Chapter 38 -- A Star Burns Brightly
by Dan Kirk
Paul let out a cry as the shuttle bounced in the turbulence of Calos’s upper atmosphere. Masako jiggled him in her arms to try to settle him and he did quiet down. He’d been crying off and on ever since they’d left the destroyer Garret had assigned to take them back to Calos. As the shuttle began its approach to their mountaintop home, Masako began to wonder if her son was unhappy because they were no longer in space.
Both of his parents loved being in space, she knew, and she wondered if that was something the boy had inherited from both of them. He was growing up to be a big boy already, at just a few months of age. His hand-eye coordination was excellent for his age, and he was already starting to babble nonsense words. Masako was quite certain his first word would be Momma, since she spent so much more time with him, but it was almost as likely to be Neal.
If Garret got that boy hurt, she’d kill her husband.
They were heading to a landing at New Edinburgh’s main spaceport instead of the small landing pad at the manor house. According to Mika, Calos was in a near-panic over the departure of their fleet to re-take Lemos. Rumors were running wild that they were vulnerable to attacks by everyone from Leonev to the Sol Empire depending on who was talking at the moment. It was hoped that her public return before as many eyes and cameras as possible would help reassure people that they were not vulnerable.
After all, why would Garret Atrix send his wife and son back home if there was a danger that they would be attacked? The shuttle landed and Masako looked out a window while it taxied to the terminal. It was a rare, clear day outside. Winter was all but over, and the continent prepared for spring.
“My lady, they’re ready.” Davin said a few minutes later as the shuttle reached the gate and the boarding ramp was extended. She got up, gathered Paul into her arms and strode up the shuttle’s narrow aisle to the main door. One last time she checked over her dark blue robe and made sure everything was in place before nodding at Davin. He gave a short nod of his own to the stewardess who opened up the hatch. It was a short walk up the ramp and into the terminal that was filled with people, most of them reporters.
“Lady Masako, is it true that Calos is in danger of attack?” One of the reporters bellowed out his question before Masako was even able to greet Mika Melstein who stood waiting for her with two Atrix Guards in dark blue uniforms. Masako smiled at the cameras while Paul looked around and winced at all the bright lights.
“If Calos were in danger of attack, would I be here?” Masako called out in response while Mika stepped forward to greet her. “I urge the people of Calos and the Republic to be patient. My husband and the valiant men and women of the Republic fleet will deal with the latest attacks by Leonev and his traitors.”
“Where are they getting the ships to do this?” A second reporter shouted out.
“I’m not sure exactly, but it is my understanding that Leonev has secretly built a fleet of new, small attack ships.” Masako said with a frown. “My husband knows about them and is preparing plans to deal with them. They took us by surprise in their attacks, but we will be ready for them from now on.”
“No, I meant where is the Republic getting the ships for the counter-attacks?” The reporter clarified.
“I believe they are calling in ships from all over the Republic, and utilizing ships kept in reserve.” Masako answered calmly. “I’m not a military officer, so I can’t be more specific than that.”
“Haven’t they left Calos undefended again?” A female reporter asked in a voice that almost seemed on the verge of panic.
“Calm down.” Masako told her gently and with a smile. “The war with the Sol Empire is over. They have even gone so far as to establish an embassy here, on this planet. They are the only known threat to the safety of this planet, and I seriously doubt they will be foolish enough to provoke the Republic by attacking us now.”
“If you will excuse us, the Lady is tired from her trip, as is her son.” Mika said, cutting off any more questions. He led Masako from the terminal and to a hover-car that was waiting for them outside the terminal. Paul had fallen asleep once the camera lights were off of him, and she smiled down at him as she set him in the baby chair strapped to the car’s seat. Mika sat across from her, with Davin on one side and another staff person on her right.
“It sounds like some of them are on the edge of panic.” Masako noted.
“They’re remembering that in the last election enough of them voted for candidates who were anything but supportive of the Earthers.” Mika noted. Earlier today Cartwright did an interview and wondered aloud just what the Republic could do if Earth came back to Calos. Then of course he tempered that by saying he was sure Earth would not come into Calos space unless they were invited by the government.”
“That phrasing worries me.” Masako frowned. “Cartwright and his people are pro-Earth in their sentiments. Would they invite Earth to come in and take over while the Republic is stretched so thin?”
“They’d be insane to try that.” Mika answered. “Public sentiment is still with House Atrix, and there’s an outpouring of sympathy for House Tremere now. Tremere’s daughter-in-law and all of her children are on their way to Peladon to bury him in the family crypts there. Davlan wasn’t quite as well-liked as your husband, but he was seen at worst as a conniving trickster by most of the people. The City of
“I’m sure he’d be honored.” Masako said with a grim smile. She’d never liked or trusted the man who had done such awful things to her husband, but he’d never crossed her directly since she’d known him.
“I’ve confirmed Barret to Lelaine’s former position.” Mika continued, noticing her grimace at the name of her former lover. She preferred not to think of the woman. “He’s a little young, but he did well with Garret while he was assigned to your husband and Lelaine recommended him for the job. She says he’s learned just about all she could teach him.”
“That’s fine.” Masako agreed while looking out the window at the buildings flashing by them. They should be about to make the ascent up the mountain. “We should probably have him develop a plan to counter the growing rumors and uneasiness among the population.”
“He’s already done that and is waiting for our return to present the plans to you.” Mika was smiling now. The man did a good job both for Garret and for Masako.
Mika Melstein was separated from his wife for the past ten years, and the only reason they had not divorced was because Republic laws made it all but impossible for a couple to divorce once they had married. He had two children by that marriage, and the oldest of them should be about finished with his course in advanced administration. It was the equivalent of a doctorate, and took many years of study. Mika had mentioned that he wanted to offer his son a job with House Atrix, and Garret had immediately agreed. Masako hoped the son would be a good replacement for Mika in ten or twenty years, and would serve Paul as well as his father was serving Garret.
“It sounds like things are well in hand already.” Masako murmured and Mika nodded in gratitude for the compliment.
Barret had her scheduled for one news interview that day, a visit to the Atrix-funded school in the City of
“Those Jordanite priests are causing trouble.” Barret said as he came into her room in the residence section. Like Garret’s, her quarters had a sitting room in front and she was in there, playing with Paul as he tried to balance on the coffee table and grab one of the colorful wooden blocks scattered on the tabletop. He looked up and gurgled a happy greeting to Barret while lifting up both his hands in a demand to be picked up. Of course he fell down as he lost his balance, looked disoriented for a second, and then lifted his hands up to Barret again. Barret laughed and bent down to pick him up, whereupon Paul immediately began to try grabbing strands of Barret’s colorful red hair. The boy must be missing Neal, Masako mused, because before this he’d barely looked at Barret, and while Barret’s hair was a bit darker than Neal’s, it was still red.
“What are they doing now?” Masako sighed. If she had her way, she’d round up every last Jordanite priest and blow them out an airlock, but the Republic’s laws said she could not do that.
“They’re preaching from their book of prophecy about rough times ahead for the believers.” Barret said with a wince as Paul got a fistful of hair and yanked hard. “Be nice, Paul.”
“He misses Neal.” Masako said with a very slight sigh.
“I figured it must be that.” Barret said as he sat down in one of the armchairs and transferred Paul to his lap.
“What exactly are these priests saying?” Masako asked.
“They’re saying that rough times are ahead for believers of God.” Barret began, essentially repeating his earlier statement. “There are a lot of variations, but they all comment on the corruption of the Republic now coming home to roost. The corrupt Houses are once again putting their own interests in front of the people’s, as evidenced by the way they’ve all but abandoned Calos, and that a day will come soon when the people have to make a choice between corruption and righteousness. They’re using a lot of those veiled threats they are so fond of to imply that those who don’t tow their line will end up on the wrong side of a blaster.”
“We should check with Captain Melmaker and see if the ships on patrol have seen any signs of Imperial activity.” Masako said.
“I did, and they say the border is quiet, although if you remember, the Earthers have better jump engines than we do.” Barret pointed out. “They could jump across the border and take out the patrolling vessels before getting up to speed and jumping right into the Calos system. If they do it right, we could have no warning.”
“The buffer zone should have been made bigger.” Masako growled.
“Leonev helped broker the treaty, and there is evidence that he’s being supported in some way by the Empire.” Barret reminded her.
“It’s too bad we can’t make that information public, even if it’s just by spreading rumor.” Masako sighed louder this time. “Damn Garret for extracting that promise from me.”
“Turn on the news!” Davin said excitedly as he burst into the room. Paul looked up in surprise, but went back to trying to stand in Barret’s lap and grab more red hair. Masako gave Davin a disparaging look for bursting in like this, but leaned over to hit the control that would turn on the screen in her room.
“…it is being confirmed now that Republic forces hit the Leonev forces in orbit of Lemos early this evening, Peladon time.” It was Lelaine Anova doing the reporting from the desk of Peladon’s biggest news station. In the corner above her left shoulder a scene appeared of the Adamant’s bridge. The blue lights gave the scene an eerie glow, but Garret was sitting there, turned around in his command chair and facing the camera, issuing orders that couldn’t quite be heard while the hologram on the other side of him, at the front of the bridge, showed the ship firing round after round into a battle carrier. “This footage obtained from a source close to Speaker and Rear Admiral Atrix clearly shows the newly-promoted Admiral directing the battle from his flagship the Adamant. You might remember that this is the second time Garret Atrix has saved the mining station of Lemos from attack by enemies of the Republic. Early reports indicate the total destruction or surrender of the entire fleet sent by the traitor General Leonev to occupy the mining station and strip it of its resources. Experts say if he had continued to hold the mining station, he would have been able to build a fleet that could have posed a serious threat to the Republic. Instead, nearly half of Leonev’s estimated forces have been destroyed above the skies of Lemos and a majority of the rest are reported in heavy battle with Republic forces at the Republic world of Androsia.”
“Well, that’s good news.” Masako said as she muted Lelaine’s voice. Seeing and hearing her former lover on the screen brought up too many painful memories at the moment. Maybe she should take a page from Garret’s book and surround herself with a harem of women so that she didn’t get too attached to any one of them. There was that cute little minx that was an assistant chef to Aaron in the kitchens. No, her husband hadn’t had too good of an experience with a cook. Maybe that cute girl who worked in the administrative wing under that old woman Garret had hired after meeting her in a grocery store.
“Yes, it is.” Davin said with a smile. “It should put egg on the face of those priests who were preaching the end of the Republic today. I trust Barret was informing you of that?”
“Yes, he was.” Masako said in a tone that clearly said he was dismissed. The clone that looked like a muscular version of her husband bowed his head and turned to leave. The next morning she woke to two messages from Garret waiting for her. In the first message, he informed her of the victory at Lemos with an assurance that no one she knew had died in the battle. That was a good thing, although his next news wasn’t quite so good. After leaving behind a force of Marines and some ships to guard the mining station, his fleet was being dispatched to Obduros where they would join the Republic ships still there in re-establishing the blockade of that planet. Until reinforcements arrived, Garret would be in command of the blockade.
For two days Masako was able to concentrate on House business that could not wait for her husband’s return. She also spent a lot of time playing with Paul, and flirting with Darlene, the young worker in the administrative wing. The young woman didn’t really respond to her advances, so Masako was planning on next focusing on the dark haired woman in her early thirties that worked in an office near Darlene.
Four days after the news reached her that Garret was moving to Obduros with his fleet, trouble began to brew again on Calos. When Garret’s fleet did not immediately turn around and return to Calos, the grumblings rose once again that they were being ignored. Somehow, when a cruiser on patrol of the buffer zone spotted six Imperial ships on the other side of the border, word leaked out to the general population of Calos. The next Sunday saw the highest attendance in Jordanite churches since Garret arrived on the planet.
Barret scheduled Masako on another round of interviews at that point, and she spent the first half of the next week doing her best to calm the fears of the people. It was in the middle of the week that she again had an interview with Berin Lamont, the journalist she’d embarrassed months ago during a similar interview. From the outset, it was obvious that he was hoping to pay her back for that experience. At least the interview was in the early evening instead of the early morning when it would have left her with an upset stomach all day.
“How can you say the Republic cares about Calos when they leave us to the wolves?” Lamont asked in a semi-hysterical voice as they sat on the soundstage, facing each other over Lamont’s desk. It was cheap plywood painted to look nice, and Masako wondered if kicking it and making it crash to the ground would embarrass him more than her.
“What wolves would that be, Monsieur Lamont?” Masako asked and put a gentle smile on her face, curbing her urge to kick. “Not one ship in or out of Calos has so much as seen a sensor ghost that might be a pirate. I might point out that in the last year, pirate activity in and around Calos had dropped to almost nothing. The Calosian Guard is growing bored in their corvettes hunting after smugglers who have either been thrown in prison or run away from our system.”
“You know what I mean, Madam Atrix.” Lamont said sharply. “Everyone knows the Fellowship of Jordan has been warning Calos of a return by the forces of God.”
“Have they?” Masako asked with a tilt of her head. “Do you believe Earth is foolish enough to re-start a war they were on the verge of losing when they quit?”
“They’ve had a year to rebuild while we’ve been stuck decimating ourselves in a civil war.” Lamont stated. “Besides, they’re not talking about invading, but about coming in if the people ask them to do so.”
“Has there been such an invitation?” Masako asked sharply. “Has there even been a suggestion of an invitation by anyone other than the priests who kiss the hem of an Earther’s evening gown?”
“No.” Lamont said, unable to hide the slight smile that forced its way to his lips as he struggled not to laugh at her statement.
“Then what is the issue with Earth forces trying to return to this planet?” Masako asked with a wave of her hand. “They are trying to stir up trouble, the way they do anytime they think the Republic is being weak. These priests are weak cowards, striking from the shadows and trying to terrorize our people. Even if they did try an attack, the Republic would immediately release Garret from his duties and free up his ships to come back and send the Earthers packing.”
“That’s another thing, are they his ships or the Republic’s ships?” Lamont asked.
“What do you mean by that?” Masako asked with a slight edge as she studied the man’s face for a reaction. He just smiled at her.
“There are rumors spreading that the ships your husband currently leads are not really Republic ships at all.” Lamont said. “The rumors say that they are a private fleet your husband built at some secret location.”
“In a year?” Masako laughed, hoping she saw the right avenue to stop these rumors cold, before they came too close to the truth. For that matter, they already were too close to the truth. “I’m sorry, but it’s hard to build a fleet in a year, even if you are Garret Atrix.”
“Leonev did it, did he not?” Lamont asked.
“Those were small ships that carried no more than a handful of crew and everything else was weapons, engines, or fuel.” Masako countered. “Have you seen ships like that in my husband’s fleet?”
“No, but the rumors don’t say your husband built the fleet himself.” Lamont countered. “It has always been rumored the Great Houses had secret hideouts they could flee to if the Republic fell. Maybe the ships and the thousands of extra clone troops came from there. After all, Atrix was known as the House with the best geneticists for cloning.”
“And what would my husband be planning with this shadow fleet?” Masako asked with a little laugh, trying to appear as if she found this all amusing.
“He’s going to come back and take over Calos, disband the government and rule the planet under a military dictatorship.” Lamont said with every bit of seriousness he could muster. Masako stared at him for a very long moment before bursting out into laughter.
“Oh my, I’m so sorry Monsieur Lamont.” Masako said through her laughter. “That is a joke funnier than I have heard in a long time.”
“I was not joking.” Lamont said vehemently. “I’m being serious here and wish you would as well!”
“It’s hard to be serious about something so completely silly.” Masako said with a shake of her head as she calmed down from laughing. “First off, why in all the hells of all the religions in the galaxy would Garret need to conquer this planet? One minute you’re complaining he’s not here with his fleet, and the next you’re babbling about how you’re afraid that when he does come home, he’ll invade and make you do his every wish.”
“Why else would he need a secret fleet and secret soldiers?” Lamont asked. “We’ve all seen the clones wearing Republic uniforms with the blue undershirts. It’s said they’re really Atrix-created clones that are loyal first to your husband, before even the Republic. Then there’s those Atrix Guards of yours running around openly in their blue uniforms. How many of them are there? Enough to take the planet?”
“Oh dear, the paranoid conspiracy theories are out in full force, I see.” Masako said with a rueful shake of her head. “Every House has a staff, just like House Atrix. Traditionally that includes administrative and support staff, as well as security personnel. Growing up on Shinawa, in House Ito, we always used traditional uniforms for our staff. It helps build esprit de corps, and I thought it was a good tradition for Garret to establish with House Atrix. I fear you’re making a mountain out of a mole hill, Monsieur Lamont. As for the blue undershirts, those are soldiers and sailors under the command of Garret Atrix. They take great pride in being under his command and I fear their pride has led them to a slightly unusual display of affection. It surely is not an indication of any plans for taking over the planet. I tell you, Garret has no such plans. He respects the will and freedoms of the people of Calos. If he did not, you should know that I would tie him up and present him for arrest on charges of treason without hesitation. I am a daughter of the Republic, and proud to be in its service as surely as anyone else among the Great Houses.”
“How convenient that you assure us of your fidelity when you would stand to personally gain from such a takeover, Lady Atrix.” Lamont sneered and Masako felt her anger rise up, along with some bile she had to choke back down.
“Do you feel better insulting me, Monsieur Lamont?” Masako asked. “I know you were personally embarrassed after our last interview, but I thought you were a true professional who would not play such petty cards in a search of revenge. The people of Calos are smarter than this, though, and I am confident the truth of my words will be remembered over the hateful rhetoric you choose to spout. I thank you for your time, Monsieur Lamont, and pray that you will one day realize the disservice you have done to the people of Calos this day.”
With that said, Masako stood up as gracefully as she could, unclipped the microphone from her silver and blue robe, and glided out of his studio. Her head was up and her shoulders squared back while she kept a slight look of anger on her face until the cameras could no longer see her. On her way she collected a very pale Barret and the two blue-uniformed guards that Davin had assigned to accompany her.
“I’m so sorry, my lady.” Barret stammered as soon as they were in the car, but a hand held up in front of her silenced him. She returned the hand to her lap where she let it rest next to her other hand while sitting calmly, taking deep breaths as the car returned to the mountaintop manor home. As soon as it stopped in the ornate circular driveway, she got out and stormed up the front steps and into the house as quickly as she could move in her robe. The ground floor was almost complete now, and she barely noticed the inlaid marble patterns and grand staircase as she flew up the steps and then the next set of steps until she reached the top floor where Davin stood waiting for her.
“Gather up every non-Atrix Prime native who knows about the bolt-hole and assemble them in the atrium of the residence wing.” Masako ordered through gritted teeth. “Have at least two loyal guards for each of them waiting along the walls there. Has Imaline returned from her sojourn with the Colliers yet?”
“She got back an hour ago with
“Have an extra guard in there to stay with her and the governess.” Masako ordered.
“Yes, my lady.” Davin said and took off while Masako glided in a much calmer mood into the residence wing. She stopped first in her own quarters and picked up a few items from the drawers in her bedroom. Then she went to visit Imaline.
“How are you, sister?” Masako asked Imaline as she entered the other woman’s rooms. Their sitting room was a little bigger than hers and Garret’s. The brown-haired governess, a woman trained for this job at a local school looked up from where she was watching Paul and Frederick playing together in a playpen. It looked like Paul was trying to teach
“I feel much better after my retreat.” Imaline said with a smile as the two women embraced. “I caught the last part of your interview. That man should be released from his job! Tomorrow I will call Pastor Jeddah. He will start a protest that will cost that man his job. They love you in that province my dear. Your husband has even caused them to reconsider the Collier stance on clones. That was one of the reasons I traveled there, they wished to speak to me since I am related to Garret by marriage. I dare be so bold as to say I think my words swayed them greatly. They may soon no longer view clones as abominations.”
“That is good to hear.” Masako smiled at the woman and reflected how much warmer the woman was compared to the ice queen she’d first met back in the New Prejat apartment. “I thank you, as I’m sure Garret will when he returns.”
“If he manages to notice.” Imaline laughed. “He and Billy are two peas in the pod, you know. It is easy to see that they were raised together as brothers. Each would give his right arm to the other and never notice it was missing.”
“They are very much alike.” Masako agreed and looked over at the playpen. “Tell me, sister, how long do you think you will end up staying on Calos?”
“This planet has the largest single community of Colliers in the Republic.” Imaline said with a proud look on her face. “I believe my parents will move here once I tell them what it is like. They will be much happier here. Billy has many duties while he is in the military, and I fear he will be away from home, wherever home is for very many years. His mother is recovering from the attack, or so I hear, and she will rule House Lars quite likely until after
“I would appreciate it if you would stay here with us.” Masako said, surprised at how much she meant those words. Imaline would never be a lover, she knew full well, but she could be a sister and that would be very nice to have in her home.
“Then it is agreed.” Imaline said with a smile. They hugged again before Imaline’s face grew serious. “As I said, I saw the interview. We have problems to deal with that cannot wait for our husbands to come home.”
“Yes.” Masako agreed. Imaline may not have been raised in a Great House, but she understood them as if she had been. “I am having Davin assemble those who know of the bolt-holes and do not come from Atrix Prime.”
“Ah, you mean to find which of them is the traitor?” Imaline asked.
“I think they may have inadvertently given too many details to outsiders.” Masako said with a sour grimace. “There is only one I would believe might be an outright traitor, and he has had too many opportunities before this to do great harm.”
“You mean the cook, Aaron Lewis, Leonev’s nephew?” Imaline asked with a grimace. “He would be my first choice.”
“Yes, but he has been in Garret’s bed too many times.” Masako said. “If he was a traitor, he could have killed Garret while my husband was asleep and sneaked off before anyone noticed.”
“That is true.” Imaline agreed as the door opened and Davin entered, followed by a guard who took up a position just inside the room.
“I have asked Davin to have a guard stay in here with you while I interview those outside in the Atrium” Masako explained.
“They are all assembled, my lady.” Davin said to Masako. “There are a total of six people here and one who is on leave. Aaron Lewis has taken a few days off and is in a pleasure house located inside the City of
“An appropriate name for the place.” Imaline sniffed in disdain. Yes, she may be close to a sister to Masako, but she still had a weird set of values.
“Send a car for him.” Masako ordered and Davin grinned.
“Already done my lady.” He said calmly and Masako smiled. Garret’s clone was a good man and did his job well, especially given his young age and inexperience. Still, he’d had fine training for his job. That was the usual case with Garret’s staff. They were almost all young, a little on the inexperienced side, but unusually brilliant and extremely well-trained. “There is one other matter you should be aware of right now.”
“Go on.” Masako urged him.
“A Lieutenant Alroy, who is a true-born native of Atrix Prime was reported missing this morning.” Davin said. “He was on a seventy-two our leave and did not check in as expected.”
“Is this out of the norm?” Masako asked.
“It is the first time anyone from his place of origin has missed a check-in time.” Davin replied with a frown. “We did not report it at first because we haven’t yet been able to track his recent movements, but given what happened in your interview, I thought it should be reported.”
“Inform the local police he is missing and ask them to assist in a search for him.” Masako ordered and he nodded, stepping aside as she moved out to the atrium. Mika stood in the group of six people waiting nervously in the middle of the atrium, and she felt like going ahead and dismissing him from the group, but thought better of it for the moment. When they saw her appear, they straightened up and looked at her instead of the Guards around them. Davin left behind her, to make the calls to the police station. She took a deep breath and looked upwards. The metal blinds were opened, instead of closed as they had been during the winter, and the clear glass of the atrium’s sunroof let in the Calosian sunlight. Above them the sky was a dark blue, almost the color of the dark blue that was part of the Atrix House colors. The sun would be setting soon, and she hoped this horrible day would end with the sunset.
“What is wrong, my lady?” Mika spoke up first, dragging her attention from the sky back to those in front of her.
“In case you didn’t see the awful interview I just had with Berin Lamont, things he said has made it clear as the sky above us that we have at least a leak in our House, and at worst a traitor.” Masako said, pleased at the gasp from the woman in her late twenties who served as Mika’s assistant.
“I agree.” Mika said solidly. “I did see the interview, and looking around me I agree that one of us must have leaked the information whether it was on purpose or inadvertently. Please, start with me, my lady.”
“Come into my sitting room, Monsieur Melstein.” Masako said with a frown, taking the man into her own sitting room. She questioned him for thirty minutes, and he was sweating by the time he was dismissed. His secretary was next, and she stammered almost incoherently and all Masako did was ask questions. Did she have a pillow-mate who she might have whispered secrets to after a night of passion? Did the woman like to gossip with other secretaries?
That interview gave Masako two more names to add to the list, but since they were both Atrix Guards, there was a very low probability that they would lead back as a source for the leaks. By the time she was done and Masako exited her sitting room to stand in the atrium, she was convinced that it had to be Aaron Lewis after all. Above her, the sky was filled with stars as Imaline came out of her set of rooms with the governess and their two sons. Paul giggled when he saw her and transferred to her arms with a bubbly laugh as Davin approached her. While she made funny faces at her son who reached out to play with her black hair, she felt herself relax a bit. Holding her son always seemed to make things a little better, the darkness a little less dark.
“My lady, we have been unable to find Aaron.” Davin said. “We have found that Lieutenant Alroy was in the same pleasure house as Aaron, and there was some sort of disturbance there at least two nights ago. Our preliminary investigation seems to indicate that both men were taken against their will, along with the clones that were with them. The theft of the contracted clones was reported to the Twilight police, but the New Edinburgh police did not acknowledge the report so they did not pass the report on to us.”
“Damn them and their stiff necks.” Masako murmured, although to be honest with herself she had to admit that while Aaron may have been the source of the information after all, it looked like he wasn’t a willing traitor. “Get your best team on it, and make contact with Garret’s people in that Hand group. See what they know.”
“Yes, my lady.” Davin said with a bow before all but running down the passageway. He already had his hand communicator out and was talking into it as Masako watched him. He stopped suddenly and started to shake the device before calling out to the two guards at the other end of the hallway.
“What’s going on?” Imaline asked as a bright light filled the atrium from above. Masako turned her head up in time to see a bright flash and a fiery blue trail of fire arcing through the dark sky overhead. There was another flash of blue-white light and she counted to fifteen before the house shook with a loud boom. Her heart sank into her shoes at the sound and she felt like things were suddenly collapsing around her. There was no way to know what ship it was that had just fallen from orbit in a fiery death, but she had a damn good idea as Davin came running back to her with a look of fear on his face.
“All of our communications channels are being jammed my lady.” Davin said in a rush. “I fear there’s something going on.”
“Yes, let’s go to Garret’s office and see who we can contact.” Masako said determinedly before turning to Imaline. “Sister, we might be in for some rough days ahead. Pack food and essentials for the boys, and be ready to leave with them at a moment’s notice.”
“Do you really think…” Imaline’s voice trailed off as she looked afraid.
“I will bet you everything you hold dear that the ship that just died was the one that brought Paul and I here, and was from Atrix Prime.” Masako said grimly. Imaline nodded with tears in her eyes before she took a deep breath and took Paul from Masako’s arms. When she turned to herd the governess back into her rooms, she had a determined look on her face. Masako turned and motioned Davin to lead the way towards Garret’s office.
Garret’s office had equipment that wasn’t available anywhere else in the house, including access to military frequencies and a computer that logged all military command-level traffic. Fortunately Davin knew the access codes and was able to bring up the last few hours of traffic. What Masako saw left her nearly breathless.
At 1836 hours, President Cartwright’s office issued a planetwide call-up of the Calosian National Guard, By 1902 hours, Cartwright issued an emergency session proclamation of the Calosian Congress and Masako noticed in a quick scan of the names that he only called members of his own party to the closed session of Congress. At 1906 hours, Captain Melmaker, the commander of local Republic forces in Garret’s absence issued stand-down orders to all military bases and ships in orbit. The only ship to not acknowledge these orders was the Paul Richardson. The last communication before the jamming had begun was a planet-wide order for martial law.
“Sir, this man claims he has an urgent message for you.” A dark-skinned officer in Guard blue said as he entered the office while Davin and Masako were reviewing the messages. He was escorting a young ruffian dressed in a motley assortment of clothes. Masako vaguely recognized him as being one of the messengers that the Hand occasionally sent to Garret.
“What is it Byron?” Davin asked sternly. “We don’t have a lot of time to waste.”
“No, you don’t.” Byron said rapidly. “I was sent to warn you. President Cartwright is declaring martial law. He’s going to go on the network and announce that House Atrix was planning a coup against the government with that army of theirs, like this guy here in the blue cloth. Old Cartwright’s ordered the arrest of the Lady Atrix here along with the Lars woman and their children and anyone who serves Atrix. He’s got that Melmaker guy from the fleet on his side and they’re shutting down the Republic forces until they can ‘ascertain their loyalty’. He’s going to keep martial law while they prepare to fight off the fleet that Speaker Atrix will bring in to rescue his family, maybe even use the family as hostage to get him to leave Calos for good.”
“How do they think they’ll stop Garret if he comes with a fleet?” Masako said grimly. “Even with Melmaker they don’t have a fleet capable of defending this planet and what about the Republic? When the Republic hears about this they’ll send a fleet without Garret and arrest the lot of them!”
“Not with an Earth fleet sitting in orbit.” Byron replied coolly. “Word is that they reached orbit a half-hour ago after destroying the ‘Atrix’ ships on the border. You’ve got to get out of here and fast. Cartwright has police transports on their way up here right now”
“The caverns?” Davin asked as a loudspeaker blared from outside.
“This is the New Edinburgh Police.” The loudspeaker blared. “All persons in this house are hereby under arrest. Come out with your hands up or we will open fire.”
“Oh great, they’re here already.” Byron moaned as Masako bit back a curse. Davin pushed a button on Garret’s desk.
“This is Davin, speaking for the Lady Atrix.” Davin said with a glance at Masako. His eyes held a question and she nodded her assent. “This planet is under attack by Imperial forces, assisted by the New Edinburgh police and elements of the Calosian National Guard. Implement Plan Overrun effective this moment.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Byron asked with a sneer, obviously impatient to get moving. Davin smiled as he pushed another button and a hologram appeared on Garret’s desk. It showed the outside of the house and the four police transports hovering outside, along with half a dozen patrol cars. The hover craft never stood a chance as the nearby airfield’s weapons batteries came online. Four laser cannons swept the sky and all the police craft became fiery coffins for those inside of them. Two fell flat on the front grounds of the Manor House while the others careened backwards falling down the mountainside. The cannons turned back skyward as fighter craft streaked down from orbit, firing missiles at the landing field’s defenses. Land-based missile batteries opened fire seconds later and the battle was joined in earnest. It was hopeless, Masako knew, but it would give them valuable minutes. The landing pad was a natural escape route for House Atrix, and as such was useless for that purpose. Instead Garret had built tunnels under the house that joined with the vast caverns controlled by the Hand.
“Nice light show.” Byron said sarcastically. “Can we get moving before they overwhelm your defenses?”
“Yes.” Davin said with a nod. “We’ll take the Lady Atrix and Lady Lars out first. Melstein already went down the hill to that apartment he shares with his new lady friend so we’ll just have to hope for the best for him. House Guards will lead out House staff once we are through.”
“Let’s go.” Masako said grimly as the realization of what was happening sank in to her brain. She and Garret had both been wrong, and Earth had come. Surely the people of Calos would not stand for this? But they had once before. Should she stay and lead the defense of the house like the revered Lady Richter, or should she flee?
“You’re not Lady Richter.” Davin said as if reading her thoughts when she didn’t move right away. “We all know you’re brave, my lady. Just be smart and fight when the time is right. Don’t just throw away your life for nothing. He would not want that.”
“You’re right.” Masako said with a sigh and a nod. This was why you had good assistants, to remind you of what you knew was right when the time came. “Let’s go.”
This time she meant it, and moved into motion with Byron and Davin behind her. Near the main staircase, Imaline was waiting with a backpack and wearing utilitarian slacks, shirt and heavy jacket. Masako almost wanted to change, but she did prefer her robes to such revealing clothing. Behind Imaline was their governess with the two boys in back-pack like contraptions. Four Atrix Guards stood there waiting, and while Imaline walked beside Masako, and the governess right behind them, the Guards took up a formation around them, essentially placing them in a protective cocoon. House staff was running everywhere, the civilians panicking while the military-trained staff prepared defenses and booby traps. Anyone trying to take this building would have a nasty fight on their hands, and in the end a house empty of their primary targets. Through a secret chamber on the other side of the kitchen, Davin led them into the hidden entrance that descended into the caverns.
Here it was truly dark, with only the hand-held lights of the Guards breaking the darkness. The rock walls were rough-hewn, cut for speed of passage, not for looks. With a small blaster pistol in one hand, Masako kept a grip on Imaline with the other, every muscle tense and ready for any surprised. Supposedly no one should know about these caverns, but then again no one should have known about the bolt-holes. They’d barely gone a kilometer when Masako’s worst fears were confirmed, and shots began to blast into their protective cocoon when they hit a junction of corridors.
Imaline whirled around, releasing Masako’s hands as she grabbed the governess with their two children and throwing them to the ground, her body covering them as the two boys began to cry. Masako approved of that action, and crouched down with her pistol at the ready, searching for a target as Guards fell around her, their lights making crazy patterns along the walls and overhead, occasionally blinding her. Finally a shape appeared clearly, and its pale yellow eyes were the only identification she needed as she shot the Imperial clone dead. How they’d gotten here this fast she would worry about later. Most of her guards were down now, as were many Sol clones, but Masako fired at two more targets, trying to figure out a hiding place when a whipping sound rang out and she felt the stunner slug hit her, penetrating the protective blue undershirt she was wearing under her robe. Her entire body shook as the stunner’s electrical charge was released into her, and she fell to the ground with her limbs shaking. The blaster pistol fell from her spasm-wracked hand and her vision clouded over for a moment. When she blinked, she could see Davin’s dead eyes staring at her, or at least his right eye. His entire left side of his face was a mess of melted flesh from a blaster impact. Familiar black shoes and a white and black checkered pair of pants came between her and the dead Davin, and fury filled her with adrenaline.
That gave her the strength to look upwards. Aaron’s pimpled face was staring down at her with a malicious grin. He was laughing at her, and as he laughed he let a piece of spittle hang on his lips for a moment before falling and landing on her face.
“That’s right, bitch, it’s Aaron.” He said in a tone she’d never heard from him before. As much as she loved being right at times, this time her heart broke for Garret, who had really cared for this piece of rotten dung. “Funny, Miss High and Mighty don’t look so mighty now. I knew you never liked little ole me, but you couldn’t do anything about it, could you? I did what my uncle wanted, and helped him forge an alliance with Earth, all while under your nose and the nose of that idiot clone. You’re stupid you know that? How a real human could let a clone tell her what to do, I’ll never know. Maybe you’ve got clone blood in you, what with that clone emperor you nips have. Maybe after Earth finishes off the Republic and my uncle claims his worlds, we’ll open up that stupid clone Emperor’s liver and see if…”
Aaron never finished the sentence as Masako’s arm moved in a blur, pulling one of the kogai out of the bun in her hair and throwing it with precision born of long years of practice. The steel-tipped kogaii flew perfectly, ramming through Aaron’s right eye and into his brain, killing him instantly. No sooner had his body hit the ground than Masako was on her knees. She was weak, but she moved to pick up her fallen blaster. It was too late though as she saw movement and several more sets of yellow eyes before two stun darts took her. As their charges released into her, she passed out from the experience, her last thought going to her husband and praying he would come home soon, before these bastards could do anything to her son.
