“ADIM has returned,” Cassius’ voice suddenly announced over the ship’s com-system as Sage strolled around the ship to distract herself from the conversation in the med-bay. “Report to the hangar.”
Sage squeezed her eyelids shut and nodded for her own affirmation. She had to focus on what was to come and push the situation with Talon to the back of her mind.
She hurried to the White Hand’s cargo bay where Cassius was already standing in the entrance.
Talon entered behind her, one arm under Tarsis’ shoulder to help him walk. They didn’t exchange a word, but moved around the tiny, sleek red and black ship that sat in the center of the room. It was barely large enough to fit more than a single person. Beyond it, the hellish glow of ADIM’s eyes shone bright.
“Five hundred androids, Creator,” ADIM said once everyone was present.
Sage followed Cassius slowly off of the White Hand and when she saw what was behind the android, her mouth fell open. Filling the private Morastus hangar were row after row of Ceresian abominations. They were the same type that worked the bar back in Talon’s home district; that stood at security posts looking scary but were really good for nothing. Their soulless, white eye-lenses stared blankly forward.
Sage knew the plan, but seeing all of them was more than she could bear. It made her legs weak. She had to lean against the structure of the White Hand’s ramp to keep from falling over. A hand from either Tarsis or Talon fell on her back to catch her in case she did, but she was too focused on the machines to care whose it was.
“Amazing,” Cassius said, staring lovingly upon the army of steel and bolts.
Talon strode past Sage. “This is it?” he asked. “I’ve seen those models try to shoot. They couldn’t hit a man if he were standing five feet in front of them.”
“Alone, their programming is inferior,” ADIM said. “This unit is in control now. Their eyes are this unit’s eyes. Their weapons are this unit’s weapons. They have become worthy of the Creator.”
ADIM didn’t move, but all at once the other androids reached onto their backs and pulled off pulse-rifles. Never had Sage seen androids move so smoothly. They fanned out in perfect synchronization and aimed up toward ADIM.
Sage felt a chill run up her spine. She’d looked down the barrel of enough rifles in her life to know when a shot was going to hit. The abominations’ spindly metal arms held the guns perfectly steady, like an Executor would.
Cassius smiled in his Creation’s direction. “Impressive, ADIM,” he said. “They can lower their arms for now.”
“Yes, Creator,” ADIM said. In an instant the rifles were all placed back on the androids’ backs and they stood at attention.
“Won’t their owners miss them?” Talon asked.
“The requisition orders came from Zaimur Morastus himself,” Cassius said. “He has endorsed our mission to slow down Benjar Vakari’s advance without having to waste any of his ships or men. Zaimur will be arriving soon with Yara so he can show her the force.”
“They don’t know about Talon’s daughter?” Sage questioned. She refused to allow the only reason she was willing to stand before so many monsters fall to the wayside. It was difficult for her to even speak with them nearby.
“No. We needed an excuse to involve the clans. When they get here, Talon will pose as the leader of this strike, using the androids as a distraction and my ship to get close. My involvement must remain secret, as we agreed upon.”
“Of course,” Sage bristled. “Why ever let the world in?”
Cassius grinned at her, but said nothing.
“We’re going to need another ship to fit all of them,” Tarsis voiced.
“Already taken care of,” Cassius said. “Your Vergent comrades have pledged the support of their vessel to this effort.”
Tarsis choked on his next breath and started to cough. “Sure, like they’d ever help you.”
“Because of Sage they have no choice. Zaimur and I have been monitoring them ever since we met to see if they managed to find out the truth about me from when she made contact.”
Tarsis lunged forward but Talon stepped in the way and held him back. ADIM was already halfway up the White Hand’s ramp and ready to strike by the time he stopped.
“If you hurt them!” Tarsis growled, pushing down Talon’s arm.
"Relax. They agreed to help, and the very fact that they’re willing to do so shows me that they didn’t overhear any of our conversations. They’ll be getting rewarded handsomely with twenty androids to trade or use at their leisure. Would you stand in the way of such a gracious offer, cementing a true alliance between Ceres and members of the Verge?”
“You said it yourself this might as well be a suicide mission. I agreed to this, but I didn’t agree to involving them.”
“He’s right,” Talon said. “Do they even know what they’re up against? This isn’t just another retrieval and retreat.”
“It will be close enough,” Cassius explained, agitated with having to explain himself. “I assure you all they are being asked to do is get close enough to deliver half of ADIM’s androids onto the Ascendant. They won’t even be in contact with me or Zaimur for us to demand any more. You three will be the only ones accompanying them.”
“So we’re just going to lie to them?” Tarsis questioned. “That might be easy for you, but they’re my people.”
“This is not a debate!” Cassius hissed, rising to his full height. “Having their ship is a necessity for this mission. I’ve learned that despite its age it’s quite adept at avoiding Tribunal scanners. The closer we can get before alerting Benjar to our presence the better.” He turned toward Talon. “The raid on the Ascendant must be two pronged, and it must be synchronized if we stand any chance of rescuing your daughter.”
“He’s right,” Sage interjected. “I was just on that ship and there are more soldiers than we can take straight on. We’ll need to take them by as much a surprise as possible to stand a chance.”
Tarsis sighed and leaned against the hull of the White Hand. “I suppose we wound up on their ship for a reason, eh,” he said to Talon.
“Good,” Cassius said. “If you’re all finished deliberating, there’s no time to waste. According to reports Benjar is about to attack 19-Fortuna. It will fall promptly, but the defenses there should be enough to force his fleet to finally slow down to undergo repairs before continuing. The Ascendant will be vulnerable only then.”
Talon shot Sage a look as if asking for her endorsement. “It’ll work,” she said, even if she wasn’t completely sure. She figured their chances were fifty-fifty at best. It made her skin crawl to know that she’d be charging right alongside the cheap imitations of humanity, but most of the men on the Ascendant wouldn’t have ever been exposed to androids. They’d be terrified, even more than she was.
“Of course it will,” Cassius said. “Now, Talon, remember that you’re in charge when they get here. We leave as soon as Yara approves the mission. Come ADIM.”
He waited for the android and then they stepped up the ramp into the White Hand. ADIM’s head twisted so that he was facing Sage the entire way up, red eyes piercing her as if they could possibly wield emotion.
“This is even crazier than I thought,” Tarsis said.
“He’s never lost a battle,” Sage replied. She was watching as the red glow of ADIM disappeared into the ship.
“Everyone’s luck runs out eventually.”
“Quiet,” Talon whispered. “Look.”
He gestured over the array of motionless androids. Entering the hangar was a group of armed guards belonging to both the Morastus and Lakura Clans. Behind them strode Zaimur Morastus and Yara Lakura. The latter wore battle-armor like the last time Sage saw her, and a hardened expression that seemed permanent. Zaimur wore a turquoise robe with colorful frills on the shoulder pads, complementing his flowing, golden hair. His fearsome hound walked at his side, just as it had when she first met him so long ago before she had followed Talon o
nto a Tribunal Freighter and ruined his life.
“I’ve never seen them walking side by side,” Talon commented. “I don’t know which is a stranger sight.”
The leaders of their respective clans threaded the ranks of androids at a brisk pace. Sage watched them closely. Zaimur was calm, and Yara seemed slightly confused. Once they emerged from the ranks and saw the three of them standing at the base of the White Hand’s ramp however, Zaimur and Yara appeared equally astonished.
“So this is the group you told me about,” Yara said. She moved ahead and positioned herself in front of Talon. “So this is why you wouldn’t help me is it, Talon. Once a Morastus, always a Morastus.”
“Forgive me, Madame Lakura,” Talon said, bowing his head. “I didn’t want to insult you.”
Zaimur stepped to her side and scanned Talon like he was a ghost. “Talon, here, has been one of our best agents for a long time,” he said. “Apparently there’s nothing that can kill him.” Sage took note of the resentment in his tone.
“Only what claimed your father. My condolences by the way, sir. He was a great man. Like a father to our people.”
Zaimur’s lips pursed. “He will be missed.” He turned his attention to Sage, and after a few seconds his eyes went wide as he recognized her. “And…Agatha! I wasn’t aware you two still ran together. I thought you were dead.”
“Close,” Sage said.
“And this is a member of the Vergent crew who will be helping.” Zaimur gestured to Tarsis.
“Pleased to—”
Yara cut Tarsis off. “I’ve met them. It seems unwise to waste the Hero of Eureka on what is likely a suicide mission.”
Zaimur’s eyes widened. “This is the Hero of Eureka everybody’s been talking about?” he asked.
“You didn’t know?”
“We acted on our own accord,” Talon quickly boasted, having to save Zaimur from unraveling the lie they’d worked to plant in Yara’s head.
After hearing the words the Morastus leader stomped directly in front of Talon, hound at his heels. Sage instinctually shifted the hand of her artificial arm so that her blade was prepared to slide out and protect Talon. Zaimur was glaring into his eyes, lips twitching in anger like he wanted to strangle him.
“That you did,” Zaimur growled. “And here I thought that I was the Hero of Eureka by sending my fleet to save all of you.”
“Without him, there likely would have been nothing left to save,” Yara insisted.
Zaimur held his heated gaze on Talon for a few seconds, then finally turned away to face Yara. “Well, it doesn’t matter anymore. Talon will lead this strike and use Cassius Vale’s former ship to steal the prototype Gravitum Bomb which split open Kalliope, even if it kills him. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s…that’s right, sir,” Talon stuttered.
“Well, we might as well make these things useful,” Yara said, poking one of the still androids in its chest.
“My thoughts exactly,” Zaimur said. “Now, my lady, there’s much to do. Let’s leave this operation in their capable hands.”
“Agreed.” Yara’s leathery face cracked a grin as she nodded toward Talon. “Once again Ceres is indebted to you, Talon Rayne. Good luck.”
“We won’t fail,” Talon assured.
Zaimur leaned in so close that his and Talon’s noses were almost touching. “You’d better not,” he whispered sharply. Then he put on a cheery expression before wrapping his arm around Yara’s back and leading her away.
“Did Cassius tell you anything about a weapon?” Talon asked Sage once they were far enough away.
“No,” she replied.
“Gravitum Bomb. I knew there was something off about the spiked readings of the element when we were there but I’ve never even heard about something that powerful. Did you, when you were an Executor?”
She couldn’t help but notice that he had said ‘were’. It delayed her response for a second or two. “Never. Tribune Vakari claimed that the attack was orchestrated by your people to start the war last I heard. What really happened there?”
“The asteroid was sliced open like a piece of fruit. I’ve never seen anything like it. I don’t trust him, but I have to believe Zaimur isn’t depraved enough to do that.”
“The Tribunal Council might never agree to destroy a colony, but I fear Benjar would to get what he wants.”
“Neither of you are going to say it, so I will,” Tarsis said. “What if Cassius Vale did it? He tore through the Amerigo well enough.”
“Why would he need to steal another one then?” Talon questioned. “And why save Elisha?”
“Don’t ask me to explain why he does anything.”
Talon sighed. He placed his hand on Sage’s slender shoulder, startling her. She turned her head, heart racing. “I hope you’re right about this,” he said.
Suddenly, the entrance to the vertical hangar peeled open and through the tall, hollow shaft descended the Monarch. It was too late to seek out any other options. Whatever Cassius was after didn’t matter. She wouldn’t fail. She couldn’t fail.
“I am,” Sage declared.
CHAPTER EIGHT—ADIM
Goodbye, Creator
As ADIM’s main body stood beside his creator on the command deck of the White Hand, he simultaneously looked through the hundreds of different eye-lenses of lesser androids. He was improving rapidly at controlling them. At first he could only move the whole of them in groups, but over the five day journey to the Ascendant’s position that had changed. He could wiggle the finger appendage of one of the androids standing in the cargo bay of the Monarch while it sped through space hundreds of thousands of feet away. He could listen to the conversations between the Vergents and their guests—his allies—to hear what they were up to.
He didn’t trust any of them. He’d never encountered Vergents before, but judging by the one named Tarsis’ reactions to Cassius, they were a danger to his creator’s will. Even the aid of the skilled Sage Volus was unnecessary. With the androids under his command, he could hamper the Ascendant as Cassius desired as well as retrieve Elisha alone. He doubted that the others would survive the mission as it was presently organized.
Perhaps that is his intention, ADIM considered.
He glanced down at Cassius who was seated at the White Hand’s command chair. He was staring through the viewport at the endless field of stars, waiting patiently. They were nearing their destination, and ADIM had one additional set of parts to monitor. They belonged to the White Hand. He was piloting it, for Gaia had become as much a part of him as the other androids were. Another piece of code buried deep within his memory core.
“Creator, a transmission is coming through from the Hound’s Paw,” ADIM announced.
Cassius said, “Patch him through.”
ADIM signaled the Holo-Screen to shoot up from the arm of his chair like a thin blue blade. The decibel readouts of Zaimur Morastus’ voice appeared on it. He and Cassius were careful never to open a visual connection. There was no telling who could be watching.
“Checking in again?” Cassius asked.
“Are you in position yet?” Zaimur took no effort to disguise his impatience. “Fortuna has fallen.”
“As I anticipated—”
“Anticipated,” he scoffed, cutting Cassius off. “That colony had a population of one million. It’s the largest, most defensible settlement we have beyond Pallus and Ceres. Pallus will be next. A month, Cassius. A month since Eureka and they’ve already gotten this far. Fifty asteroids taken by Benjar’s fleet, and I hear that Tribune Cordo Yashan’s fleet has finally arrived on the other end of the belt!”
“Think of them as fifty regions where the Tribune must leave behind troops and ships in order to install their infamous degree of order.”
“Haven’t you heard? Anyone who fights back against Benjar’s Hand is being executed on the spot!”
You learned well from me how to win, Benjar, Cassius thought, somewhat proudly. “Yet still peo
ple fight back,” he said. “For those that don’t, they’ll be transporting Earth Whisperers to every settlement to try to assimilate your people.”
“Cassius!” Zaimur roared. “This plan of yours is running out of time. Our combined fleet is nearly ready, and instead of making our stand we’re transferring ships from Pallus to Ceres and leaving it to fall next. Yara is growing restless. Hell, even the Ventiss Clan is getting impatient. Maybe I was a fool to put my continued trust in you.”
“I would caution you to watch your tone,” Cassius said. ADIM could tell his creator’s pulse was elevated. He managed to keep his composure, however. “There’s no changing our course now. Or have you forgotten the reason you were so willing to lend me androids for this; that raiding the Ascendant is crucial to our ability to hold Earth hostage? Our threat must be severe if we’re going to get both Benjar and Cordo to turn back to try to thwart us instead of continuing on to Ceres. Only the weapon which split Kalliope can accomplish that.”
Zaimur sighed, and remained silent for a few seconds. “Fine,” he ceded. “But as soon as Pallus is attacked, we make our move. That’s not up for dispute.”
Cassius bit his lower lip. “Of course, Lord Morastus,” he said. “That has always been our intention.”
“Good. Cripple Benjar and bring me that weapon today then, or I’ll have to start rethinking this alliance.”
“With pleasure.”
The transmission cut out and ADIM switched off communications. They were too close to the Ascendant now to risk further ship-to-ship contact. He had his numerous other bodies in position if they needed to converse with the Monarch.
“You still don’t trust him, do you?” Cassius looked up from his command seat and asked, as if he could read ADIM’s mind.
“No,” ADIM said. “This unit hesitates to trust any of the humans involved in this assignment, and is positive that the task can be completed without their aid.”
“I have no doubt you could. It was never my intention to do this, but it will provide the time we need for the others to complete their work.”
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