Crooked Stars

by Rock Forsberg

  The other two gentlemen, apparently his co-workers, smaller guys, also dressed in elegant red outfits, nodded in unison. Sorry for your loss, they seemed to say.

  A boy about my age, his robe slightly crumpled at the chest, lurked behind them. Puissance frowned and pulled the boy by the arm to the fore. ‘Come on, Marc, don’t just stand there. Say hello.’

  The boy sneered at me and said, ‘Hello.’

  Puissance shook his head and said, ‘This is my son, Marc. He’s a bit shy.’

  ‘That’s cool,’ I said, but Marc just sheepishly moved away.

  Puissance grunted, and squinted at me before resuming to talk with the men around him. My father had been stern, but always warm. Puissance oozed vibes that made me happy he wasn’t my father.

  The men talked about rebuilding, and Usher noted, ‘We will find the funds to invest. The Runore Building was a landmark, and it will be again.’

  The gentlemen seemed to agree.

  I lost interest in their empty pleasantries; I wanted to talk to Sander. ‘You know where Sander went?’ I stole a quick question from Usher.

  ‘It’s a ship, you know, he can’t be too far,’ he said. ‘Perhaps check the private rooms below?’

  I thanked him, and quickly nodded to the mayor and his son before making my way to the stairs.

  I found Sander in a small, dimly-lit room, with just a few guests, none of whom I knew. He reclined in a comfortable-looking lounge chair, wearing a crisp black outfit with a red band around his bicep, and was drawing fumes from a fancy pipe.

  As I entered, he straightened up and put the pipe aside. ‘Brah… Wanna have a taste?’

  I took a chair beside him. ‘What is it?’

  ‘It’s the real Jindalar stuff. Just the right mood for this sort of situation.’ He offered me the pipe.

  I had heard of Jindalar mood fumes. I had even tried some at a party where it had been inescapable, as they had pushed it directly into the air. I had been underage for the stuff, as I had been underage for that party, but my brothers had assured me it was all right, and that nobody would ever know. Eventually, my mother found out, and we all suffered the consequences. Even now, I was still underage. ‘You sure?’

  ‘Look at you,’ he said, and pushed the pipe towards me. ‘If anyone needs it, it’s you.’

  I took the pipe. Its material mirrored everything with the surface smooth like glass, with bits of black that felt soft under my fingers. I put the business end to my lips and drew a deep breath. The taste was dark, earthy, and immediately threw me into a melancholic harmony of love and loss.

  I coughed and returned the pipe to Sander. ‘It fits the occasion.’

  ‘I’ll be off tomorrow,’ he said as he leaned back again with the pipe in his hand. ‘I might be gone for months… be good to take some distance.’

  Was he leaving already? I had to ask him. I needed to move fast. ‘You’re not staying to organise Father’s will?’

  ‘No, bro. Mother and us three will split his fortune. What else is there? I’ve instructed my lawyer to sell my shares immediately after they hit my account.’

  ‘Where are you headed?’

  ‘Sorry, can’t tell you that,’ he said, and drew deep from the pipe. ‘But what I can tell you is that it will be awesome. It’s interstellar, bro!’ He picked up a drink from the small table beside him and raised it up.

  ‘Congrats,’ I said, even though, knowing Sander, he was probably risking it all in the hope of quick wins. I couldn’t say that to him, and I hoped I was wrong.

  He pulled his signature smug smile and took a sip of his drink. ‘I’ll tell you all about it when I’m back. I’ve already told a few people I’ve got a hungry little bro.’

  ‘Oh, you have?’ I said, thinking that’s great, but wondering why he was so keen on getting me involved. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because you are my lil’ bro,’ he said, and smacked my shoulder. He pushed the pipe towards me and nodded.

  Why not? I took another breath in and had a wave of nostalgia cover me with its dark and warm blanket. I recalled the times when I was maybe seven. Usher and Sander had built a hut in the backyard and we all snuck in to watch videos we shouldn’t have and eventually our father found us and made us stay analogue for a week. It didn’t feel so great, but looking back at it now, it felt like the best time I’ve ever had. That’s when we were genuinely close, and together like today. I wished I could go back to that time, but shook my head to shake the feeling away. I returned the pipe to Sander.

  He fiddled with the pipe between his fingers, smiling. ‘You’re thinking of him?’

  ‘I am,’ I said. ‘Remember when Usher took us on a ride in Dad’s craft without telling him?’

  ‘Yeah, we had it easy, but Usher, bro, he had to work in the mines for that.’ He chuckled and took a sip of his drink.

  I chuckled, too. It was great sitting there with Sander. It had been a while since we’d done anything like this, even before he got the job with the Sweeps. Something about his job reminded me of the incident a long time ago. I had to ask.

  ‘You remember that time when I stumbled into you and Usher, and that man on the chair?’ I said.

  He squinted. ‘We agreed not to talk about it.’

  ‘It’s a long time ago, and Father’s gone, so I was thinking…’

  ‘You’re right, bro, you deserve to know,’ he said and took a deep pull of the pipe. ‘You got us in an awful moment. Usher had just found that—his name is not important—had been selling our company data to our biggest competitor—’

  ‘The Puissance Corp?’

  ‘Yeah, unfortunately. We couldn’t go to the police, but wanted to send a clear signal, and we did, and it worked: it never happened again.’

  ‘Why not the police?’

  He chuckled. ‘Couldn’t trust them; you see the connection?’

  I thought for a moment; the police force enjoyed a top level of trust. Also, with Father’s utmost integrity, I believed our business had nothing to hide. But thinking about the competitor, I got it. ‘As the mayor, Puissance controls the police…’

  ‘That’s right.’

  That was it for the trust in the Runcor police. ‘So, you’re saying it was a one-time thing?’

  ‘That’s right, bro,’ he said, and leaned back. ‘We’re not mobsters, but we protect the family assets, when it comes to that.’

  My shoulders relaxed, and I also leaned back. Even though I had consciously given it little thought, the doubt had stressed me, and now that I knew, a fresh lightness washed over me. Sander and Usher were of the same high integrity as my father, the same as I hoped I was.

  ‘I was thinking,’ I said. ‘You said you know some people?’

  He winced. ‘I know many people.’

  ‘Like people with connections to… bad guys?’

  ‘Well…’ He leaned back and crossed his legs.

  ‘I want to find out who did this to Dad.’

  ‘Me too, but it’s not that easy.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Well, would you just ask everyone you meet if they bombed the building?’

  I nodded.

  He laughed. ‘It doesn’t work like that. No group has come forth. I know many groups have had a plasma bomb to share with Father. One of those groups is the likely perpetrator. When I go, I will check with the guys at the Sweeps.’

  I thought about it. ‘What do the Sweeps do again?’

  ‘It’s a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff,’ Sander said, and placed his drink on the table. ‘It’s not about digging dirt, and it isn’t a child’s business.’

  ‘So, they might know?’

  ‘They might,’ Sander said, wearing his smug know-it-all face.

  I stared at him. Through his connections, we might find out who had killed our father. And maybe they could help us, help us get them. I owed it to my father. Sander maybe didn’t care, but I did.

  I grabbed his glass and swallowed it empty. The liquid burned in my throa
t and made me cough. Sander eyed me with a curious gaze.

  I placed the empty glass on the table and coughed one more time. Squirming, I said, ‘Please, take me with you.’

  He chuckled. ‘I told you already, you’re too young.’

  ‘Please, Sander. I want to find them, and there’s nothing for me here. The company is Usher’s; it will never be mine. I want to join you in the Sweeps. I’ll be helpful—’

  ‘Bro, I really wanna help you, but you’re asking too much. It’s not a place for a wet-eared boy like you. And you owe me a drink.’

  ‘Please, there’s absolutely nothing for me here. I will never find peace if I don’t do something—’

  ‘Stop,’ he raised a hand. ‘What about your girlfriend?’

  I swallowed. I had forgotten entirely about Tiana. ‘She’ll understand.’

  ‘Will she?’ he said, and looked past me.

  ‘Understand what?’ a familiar voice said behind me.

  I turned around. Tiana stood right behind me. She had just come into the room and appeared to have a question mark hanging over her pretty face.

  How long had she been standing there?

  ‘Understand what?’ she asked again.

  I swallowed, unable to say anything. I felt awkward and didn’t know how to respond. I had just said there was nothing for me here. I had been hasty; Tiana was here with me, and we were applying for the same school. I couldn’t stay silent anymore, and I tried to mutter something, but the words failed me.

  Sander rose and walked past me towards her. ‘Tiana, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I need to take my bro for a trip. It won’t be too long.’

  Tiana looked at me. ‘Trip, to where?’

  I failed to keep eye contact. ‘To Karu-124 in the Hirwe system.’

  ‘What?’ Her face fell as if in shock.

  ‘I work there, and it would be a significant benefit for Daler here to get to know some folks.’

  ‘Is that so?’ She gave me a black look.

  I nodded.

  ‘We’re leaving tomorrow,’ Sander said, in a manner that made him sound utterly cool.

  But Tiana wasn’t cool at all. ‘What are you going to do? You haven’t even applied to the Academy of Virtuous Knowledge yet.’

  I bit my tongue. Half of me wanted to stop this madness, and stay, leave Sander and go back to Tiana. Then again, what would I be? I had to go. I had to do it. ‘The Academy of Virtuous Knowledge doesn’t matter.’

  ‘Doesn’t matter?’ she said, a tear welling in her eye. ‘Like I don’t matter?’

  ‘You know I didn’t mean that.’

  She shook her head, then turned around and ran away.

  I stared as she went.

  ‘Go after her, bro,’ Sander said. ‘But if you really wanna come, find me with the Reacher at the port tomorrow at ten am. Take what you need, but don’t think it’s a vacation.’

  I hesitated. I had decided and didn’t want Tiana to change my mind. But if I left now, she’d never talk to me again.

  ‘Now go after her,’ he said.

  With a little push from Sander, I stood up from the chair and darted after Tiana.

  She leaned against a railing on the foredeck, on the same spot where we had stood together a few moments ago. Looking out to the sands, she ignored me.

  I grabbed the railing by her side. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my plans.’

  She gazed into the distance, the light wind fluttering her black locks.

  ‘I wouldn’t go unless it were important.’

  She said nothing.

  I put my hand around her waist.

  She pushed it away. ‘Why?’

  ‘I learned that my father’s death wasn’t an accident; someone organised it, murdered him.’

  She turned to me with her eyes wide.

  ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘And that’s what’s been on my mind. I want to do whatever I can to bring them to justice, even if it means going to the Sweeps for help.’

  ‘You sound like your brothers. This is not you.’

  ‘My father was a distinguished man,’ I said. ‘My entire life I’ve tried to live up to his standards; now it’s all gone, and I owe this to him. I owe him everything.’

  ‘You’re not backing away regardless of what I say, are you?’

  ‘You know I can’t.’

  Tears formed in her eyes. I took a handkerchief and offered it to her, but she pushed me away and broke into tears.

  ‘I love you,’ I said. ‘I will be back for you.’

  Chapter Seven

  I watched as Runcor became smaller and smaller behind us. From space, it looked like a brown ball with blue and white tops surrounded by small patches of green. If the blues ever disappeared, so would the greens, and with them, the natural atmosphere. Runcor would need to pump up its investments into artificial air generation, but I wasn’t sure they had the means. I had a fond idea of a future where I would make fortunes, and turn Runcor into a thriving planet, turn its downhill into a soaring success story for the thousands of years until Reuna devoured it all. It was my home, and it was beautiful.

  Sander set the Reacher on autopilot to cruise until we were far enough to pinch. ‘You’ve never pinched before?’

  I shook my head. The farthest I had gone from home was to Runcor’s moon Jelen; too short a distance to even engage faster-than-light travel.

  Sander leaned back in the captain’s chair. ‘I’ve no idea how someone could have invented the thing, but as long as it works, I don’t care.’

  I knew how it worked, at least in theory, because I had paid attention in school. It was funny we still called them engines, because they were more like congregators of energy. I had seen videos of them making needle holes in the fabric of space and pulling another edge close by and then expanding it for as long as a ship passed through. While impressive, it was all a simple application of physics.

  Mother was gloomy about me leaving with Sander. I told her I wouldn’t be away for long, and I’d have plenty of time to enrol to the Academy of Virtuous Knowledge—not to the fast track, though, but she didn’t even know about it.

  And Tiana was cross. I felt terrible for leaving her like that. I had been selfish; I should have told her earlier. She had every right to be angry. I knew in time she would understand, but even so I hated to cause such pain in her. I promised myself (I don’t believe she would have listened) that I would make it up to her. Finding my father’s killers and avenging them was my way of finally proving myself to him, and even if he wasn’t in this world to see it, I needed the closure. My entire family needed closure.

  ‘It’ll take a moment to fly far enough from Runcor to pinch,’ Sander said, ‘so why not have some fun in the presence room?’

  ‘This ship has a presence room?’

  ‘Yep, a small one, but still.’

  The ship has a presence room! It was something I had only seen in the Dawn Net: a place capable of creating a virtual space around you, without you having to wear any gear. You could even connect with other people light-years apart. ‘Let’s go already.’

  We left the cockpit and went through a corridor with a galley on one side and living quarters on the other. The passage continued above the engine room, where the core was visible beyond the railings, glowing blue and glimmering from the chrome-plated fittings.

  The presence room itself was grey with a grid of white lines running over all the walls, the floor and the ceiling, even on the door when it closed.

  ‘I’ll introduce you to Mr Pereen,’ Sander said. ‘He runs the Sweeps.’

  ‘Here in the presence room?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘But we will meet him?’

  ‘No, he’s not in the Sweeps base at the moment, but we agreed I’d catch up with him when I was on my way to the base. No worries, I’ll introduce you.’

  This brought a feeling of worry to my mind. If we could talk with this guy over the presence facility, we could’ve done it on Runcor. But it se
emed Sander knew what he was doing.

  ‘One thing you have to decide,’ Sander said, ‘is the location where you want to meet him.’

  ‘Location?’

  ‘Select a virtual venue. By the beach, overlooking Runcor on Jelen, on top of the galaxy’s tallest building, inside a pinching craft; pick anything, bro.’

  I nodded. I had always wanted to visit Spit City. It was far, but now that I had a chance, I said, ‘How about Spit City?’

  ‘Spit City?’ he asked and chuckled. ‘OK, got anything special in mind?’

  I shrugged. ‘Some tall building perhaps?’

  ‘That’s funny…’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because Pereen is, right now, in a tall Spit City building. Computer, place us on the top floor of the Pentafol Building in Spit City, and connect with Mr Pereen.’

  The computer acknowledged the selection, and in a moment the surrounding room vanished, and I found myself and Sander standing in an oversized room, with floor-to-ceiling glass plates covering the whole of one wall.

  I ran up to face the glass. The view was breathtaking: hundreds of black buildings like spikes on a small moon before a red gas giant. It was better than I had ever imagined.

  ‘Mr Pereen,’ Sander said.

  I gasped and turned. A tall man had appeared behind me. He had short grey hair, stubble, and a long scar crossing his face. He stood in front of my brother, and they shook hands. He said, ‘Sander Tait, right on the clock.’

  I stepped forth. As Pereen turned to face me, I noticed that the scar ran past his eye, which was a mechanical object that emitted an ominous red glow from its centre.

  He turned to Sander. ‘Who’s the kid?’

  ‘He’s Daler, my little brother.’

  ‘Ah, now I remember… Nice to meet you.’ Pereen offered a hand.

  I grabbed his hand, which felt as real as if he were there with me. ‘You too, Mr Pereen.’

  ‘I know you said he’s too young,’ Sander said, ‘but he’s a smart kid, and he wants to help.’

  Wants to help? I wondered what he meant.

  ‘If he wants to, why not? To be honest, we could use all the help we can get. It’s getting busy with the Goonaran system setup. Take him to Jude Mendek when you arrive in the Karu-124 base, and she will brief him about the job.’