Vontaura

by James C. Dunn

  ‘Yux Dishan,’ he said. ‘You will be escorted at once to your ship. There you will leave this fleet, forever exiled in shame for your crimes and the sins of your people. Those who choose to remain with you may do so. The rest will forfeit their right to decide their fate, and will join with a crew of this Committee’s choosing. All Crilshan vessels have been seized and will now serve the Alignment.’

  Yux Dishan bowed. ‘I accept.’

  Adelaide watched upon her screen as Yux Dishan boarded his vessel, some several dozen of the Dark Race following behind. In minutes the spiked craft had risen from the frozen depths. Yux Dishan would pay.

  ‘But he does not deserve it, does he, my love?’

  Adelaide spun and peered, trembling, upon the warm face of her husband.

  ‘I needed you,’ she said.

  ‘And I am here for you.’

  ‘You’re not real. You’re a product of my echo. You died.’

  ‘My dear Adelaide. You have seen me many times now. You know I’m not. I have answered all of your questions. Now I have one for you.’

  ‘Anything, my love. Anything.’

  ‘Will you come with me?’

  No thought gainsaid her decision. ‘Yes. Yes, I will.’

  ‘There is nothing more you can do for these people, Adelaide. Come. Come and join us.’

  ‘How do I do it?’

  ‘You will come with me.’

  ‘I can’t.’

  ‘You are an empress of the line of Barbaco. You can do anything you want. Your line stretches back to the rise of the four, so many centuries past. You are the last great leader these worlds have known. But everything ends. I know what your heart desires. I am here to tell you it is all right. You may do it.’ He held out his hand. She took it and followed him, almost in a dream.

  ‘Are they still waiting?’ she asked.

  ‘Your sons, my love, would wait forever.’ His smile melted her heart.

  She followed him through the great screens of the ultimatt hub, down the many stairs, down onto the glass deck. Purple writhed beneath her. She gazed at her husband’s still form, dressed in stiff blue Enusti garb.

  ‘Do it,’ he said.

  She obeyed, and activated the far hub shield. A heat filled the room like the fire within her. She grasped her husband’s strong hand and walked slowly towards the source of the heat. The purple and blue groaned beneath. Her heart pulsed through every part of her. Onto the lone shelf she stepped, her mind clear. She would be with them. The old woman was right. This was what she desired. This was appropriate.

  The shelf began to descend as the shield closed over her, encasing her and her love in light. The engine was ready. So was she. Lower and lower. She closed her eyes, and breathed in, and burned, enveloped in blue flame. And, for a single second – her final second – it lasted forever, and she felt more power and greater peace that she could have imagined it possible to feel. Until the light was replaced by darkness.

  SEVENTY-SIX

  ‘THIS PHANTOM COMMITTEE is astonished at your survival, Captain, and at your leadership.’

  Deep within the Achakachula, Diego Ferranti smiled.

  ‘I was not alone,’ he replied. ‘I owe my life to others, living and dead.’

  ‘Owed or not, you deserve this position.’

  Ferranti frowned. ‘Position?’

  The square-jawed prince of Samos leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. ‘This is not yet known among the fleet, but you must know. Adelaide Abacco took her own life just over an hour ago.’

  ‘What?! How?’

  ‘Security recordings within the engine core discovered her end too late to stop her.’

  ‘People need to know,’ he said.

  ‘They will, Captain. But time is short. We need new leadership. You, Captain, are what we need.’

  Ferranti had no idea how to react. He had no control over his thoughts right now. He had no idea what to do next, or what was best for his own people, never mind the entire Alignment. Leadership was the last thing on his mind. But then, without Crilshar or the madness of Adelaide Abacco to stop them, perhaps they would be able to go to Earth after all. He knew what Callista would say.

  He cleared his throat. ‘I am honoured. If you would allow me time to consider.’

  ‘Of course,’ Isil said.

  ‘And I must ask for one condition.’

  ‘Go ahead.’

  ‘Do not move the fleet. Not yet.’

  ‘You have our word, Captain. No vessel will move until we all agree.’

  ‘Thank you, commanders.’

  Ferranti turned to leave the room when a sturdy man with thinning hair stepped up and blocked his way.

  ‘Apologies, Captain,’ he said. ‘I am Enusti Commander Balvyn-Rath.’

  ‘How can I help you, Commander?’

  ‘There is something I believe you need to see.’

  Ferranti agreed and followed the commander into the holding cells of the great Enusti vessel. Once down there, the commander opened the section allocated for solitary confinement. Dark cells without windows. Ferranti shivered at the memory of his own captivity. The door to one cell opened. Ferranti had the commander close the section door almost at once. Turning, he vomited down the adjacent wall. ‘Shit.’

  * * *

  ‘Trade them for me,’ Anna whimpered. ‘Their lives for mine. Or just Gílana. She didn’t deserve to . . . to . . .’

  She sat, wrapped in pale, thin bed sheets, no idea who she was talking to, bargaining with, pleading to. Her body was tense, unable to contain her grief anymore. Tears streamed down her face.

  ‘My fault. All my fault.’

  She ignored the knocking on her door for several minutes.

  ‘It’s Ferranti,’ came the voice from the other side.

  ‘Go away!’

  ‘You need to come. You’ll wish you hadn’t missed this!’

  He had her attention. She let him wait a little longer anyway. And when she eventually opened her door, Ferranti snatched her from her pit and half-dragged her down to one of the ship’s outlets. When she asked where he was taking her he refused to say. They entered a temporary tube tunnel and left the Stellarstream, heading across the makeshift bridge and into the Achakachula.

  From there they entered the lower divisions of the ship, and trudged down into the solitary cells. A man in dark blue military attire joined them.

  ‘This is Commander Balvyn-Rath,’ Ferranti said. ‘He has something to show us.’

  Anna’s hand shuddered. ‘What?’

  Balvyn-Rath opened the closest cell door. Ferranti entered first, and Anna followed him into a small space, dimly-lit. She dropped to her knees almost at once, and inhaled deeply, almost forgetting to exhale.

  A small body lay curled up in the far corner. Pale green and as tiny as a child, its keen ears raised up, and its head turned slowly. Anna edged towards the creature, head tilted to one side. It moved upon its knees and perceived her cautiously. She inched forward, smiled, breathing deeply.

  Without taking her eyes off the creature, she said, ‘How did it end up here?’

  ‘We found it on board one of the Crilshan vessels,’ said Balvyn-Rath.

  ‘Alone?’

  ‘There were others,’ Ferranti whispered. ‘This is the only one that survived. The Crilshans were experimenting on the others. The Committee knows nothing about this yet.’

  ‘How did you know to get me?’

  ‘I didn’t, Anna. I went to Callista. She told me to fetch you. She said you’d know what to do.’

  ‘She did?’

  ‘I told you she trusts you.’ He smiled.

  Anna held out her hand and reached across. The creature appeared frightened and backed up against the wall. ‘It’s all right,’ she said. ‘You’re the Sonii. I’ve met your kind before. I’m Anna.’

  Her wrist trembled, telling her it understood. The creature moved forward almost at once, and rose tall before her. She remained knelt down, complet
ely still, as it reached out with a tiny, ice-cold hand and took her wrist, lifted it high, and studied the silver-black band. It shuddered again.

  ‘Gilaxiad,’ it said, with a weak, faint voice like that of an infant.

  Anna nodded. ‘Yes. You have come for the Gilaxiad.’

  ‘Yes. Yes!’

  ‘What is it? What is Gilaxiad?’

  The Sonii leaned toward her and whispered into her ear, ‘You.’

  She pulled back. ‘You have come for the Gilaxiad. You will take me?’

  ‘To the blue world.’

  ‘The . . . blue world?

  ‘To the green world.’

  ‘To Earth? You will take me to Earth?’

  ‘To the blue world. To the green world.’

  ‘That’s Earth. Take me.’

  It raised both arms in a sort of assenting gesture. ‘Yes.’

  Anna twisted on her knees and looked up at Ferranti. ‘We need to gather the others,’ she said. ‘Callista. Gordian. Ketrass. I need to talk to you all.’

  ‘What is it, Anna?’

  ‘The message. How could I forget?’

  ‘Anna?’

  ‘I don’t have a way to save Earth. But I think there may be someone who does.’

  SEVENTY-SEVEN

  NIGHT IN AVARIS city. What remained of the despondent crew of the Crimson Flux waited anxiously for a sign that their plan was taking effect. Their activities upon the city’s skyline had been widespread across all news broadcasts. Even the Von-comm made specific mention of the unknown star. All wanted to know who this mystery saviour was, and what it meant for the Rivers and the imminent Vontaura.

  Lay upon the balcony of Vortan’s undisclosed apartment, Justus gazed up at what few stars could be seen through the city’s orange glow. Aíron Veryan lay on her back beside him. She smiled. It was nice to see.

  ‘Look at the moon,’ she said. ‘It’s so bright, and not even full.’

  ‘I’ll take you there one day,’ he said. ‘When all of this is over.’

  ‘I would love to, Antal. All of us together. You’re not going to leave us again, are you?’

  He leaned on his side. ‘No, Aíron. I won’t leave you again. I’m sorry I had to go in the first place. I’m sorry you’re caught up in all of this. I promise, I will put everything right soon.’ At least, he hoped he could.

  ‘Once the Vontaura has come?’

  ‘Sooner, I think, that that.’

  She sighed. ‘Vortan was right about the noise here. It’s different from the manor. So loud. So . . . cruel. The people here are suffering, aren’t they?’

  Justus leaned away and gazed up at the stars again. ‘These people, the people of the Seven Rivers, they’ve known only what the Von provide, which for many years now has been less and less. For a long time safety was no issue. Neither was money or hunger. Now every day’s a struggle. And there’s only one thing to blame.’

  ‘Malizar,’ she said with a shudder.

  ‘It’ll only get worse, for the rest of the world and beyond, unless I stop him myself.’

  ‘Do you ever wonder – ever think – that things would be better . . . if Adra were here?’

  ‘I know they would, kiddo.’

  ‘Do you think you will ever see her again?’

  ‘I don’t know. I just want her to be happy. That’s all I ever wanted.’

  ‘Where do you think she is?’

  Justus smiled. ‘I know where she is.’

  ‘Where is she, Antal?’

  ‘Where I first met her.’

  ‘Where’s that?’

  ‘Well,’ he said. ‘You’ve been. I took you there on our first night here.’

  ‘Jules Ditton’s club?’

  ‘I fell for her as soon as I saw her. Only, she belonged to Ditton. He’d bought her and other girls on Mars. She didn’t deserve it. So I took her.’

  ‘And swept her off to the stars? It sounds so romantic,’ she said.

  Before Justus could reply, thudding footsteps sounded behind them. They spun as Noah charged out onto the balcony, face pounding with sweat and dread.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘You need to come.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘Come!’

  They rushed back inside. The Von-comm was playing noisily. Vortan and Shree were sat, horrified. Noah moved over and took Shree’s hand.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Justus asked.

  ‘Just watch, son,’ Vortan said, pointing to the visi-comm.

  The Von-comm was displayed in visual mode. Justus fell to his knees. Upon the screen stood Lord Malizar. In a pure white room, his dark robes looked blacker than before, his power greater than ever.

  ‘You thought you had me, Peter Marx. But you made one mistake. You showed me your face in that stunt you pulled three nights ago. I knew I had seen it before. You broke into my estate some months back. I know what you broke in for. I know that you visited the Luna Athenaeum too. I know that you came to take your companions back.’

  ‘I knew it was all a mistake!’ Vortan cried.

  ‘And so I say it again,’ spoke the Dark Lord. ‘Peter Marx. I know you are out there. I know you wish to see me again. I know it was you that broke into my estate. I know it was you that burned the emblem of the Laxiad into the buildings of our great Avaris City. I know that you believe your companion to be dead.’

  Malizar reached out and pulled the body of a young man into view.

  ‘No!’ Justus cried. ‘No!’

  Aíron was on her feet. ‘Raj!’

  ‘No!’ Noah cried, gripping Shree tighter.

  ‘I have your companion, Peter. He is alive, more or less.’

  Justus’ face burned blood red. His whole body shook. His head felt as though it could explode.

  ‘If you wish to see him again, I call you out. I will not come to you. You will come to me.’ He smiled. ‘You know where.’

  The screen went black.

  ‘Don’t, Antal.’ Vortan rushed over to him.

  ‘Don’t what?’

  ‘Do as he says. Don’t rush to meet him.’

  ‘Because I’ll lose?’

  ‘Because it’ll be a trap!’

  ‘We have to save him though,’ Aíron said. ‘We have to do something.’

  Noah stood. ‘She’s right. We can’t leave him.’

  Justus shook his head. ‘No, we can’t. I’ll go.’

  ‘Not on your own.’

  ‘Son, you mustn’t!’

  ‘I have to! I can’t leave him.’

  ‘Don’t!’ Vortan said. ‘Don’t rush to meet him!’

  ‘My father’s not here. I need him and he’s not here.’

  ‘Just stay calm.’

  ‘How the hell do I do that?!’

  ‘Listen to me—’

  ‘I’m going!’

  ‘Don’t be absurd!’

  ‘I don’t care anymore. He’s not going to kill another of my friends.’

  ‘I won’t let you!’

  Justus ran from the room, out onto the balcony.

  ‘ANTAL!’

  ‘Stay here, guys!’

  ‘ANTAL, NO!’

  Justus threw himself from the ledge, down onto the balcony below. He was stronger now. Confident. Focused. Angry. It was a trap, but that didn’t matter. He leapt from balcony to balcony, before dropping into the street beneath. He clambered onto his motorized scrambler and disappeared into the night.

  SEVENTY-EIGHT

  BACK INSIDE, THE four were in panic. Shree Timbur sat, physically shaking, holding Aíron tight beside her. Noah paced rapidly from one side of the room to another, while Vortan disappeared into various rooms, rushing back and forth as though packing his bags, ready to leave.

  ‘We have to do something!’ Aíron said.

  A small hope had saturated her entire being. She hadn’t felt like this in a long time. Not since before they had come here, back when Raj was with them. Hope. He was still alive. Still out there.

  ‘We
have to—’

  ‘Quiet, everyone!’ Vortan rushed back into the main room. ‘He’s on his way! He’s almost here.’

  ‘Who is?’ Noah stood face-to-face with Vortan. ‘You knew how to contact Cathal all this time?’

  ‘Noah, listen—’

  ‘NO!’ He slammed his fist into the visi-comm, shattering the pane. Bloodied knuckles dropped to his side. ‘That’s all it is. Secrets! Lies! Shit!’

  ‘Noah.’ Cathal stood in the doorway, his silver sceptre shining in the apartment’s bright light. ‘No.’

  ‘What do you mean, NO?’ Noah wiped his bloody hand on his coat.

  ‘You three will remain here,’ Cathal said. ‘Are you ready, Lanfranc?’

  Vortan crossed the room, placing a blaster and sabre into his belt.

  ‘You’re not leaving us!’ Noah said. ‘We have the chance to get Raj back!’

  ‘We will.’

  ‘All of us.’

  ‘No—’

  ‘We’re not staying.’

  ‘YES YOU ARE!’ Cathal stepped forward, enraged. ‘You will stay here as I say, and not go risking your own lives needlessly through selfish desires of gallantry! You will remain. If you come, I’m afraid that we’ll lose more than we can afford.’

  Noah fell into the seat between Aíron and Shree. Vortan and Cathal left the apartment. The door slammed shut.

  At once, Aíron jumped back to her feet. ‘We’re definitely going.’

  ‘Of course we are,’ Noah said, he and Shree on theirs.

  Shree smiled, bear-hugged him so hard he left the floor. Weapons charged, they raced out of the apartment, up onto the roof, and straight into one of the hovercraft Vortan kept hidden. Shree headed for the controls, Noah for the co-pilot’s chair.

  ‘You know what you’re doing, Shree?’

  She nodded and shrugged her shoulders.

  ‘Justus will understand, won’t he?’ Aíron said. ‘We need to stay together. He needs us.’

  The craft lifted off. Noah turned. ‘Justus is doing what he thinks he has to. So are Vortan and Cathal. And so will we.’

  ‘How long will it take to get to Malizar’s estate?’

  ‘Not long, Aíron.’

  ‘How long?’

  Shree turned in her seat, a full foot higher than the young girl stood beside her. She calmly placed her hand on Aíron’s shoulder and made her sit on the floor. Shree then turned to Noah and cocked her head, breathing out slowly.