately and retrieve them both—alive. Do it personally, Lieutenant. I want them in a holding cell on this ship today. If they made it this far, they may have told others what they know. We will need them to be questioned so do not damage them. Understood?”
“Yes, Commander.” Koye hesitated.
“Was there something else?”
“I took the liberty of sending one of our ground-crew to check out the docked ship. She saw a total of five passengers: three males including Torrak and two females, one a feline species and the other a Re’Ris who disappeared shortly after exiting the ship. The ground-crewmember ran her file: she is Faan Kaano.”
Trey stroked his chin. A Re’Ris. The woman’s name danced around in his head. “Faan Kaano. Why does that sound familiar?”
“Her parental guardians were large protesters of the Aleet Army back on Re’Ris. They worked for the Controllers during their initial phase.”
Trey remembered. It had been one of the first times he ignored Jacin Jaxx’s orders and had the protesters killed. Their species came from a planet of assassins, so a false death record was easy, under the claim they’d been targeted for assassination.
Faan could spell trouble. But Trey had a few tricks up his sleeves.
“Collect as many of them as you can, but don’t waste any time on anyone if they aren’t with Torrak. Get this done as quickly as possible.”
“It is rumored Re’Ris have unique abilities.”
“True. But they are not invulnerable. Dismissed.”
“Yes, Commander.” Koye left the office.
Trey’s tight jaw loosened with a smirk. This couldn’t have come at a better time. Daith needed to shift her guilt to anger. What better way then serving up the man he told her killed Dru?
*
Torrak, Kalil, and a now invisible Faan were on Sintaur. They checked into a hotel and then made their way through the capital city, circulating Torrak’s name. Nuis and Preeaht split off from the group, everyone wishing the other luck.
About halfway through the night Torrak watched an overly large, fur-covered creature enter the bar where he and Kalil sat. Two men followed shortly after, wearing blue jumpsuits like the ones the men wore when Daith had first been kidnapped.
Torrak’s pulse raced. The moment had come. He nodded to Kalil and the two of them left the bar through the back exit, forcing themselves to take measured steps. He hoped his instincts were right about not being killed. Their attackers seized them right before the back passageway opened to the public. Torrak and Kalil pretended to resist. They hoped to be conscious when brought aboard the ship, to perhaps remember some of the corridors in order to find their way back out. Unfortunately, their assailants didn’t agree. Torrak’s last thought before a dark, curved claw swiped him across the face swirled around the hope that Faan would follow them.
*
Trey checked Daith’s vitals through his computer—she still slept. He watched her on his vidlink, her chest rising and falling, her lips parted. A twinge of guilt bit inside his stomach. He could still stop this. He didn’t have to continue. He didn’t have to lose her.
Trey’s thoughts were interrupted by one of his lieutenants who informed him Torrak and an associate had been detain
ed in Holding Block A.
“Confirmed. I’m on my way.” He stroked the image of Daith’s sleeping body with his fingertips.
“I’m sorry, Daith. But justice means everyone must be punished. And soon everyone will be.”
Trey made his way to the fifth floor and strode into the holding area. Two men occupied separate cells.
Trey approached the first cell—the shielding over the doorway crackled with electricity. He looked first at Torrak and then took a few steps to see into the other cell at his associate, who looked younger than twenty standard years old. Both wore comfortable clothes and the guards who had caught them said they were unarmed. Trey snickered at such foolishness.
“So this is the elusive Torrak Spirtz,” he said, returning to the first cell. “You’ve led us on quite a chase. But you shouldn’t have pushed your luck.”
“You think so?” Torrak asked. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”
Trey smiled cruelly. “Is that so?” He nodded toward one of his guards. The guard headed toward the other prisoner’s cell. He released the shield, went inside, and with a sickening crack, kicked Kalil’s kneecap. Kalil howled in pain and fell to the floor, his face pinched and red.
Trey’s smile faded when he realized Torrak hadn’t flinched. In fact, his eyes narrowed, more determined.
“You think I wasn’t expecting that?” Torrak whispered as he leaned forward. “You think I don’t have my own tricks?” Torrak closed his eyes and reached out with his hands. Suddenly, a cry rang out. The guard who stood behind Trey buckled, his kneecap broken. Trey stared down, dumbfounded.
Torrak grinned. “Daith isn’t the only one with powers.”
Trey snapped at the guard in Kalil’s cell. “Reestablish the shield and take this man to medical.” He whirled back around and glared at Torrak. “I know for a fact you don’t have those types of abilities. I know all about you, your time at the academy, your gift for solving puzzles. You may be an analytical genius, but you’re inept like the rest of us. Which means someone else is here. Could it be—Faan Kaano?”
Eomix Galaxy Books: Identity (Book 2 of 2) Page 18