Vontaura

by James C. Dunn

  Crilshans found it hard to tolerate any light brighter than dim. Their goggles blocked out the unbearable brightness left to surge into each prison pod every single second the survivors of Erebus had been here. Torture like no other. Their cubed cage was clear on all sides. Crilshan soldiers, dark goggles across their faces, stood watching incessantly.

  Having spent the last three weeks in this cell with only Professor Kramer and the blond captain Ferranti for company, Avéne was truly a woman alone. Having never married, never born children, and never even loved, the prospect of spending the rest of her life in the bloody prison booth made her want to kill every last person in sight. The fact that they were all men only made things worse.

  Ketrass left her hard bed and crawled past a sleeping Ferranti. Kramer sat in the corner. He saw her and looked away, closing his eyes, his single, dark eye concealed behind black bags from the beatings he had suffered almost daily. After the confrontation upon the lightning planet below the black-rock moon he had lost his hand. He held the stub with his other now, never letting go except to caress it like a dead animal.

  She collapsed on the ground beside him. ‘Talk to me,’ she said. ‘Tell me something.’

  Help me to fall asleep. Talk until the pain is gone.

  ‘What would you like me to say, dear?’

  ‘I don’t care. Just talk.’

  ‘I cannot talk. I cannot think. My mind rots.’

  She fell onto her back, thought about her own parents, long gone now. No, she wouldn’t go there. She refused to think about her past.

  She opened her eyes, reached out towards the professor. ‘Will you tell me the truth . . . the truth about you?’

  ‘The truth? What truth?’ He seemed suddenly awake now.

  ‘There’s so much I don’t know about you. Everyone has a story. How did you end up on the Titanese vessel with Lesper and Dathlan Berenguer? How did you finish up on Erebus?’

  He looked down upon her, and breathed out slowly. ‘The truth, Avéne, is that I was conceived below Crilshar. But I was born here, on Titan.’

  ‘Here?’

  ‘Yes. Back on Crilshar, during the first Titan-Crilshan war, fifty years ago, my mother was part of the prison guard of the deepest dungeons. I don’t know much about it. But what I do know is this. She fell in love with a man from Titan – a prisoner of war within Crilshar. They planned to leave, to be together, I was told. He was my father. But the night of their escape they were caught. He was killed and she taken to have the Pure Gene “inserted”.’

  ‘The Pure Gene?’

  ‘Genetic manipulation. They believe it is what gives them purity and strength, but it is what makes them weak. I imagine they will be administering it to all Titanese newborns by now.’

  The young Berenguer girl entered Ketrass’ thoughts. ‘Hell!’

  ‘You have no idea of hell, Avéne.’

  ‘What . . . What happened to your mother?’

  He cleared his throat and sat thinking. ‘During the Pure Gene procedure my mother fought back. Through some miraculous fortune she managed to escape. I think she had help, a sympathetic practitioner perhaps. The process was incomplete, but it was partially realized. She fled Crilshar and made for Titan, to be with the family of the man she had fallen in love with.’

  ‘And they helped her?’

  ‘They did. I was born later that year, but because of the partial procedure I was born with one dark eye. A black companion within. The other eye was dark to begin with, but faded to human green in time.’

  ‘So you grew up on Titan?’

  ‘This place was my home. I of course had to wear an eye covering, to disguise my Crilshan heritage by feigning a lost eye. Both my mother and my father’s family died while I was growing up. I truly was an outcast. Somewhere along the way I discovered an interest in Old Science. I studied at the Central Institute. But I always wore my eye covering for protection.’

  ‘Oh, Xerin,’ she said. ‘I had no idea.’

  ‘Good! I never wanted anyone to.’

  ‘Go on. I want to hear this. If you can.’

  ‘I have no issue sharing my history with you, Avéne. In fact now I’m hoping you take something away from it.’ She nodded once. ‘After graduating,’ he continued, ‘top in my discipline, I joined a Titanese vessel. It was the thing to do at the time. I served on the Novastream.’

  ‘The Novastream. The vessel the girl’s father—’

  ‘Yes, I served under Captain Dathlan Berenguer. And it was under his captaincy that we discovered the asteroid which became known as Erebus.’

  ‘So where does Lesper come into it? He was Erebus’ commander, after all.’

  ‘Patience, dear. It was while serving on the Novastream that I had frequent dealings with the Earth liaison who made regular visits to Titanese vessels. This representative of the Von was, of course, Constantine Lesper. Unbeknown to anybody else, even me, Lesper was a member of the Order of the Allied Moon, recruited while on Earth. He was, in secret, taking orders from his master.

  ‘Now to Erebus. The Novastream met three Crilshan barrages in battle in the year forty-two fifty-two. Outnumbered and outgunned, we fled to survive, taking an unknown and unmapped path away from the ultimatt corridor. Lesper was on board at the time. It was then that we fell upon the black-rock moon and the lightning planet. Once we’d mapped our location and realised where we were, Lesper informed his master of the discovery and was told to expect a visit from his most trusted servant: the Iástron Sudana.

  ‘Lesper told me the truth about him and begged me to become part of the Order. I agreed. The only one we had trouble persuading was the captain. Therefore when Sudana arrived, she wiped any memory of his family, along with the memories of the rest of the Novastream crew. Over the following ten years, the triumvirate of the Captain, the Commander, and I governed Erebus under the command of the Córonat – Marrak Malizar of the Allied Moon.’

  ‘You told Callista you didn’t know him.’

  ‘I say a lot of things, Avéne. Some secrets are worth keeping. Only Lesper ever knew of my half-Crilshan-half-Titanese identity.’

  ‘You could have told me.’

  ‘No, I couldn’t.’

  She looked out at the Crilshan guards outside. ‘So all this time, all the things they have done, you must hate yourself for being part of them.’

  ‘Quite the reverse, Avéne. My point is, not all Crilshans are as you imagine. My mother was a good woman. So just how many more do you think exist out there? That is not to say that I wouldn’t very happily kill many of these dogs right now.’

  Ketrass’ jaw clenched. ‘I would gladly help.’

  ‘My point again. Do they all deserve it?’

  ‘Of course they do. Look what they did to you!’

  ‘What they did? What they did was make me who I am today. And though many would argue otherwise, I would have it no other way.’

  ‘You’re talking about fate again. You know that’s drivel—’

  ‘I’m beginning to wonder,’ he said, gazing from the cell at the two guards standing with Gordian, ‘if perhaps all of this is far more connected than I previously thought. But the fact remains: we are as doomed in here as any out there. More so.’

  Ketrass watched the professor as he sat, eyes shut, in silent thought. Much like he used to upon Erebus.

  ‘What are you planning?’ she asked.

  ‘It may take some time,’ he said.

  ‘What? What will?’

  ‘But we can manage it.’

  ‘Manage? What are you planning?’

  He grunted, opening his odd eyes to look into hers. ‘A way out.’

  FORTY-ONE

  HIGH LORD YUX Dishan sat in his chair at the highest point in the viewing centre of his sister’s vessel. A projection filled the far wall, floor, and ceiling. Stars surrounded everything as though the entire viewing centre were made of glass. Truly stunning. Far better than darkness, he thought.

  Drifting in orbit above the Re
tani Peninsula’s foremost prison moon, he thought carefully about what exactly he was doing here. He wished his sister were with him. She had always been so clever. She would know what to do. Avaj had warned him of their uncle. Wivartha was not an ethical man, even by Crilshan standards. That was clearer now than it had ever been.

  The month was Survinat. The day was Aack. The greater part of four months had passed since his last visit to Hellfire. His mission: to save his people and the people of the Alignment from his uncle and the Córonat. The problem: he had no idea how.

  The light upon his great chair began to flash, informing him of the incoming message. He activated the chair’s underside and he rotated backwards, through an opening in the wall behind, and into a small, dark room. The opening sealed him inside and the image of Wivartha Dishan appeared upon the wall. Knowing without question that his uncle should be the one bowing to him, Yux bowed instead. His commander merely smirked.

  ‘My nephew.’

  ‘Commander.’

  ‘Your location?’

  ‘My location—’

  ‘I wouldn’t lie to me, Yux. My tracker puts you somewhere within the Retani Peninsula.’

  ‘Your tracker?’

  ‘You do not think I would allow you to go eloping in one of my vessels when our hour is at hand?’

  ‘Have I given you cause to doubt me, uncle?’

  ‘You haven’t given me cause to trust you.’

  ‘I would like—’

  ‘Like what I tell you to like! Weeks you spent among our people. Then you disappear. Months you’ve been away from Crilshar. Months and no word – none at all!’

  ‘I have been—’

  ‘You have been leading me for a fool. It’s time you played your part.’

  Yux frowned. ‘I thought you preferred that I stay out of the way?’

  ‘That was then. I need you to return to Crilshar. Immediately.’

  ‘Has something happened?’

  Wivartha smiled, bearing his teeth. ‘The Alignment survivors are hiding beneath the mining world Ineri. We have found them. I am on my way to destroy their resistance this very moment.’

  ‘How did you discover their whereabouts?’

  ‘A Proverian ship was captured as it attempted to leap into Accentauria. A ship which had been among a fleet, a hidden flotilla within Accentaurib. Their captain gave up their whereabouts before torture began.’

  ‘Where are they, uncle?’

  ‘Hidden, young nephew. They were hidden in plain view all this time. Right in front of my eyes. Do as I say now. Return to Crilshar.’ He looked away, smiled, and switched off the link.

  Yux remained in the dark room, breathing deeply. He waited some minutes before he brought up his communication link, preparing a fresh message. He knew where the Alignment survivors had been hiding all this time. He knew they were beneath Ineri, knew they had to remain there in secret until the time was right.

  Yux prepared his message for the Phantom Committee right away. He had to warn them, had to give them enough time to escape. Wivartha must not find them.

  Yux breathed out slowly, thought about his uncle’s words. Hidden in plain view. A thought struck him. Once he returned to Crilshar, he had to come back to Hellfire. He had to find Ruben Berenguer.

  FORTY-TWO

  IN ADELAIDE ABACCO’S private chamber on board the Achakachula beads of Jovian Fuchsia hung over her makeup table, their lilac petals touching her bare legs as she sat applying white powder upon her cheeks. Above her head a single light illuminated the process, while sixteen nightingales in a coop nearby chirped her childhood lullaby. Cheep, cheep, chi, chi, cheep. Laa, di, la, dum. Her eyes focused on the screen beside her. An image of the green and brown world Samos.

  The message had arrived seven hours prior, its origin unknown:

  You have been discovered.

  Leave Ineri immediately.

  At first she and the rest of the Phantom Committee had dismissed the communication as a ploy of the enemy. An attempt to bring them out of hiding. But it was soon revealed by the natives of Ineri that a Proverian carrier had, only a short time prior, disappeared. Proveria’s Lady Jeelage had been among them. Fled like cowards. In all probability they had been captured. And very quickly it had dawned on the survivors that they were discovered. Scans of all ultimatt paths into Accentaurib then presented the Crilshan armada. Its aim was Ineri. The anonymous messenger had been correct.

  They abandoned Ineri in thirty minutes, leaving behind any that were unprepared. Ineri’s Director Scargill was among those missing. This was sad news as far as the Empress was concerned.

  Adelaide placed down her eye makeup and looked intently upon the screen. They entered Samos’ atmosphere and descended after Prince Isil’s vessel. He had abandoned Samos only four months ago. She imagined he was pleased to be home. Then again, his mother the Queen was dead. As was the majority of his people. All the cities had been destroyed. Their only hope now was to trust the Samosian’s knowledge of this world.

  They headed to a mountainous province offering the greatest amount of protection. The surviving Alignment fleet set down in the region of Gothandir, near the ancient mountain fortress of Maro Purgon. All outward communication was shut down, power now allocated on an essential basis.

  Before long, Prince Isil entered the Achakachula and was escorted to the Empress’ private chamber. She waited patiently, dressed neat and elegant. He entered and sat in the chair placed beside her.

  ‘My friend,’ she said once they were alone. ‘Are your people on board the Argo well?’

  He nodded. ‘Yours?’

  ‘Also well.’ She smiled. ‘Who would have foreseen this? An Enusti exodus onto Samos herself?’

  ‘My mother respected you,’ Isil said.

  ‘And I, her. Our worlds have fought too often in the past. Now Samos and Enustine are all that is left.’

  ‘No word from Jeelage?’ he asked.

  ‘None. Nor from Scargill. Ineri is lost.’ Both sat back.

  ‘These brutes must be fought,’ he said.

  Adelaide smiled. The prince had feigned poor knowledge of the Common Tongue until he was in a position of power. Now he was. She admired him for it.

  ‘You laugh at me,’ he said. ‘But you know not the Crilshan plague as we do upon Samos, which the Cursed Race once called home. Before it rested for control. Before they fled to their molten caverns. The minds of their captains are black. Utterly evil. Maro Skia I name them. Black Shadow and Death. They must be met with equal anger.’

  ‘They will. But only when it is useful to us.’

  ‘You mean to you?’

  ‘No. I mean to us.’ She turned her head to see her husband stood in the corner of the room. His presence took her by surprise. ‘You’re not real,’ she told him.

  ‘Excuse me?’ Isil said.

  Adelaide looked to the prince, then back to her husband. He was gone. ‘N . . . Nothing,’ she said.

  ‘You are tired.’ The prince stood. ‘You must sleep.’

  ‘Leave me, then.’

  He strode to the door and turned. ‘Think on my words,’ he said. ‘The Dark Race will discover us eventually. Our time is running out.’

  FORTY-THREE

  A FAINT TAPPING touched Gílana’s stomach, waking her suddenly. She turned over in her bed and thought nothing of it. Until a creasing pain stretched the length of her abdomen. She screamed, kicking her tangled sheets away. Another pain. She screamed again.

  ‘Annaaaa!’

  Another dull pain throbbed through her.

  ‘Annaaaa!’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Come! Callistaaaa!’

  ‘We’re coming! We’re here!’

  Anna and Callista rushed into the bedroom. ‘What’s wrong, sis?’

  ‘The baby – it’s coming!’

  ‘Hell, no!’ Callista said, rushing round and wrenching the over-sheets off the bed.

  Gílana reached out for her sister. Anna climbed onto the b
ed, both hands clutching hers, out of breath and anxious. The old woman placed both hands upon her bloated tummy.

  ‘What’s wrong, Callista?’ Anna hovered over them, bottom lip quivering.

  ‘There it is again – ouuuuch!’

  To her utter dismay, Callista began to laugh.

  ‘What!? Why are you laughing?’

  She looked up. ‘The baby, child. The baby is kicking.’

  Anna exhaled. ‘The baby child. The baby child is kicking.’

  Gílana frowned. ‘Why is the baby child kicking?’

  ‘Relax, Gílana. It’s perfectly natural. Come, come have a feel.’

  Anna moved round and all three placed a hand upon her bloated womb. Another pain, though admittedly not as bad, echoed through her. A pressing upon her skin, pushing outward.

  ‘This is natural?’

  ‘You’re about thirty weeks gone, Gílana. This is nothing to fret about. Really. I suggest we have a sit down later and talk about what’s soon to come. If you think this is bad—’ She caught Anna’s eye and paused.

  ‘What she means, sis, is that labour isn’t easy. But we’re here for you.’

  It took another few minutes for the baby to kick again. She was tired, so Anna and Callista left the room as she lay back down, hands upon her belly. The kicking continued a little longer. One small tap, then another shortly after. It was uncomfortable, and yet it felt amazing.

  Gílana wasn’t going to let this phase her. She wouldn’t let anything do that. The baby would come, and maybe not knowing would make things easier. Her thoughts wandered, a thousand worries flashing from one side of her brain to the other. She thought about her mother, Nolkiet. She’d died in childbirth when Gílana was born. She felt like Anna tried not to talk about Nolkiet, like she thought it would upset her, or because she secretly held some grudge. Anna had always been affected more by the disappearance of their father. She herself didn’t really remember him. Uncle Ruben had been a father to her.

  And she missed him. So much.