Deep Hydra

by Michael Formichelli

  “Closed?” Baroness Vargas said with alarm.

  “If we get rid of him now the investigation will turn up his moves on the treasury. The Praetor will look past the apparently accidental nature of his death and conclude either myself or Zalor killed him to prevent his rise to power. When Zalor arrives he’ll deny involvement and leave me swinging in the wind.”

  “You worry too much, Caspian,” Baroness Cronus said.

  “I worry too—what are you talking about? We all have a great deal to worry about.”

  “Kill him anyway,” Baroness Vargas said. “He deserves it.”

  Dorsky rolled his eyes. “The Gaians killed your father, Anica, not Cylus.”

  “They killed him as he left Keltan Tower and then, totally unrelated to their deaths, Baron Keltan vanished?” She glared.

  “Yes, Anica. Yes.” Dorsky sighed. “Let it go.”

  She made a hissing sound with her teeth.

  “Perhaps, given the circumstances, it might be better to recruit Baron Keltan to our point of view?” Baron Xitar buzzed.

  “Perhaps Cronus and LeRoux can use their newfound partnership to leverage him into it?” Zhào said with acid in her voice.

  Premier Dorsky closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. “Baroness—”

  “Perhaps it is no longer in the Yulong Gongsi’s interests to support you,” Zhào added.

  His face twitched and he rubbed his temples with two fingers.

  “I have a suggestion. Support Cylus,” Baroness Cronus said.

  “What?” Dorsky paled.

  “Support him. Sign over the treasury, then tell Zalor that he forced your hand. Cylus put you in the position of either signing the treasury over or letting the Confederation go bankrupt. You had no choice. Father will be so angry with Cylus that he will cease to support him for Premier. Your reelection will be assured.”

  “Assured?” The look on his face made Cygni realize the baroness had him eating out of her hand. She winced. How did such an odious person like Sophiathena Cronus do it?

  “As assured as it is going to be. Olivaar is dead, and there is no one else, save Zalor himself, that can pull the support needed for a victory—”

  “No one else except yourself,” Dorsky stated. “Once Shiragawa is back on its feet you will control a good chunk of the Confederation’s wealth.”

  She chuckled. “Just so, but with all that’s going on, the other barons will want familiarity in their leader. You represent stability. You are the demon they know, to use an old phrase. I have no interest in upsetting that at this time.”

  Hope appeared in Dorsky’s eyes. “I see what you mean, but why suggest this? What do you get out of it?”

  “You told me before, I get my birthright back.” She spread her arms out on the chair’s rests.

  “Your birthright?” Zhào glared. “You mean Cosmos Corp? Why not hand the whole Confederation over to you?”

  Baroness Cronus ignored her, gesturing at Dorsky to do the same. He nodded, but Cygni wasn’t sure it was that simple. A woman who would threaten her with slavery and sell her best friend out must want more than what she asked.

  “Of course,” Baroness Cronus said, “there are some loose ends to tie up.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Should Zalor discard Cylus he will still have support. His personal tragedy and recent events may draw some of the others to him. It might be enough to interfere in your reelection plans, especially if my mother and aunt get involved.”

  “Of course they’ll be involved,” Dorsky said. “What do you have in mind?”

  “My mother and aunt are sympathetic figures in their own right, and many of the barons feel guilty about not supporting Mitsugawa Yoji’s motion after his death. No doubt the Cronus sisters could pull more of them to Cylus’ cause. Without them, his chances of going the distance alone are…” She raised her eyebrows and inclined her head to the side.

  “I see.” Dorsky frowned in concentration. “Don’t think for a moment I don’t see you angling to bring IntelSys into your hands.”

  “I only want what is best for the Confederation, and for you.”

  Dorsky snorted.

  “It’s a good plan,” Baroness Vargas said. “He’s close to them?”

  “Cylus? Yes.” Sophi nodded.

  “Then it’s a very good plan,” Vargas said.

  “More murder? This is not the way,” Baron Xitar buzzed. “We don’t need to do this.”

  “Don’t go getting a guilty conscience now, Baron.” Dorsky licked his lips. “We need to take drastic action. If Baron Keltan is distracted by the Cronus’ deaths—”

  “He’ll be devastated,” Baroness Cronus said.

  Bitch, she’ll even betray her own family, Cygni thought. Across the room, Giselle crossed her arms and tapped her elbows.

  “Devastated enough to give up his aspirations?” Dorsky asked.

  “He’ll go crawling back to Anilon forever,” Baroness Cronus said. “It will break him.”

  “Zhào?” Dorsky asked.

  “You promise to protect my interests? Even against theirs?” Zhào gestured at Cronus and LeRoux.

  “That was our deal,” Dorsky said.

  “Then I’m in for now,” Zhào stated.

  “My House shares Baron Xitar’s sentiment. My House will continue to support the Shiragawa, but I’m sorry, Sophi. There has been too much death already,” Baroness LeRoux said. “I don’t approve, Caspian.”

  “Disapprove of the plan all you want, but you will remain silent. If I go down, so will you. I’ll make sure Zalor knows you were plotting against him with me.”

  Baroness LeRoux waved her hand in the air as though brushing away a fly. Baron Xitar stared at the Premier with his central eye as his other two ocular organs moved from baron to baron.

  “Then it’s settled,” Dorsky said, rising to his feet.

  Cygni shook her head. The bastard. She was just starting to think that maybe he wasn’t as terrible as the others, but he was. Was she destined to serve horrible people the rest of her life? She could expose them, of course. The Spur Herald could run a story with all she learned in this meeting. She could make a difference—or, more likely, she would wind up dead. There was no going against these people. They always came out ahead, and Dorsky could make her vanish without so much as an obit on the evening feed. No, that was not an option. She sighed and looked up. Giselle caught her eye and motioned towards the doors behind her before starting forward.

  She turned around, and saw a woman standing with the bodyguards through the one-way polyglass. For a moment she was confused. The woman looked like a baroness. Her piezoelectric dress shimmered with light each time she shifted her weight, but it wasn’t as elaborate as some of the others being worn at the club. Unusual for the Solan elite, her hair was very short and cut in a military style. The woman had turquoise eyes and a Persian nose above a white-toothed smile. Her dark-olive body sported bold curves with layers of well-defined muscles between them that gave her an unusual beauty. There was a strange familiarity to the woman she couldn’t place, but Cygni dismissed the feeling. She was certain she had never seen a baroness who looked like that before. She supposed the woman’s unusual appearance could be an attempt to start some kind of fashion trend. Who knew with barons?

  What do you make of this? She thought at Giselle.

  “I don’t know, the electromagnetic shielding in this room prevents my abilities from working across the aegis, but she doesn’t look right.”

  Agreed. She turned, seeing Premier Dorsky staring at them as the other barons prepared to leave.

  “Is something interesting?” he asked.

  She realized he didn’t want to alarm the others and wondered if she should tell him at all. The thought of what he just did to two of the kindest baronesses the Confederation brought an end to her deliberations. She shared a look with Giselle before answering.

  “No, it’s nothing important. I was just looking over the bodyg
uards, sir.”

  “I see. Well, both of you come along. We’re retiring below for refreshments.”

  She gave the Premier a brief nod and turned away from the glass. “Coming.”

  Chapter Eight

  Keltan Tower

  Ikuzlu City, Kosfanter

  J2400:3230-3231

  The library was Cylus’ sanctuary. Surrounded by the musty smell of one of the age’s rarest commodities he felt safe and connected to something ancient and powerful.

  He stood between a large wood table imported from his home world and the chamber’s tall Gothic window overlooking the Western Sea. At this hour the city and its aegis field illuminated only the closest rolling waves around the shore. Beyond the ring of light stretched a long darkness filled with possibilities waiting to be born. It was on nights like this, staring at the white caps between the light and the dark, that he felt like he was standing on the edge of the universe.

  That’s mighty optimistic of you.

  I’m feeling optimistic, he answered himself and raised the wineglass in his hand.

  By the end of the evening he should have what he needed to neutralize Dorsky. The treasury would either be under his control soon or there would be hell to pay.

  He laughed. The Cylus Keltan of old would never have the guts for this.

  He is gone. You are stronger.

  He brought his drink to his lips and tilted the bulb of the glass back. Only a trickle of the sweet, biting liquid passed onto his tongue.

  Ben, more wine, he transmitted.

  “Right away, my lord,” his faithful servant sent back.

  He turned to place the empty glass on the table and froze when his eyes met Lina’s. He couldn’t remember how long she was there.

  “Are you all right? You’ve been staring at the window for a long time.” She pushed the edges of her nightgown together to let the smartfabric seal them shut.

  He blinked. “I’m sorry. I was lost in thought. Are you cold? I can adjust the environmental settings.”

  She seemed to consider his words before responding. “I’m fine. I just felt a chill.”

  “What do you think is out there for us?”

  Her blue eyes flickered to the window. “The sea and this planet’s only continent.”

  He smiled. “I mean in the future.”

  The corners of her mouth slid upward. “You mean the seat of the Premier?”

  “And?”

  “A more fair and just Confederation?”

  “Eventually.” He took a step closer to where she was seated and offered his hand.

  She took it.

  “And?”

  “And?” Her smile broadened.

  “And peace, children, a life well lived?” He cocked an eyebrow, letting the vision of a warm and comfortable future fill his head.

  “Oh, you mean us.” She kissed his fingers.

  Cylus closed his eyes, savoring the touch of her lips. In them he could feel the future.

  She still loves the Gaian, the voice whispered to him. His cheek twitched, and he opened his eyes to avoid the image of them together.

  “Is something wrong?” She pulled back.

  “No. I just have a lot on my mind. If Dorsky doesn’t sign over the treasury—”

  “We’ll leverage Revenant against him like we talked about. He can’t win.”

  “Can’t he? What if he finds a loophole or Zalor sides with him?”

  She frowned and looked about to answer when the door chimed. Ben entered carrying a tray with a fresh carafe of wine and two glasses. He set them down on the table and collected the old ones.

  “Master.” He bowed.

  “Dorsky can’t win against you. You’ve done too much to box him in.” Lina folded her arms across her chest.

  “That credit belongs to Ben,” he responded.

  “Not at all, my lord. I was merely carrying out your instructions to the best of my ability.”

  “You’ve done a fantastic job, better than I could have imagined,” Cylus said. “And now, thanks to you, I am on the verge of finally being able to protect myself and the ones I love. I’ve realized I can’t hide anymore. Hiding isn’t the answer.”

  “It is warming to hear you say such things. We have all been worried for you,” Ben replied.

  “We?”

  “Heiress Olivaar, myself, and those others who care for you, like the elder Baroness Cronus and her sister.”

  “Well, worry no more,” he said. The gravel in his voice popped. “I think I am finally who I am meant to be.”

  “Very good, master.”

  He looked down into Lina’s eyes. There was something there, something he couldn’t identify. Did she doubt he could do this? Was she thinking of her Gaian lover? It was hard to believe he forgot about the man moments before.

  “You’ve changed,” she said at length. “You’re not the Cy I met that day in the Barony. You’re more… I worry for what this is doing to you.”

  “Doing to me?” He cocked an eyebrow.

  “I’m just worried about you.”

  Ben inclined his head and left the room.

  “Don’t you like what I am now? Would you prefer that sniveling weakling I was? Would you, really?” He felt his blood heat up. “You pushed me to be this, Lina. You! I would’ve stayed quiet, gone back to Anilon, but you wanted me to be Premier! You wanted—”

  “Cy, please. Forget what I said.”

  “You wanted this!” He shivered with loathing for what he was. “I will never go back to being that crybaby. It’s time to reap what you wrought, Lina. This is my time. I am on the verge of total victory, and I will not back down!”

  “No, it’s not bad. I didn’t mean that. I’m content with who you are. I love who you are.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m just nervous. I’m being silly. I’m sorry, Cy.”

  She’s content to make you a cuckold.

  He flinched, the rage leaving him as fast as it came. He leaned in and kissed her soft lips.

  “I’m sorry. I’m under a lot of stress.”

  “I know,” she whispered back. She still looked worried.

  Can you taste him?

  He pulled back and let go of her hand.

  “If only I could just have him killed.”

  “Premier Dorksy?” Her eyebrows rose.

  He turned to the window and licked his lips before answering.

  “Of course.”

  “Cy—”

  “Relax, I know I can’t. I’ll just have to deal with him the normal way. He’s got to get over losing the seat of the Premier. He has to see past it.”

  “Men like him cling to what they know. He’s not smart enough to see past it.”

  And what do men like me do?

  “Well—” he began. The door slid open and Ben, less the tray, bowed.

  “Forgive the intrusion, my lord, but Miss Starblood has returned.”

  “Who?” He cocked his head to the side.

  “It is the alias we gave her to infiltrate Dorsky’s meeting at the Venus Club,” Ben stated.

  “Oh, right. Meia. Why are you continuing to use it?”

  “It seems prudent as we do not want our enemies learning who she really is. Also, she took to it.”

  “Ah.” He smiled and salivated with the anticipation of what she was going to bring him. “Send her up.”

  “Let’s hope she did well tonight.” Lina poured the wine for both of them with a tense expression. It puzzled him, but he wasn’t about to let it get in the way of a good night. He was on his third sip when the door slid open again.

  “How did it go?” he asked before Ben had a chance to move out of the doorway. Meia took three steps into the room wearing the evening dress he fabricated for her and a silver device with a large teardrop sapphire around her left forearm. He didn’t remember it being there when she left, but it seemed familiar. Eager to hear what she had to say, he leaned forward.

  “I recorded everything.” She raised her arm to display t
he device. “I’m transmitting the feed to you now.”

  “Thank you, I’ll review this shortly, but is there anything I need to know right now? What is Dorsky planning?” Cylus accepted the transmission with his UI, and a progress bar started to fill at the top of his vision.

  “It’s all in the record, sir.” She shifted her weight and straightened into a military stance.

  “We’re friends. Call me Cylus.” He smiled. She turned out to be far more useful and loyal than he imagined.

  She shifted her weight back and forth. “Okay, Cylus.”

  “What is he planning?”

  “The worst of it—” She cleared her throat. “The worst of it is that they are plotting to murder Baroness Cronus and her sister.”

  “Hephestia and Aurora? What? Why?” His back stiffened. Lina leaned forward with wide eyes.

  “They think it will cripple you. They think it will get you to retreat back to Anilon. I can’t believe it myself. I know how good the Cronuses have been to people, but Premier Dorsky agreed to all of this.” The muscles in her jaw pulsed.

  Cylus felt himself flush with anger. Aurora practically raised him from the time he was young. She and Hephestia were the only family he had left. His hands formed trembling fists.

  “He agreed? Whose idea was it?”

  Meia bit her lip for a moment before answering.

  “Baroness Sophiathena suggested it.”

  “What?” Lina’s mouth hung open.

  “That bitch.” He ground his teeth together. “She wants her own mother dead?”

  “I can’t believe it. She can’t have gone this far,” Lina said.

  “I can.” He thought about how ruthless she was, how cold. She arranged for him to become engaged to Pasqualina while they were lovers just to get in with Zalor’s Mercantile Party. She turned the barony he gave her into a spy agency, and now that she had a taste of running Keltan Securities she wanted it all for herself. He could see it in his mind’s eye, her offer to run things while he returned home to recover from the shock of losing the last people he counted as family. Maybe he would drown swimming in his lake, or accidentally eat Anilonian Pearls as he had when he was a boy. After three days of hallucinations he woke up in his bed drenched in sweat only to experience three more days of pain as nanomeds rebuilt his nervous system. Without medical treatment it would be a slow, agonizing death. He could almost feel the fire in his veins again as he remembered what it was like. It would be just her style.