Ronin (The Pike Chronicles Book 3) (5 page)

Jon led them out into the hallway. No guards yet, which was good. Maybe they hadn’t heard the Governor’s cries for help. He knew it was a foolish thought, which was confirmed when two guards came running around the corner. Jon squeezed his trigger. The weapon hummed as blue lightning burst forth, striking his target in the chest and sending him sprawling backward. Michael fired at the same time, and his energy bolt hit the man to the right, spinning him around like a top.

The group continued to move forward, rounding a corner heading to a wide staircase. They were greeted by energy blasts. They lunged for cover as guards fired from the bottom of the stairs. Jon crouched beside a thick banister and fired back. Two guards were trying to make it up the stairs. Jon lined one up in his sights and squeezed off a couple of blue bursts into his skull. Upon seeing the man tumble down the stairs, his partner turned and tried to run. Jon squeezed off two more shots and the blue energy burned a whole in the man’s back. He dropped face first on the steps.

There were more men at the bottom, but none dared trying to climb up. Jon ducked as energy bolts splintered the wood of the banister. Hidden behind him the little boy cried but stayed put. Jon fired off a few shots, but was forced to duck as another barrage tore into the banister. His cousins weren’t faring much better. They had the high ground, but were outnumbered.

Come on, Father
, thought Jon.
Where are you?
As if in answer to his pleas, energy weapon fire erupted to the rear of the guards’ position. The guards turned their attention behind them, attempting to fend off the cloaked men who had crept up on them. Encouraged, Jon and his cousins increased their rate of fire, pinning down the guards. The tide turned and the guards found themselves in a hopeless position. Trapped in a deadly crossfire, they were quickly killed off without mercy.

A whistle announced the all clear. Jon looked at the two trembling boys, “It’s ok, it’s all over.” He took them by the hand and led them down the stairs. Behind, Jason and Michael followed with the Governor in tow.

At the bottom his father approached, the anger clearly visible on his face. “What have you done?” he said, gesturing at the two boys.

“I couldn’t leave them, Father. You know what would happen to them if I did.”

“There are greater stakes at play than this,” roared his father. “You jeopardized the mission.”

“Did you not rescue me when I was taken?”

“Yes, but you are my son.”

“Who will rescue them?” asked Jon. The two boys remained quiet, looking up at him and his father apprehensively.

“It seems you will,” said his father, clearly exasperated. “There is no time for this. We have to leave.” He ordered the men to move out. He turned back to Jon, “You cannot rescue everyone. Remember that.”

“I am not rescuing everyone, just these boys.”

His father’s expression softened. “Heed my words, son,” he pleaded.

“I will,” said Jon.

His father looked at the boys, “They are your responsibility. See that they keep up,” the scowl returning to his face.

“Yes, Father,” said Jon. “Thank you.”

Colonel Bast sat in the small interrogation room studying the Diakan sitting across from him. General Tallos had his hands and feet bound, though he posed little threat. He would have no hope against Colonel Bast’s augmented abilities. No, the restraints were intended to perform a psychological function. They reinforced the dynamics of their relationship and reminded Tallos that he was no General here. Bast wondered if it had any effect on Tallos. Surely Tallos had performed his fair share of interrogations and knew the process.

“I am surprised that Captain Pike has not yet come to visit,” said Tallos, his face expressionless, the sarcasm clear.

“You think highly of yourself,” said Bast. “I am surprised you haven’t adjusted that perception.”

“Yes, well it seems you still hold my wisdom in high regard, Colonel.”

Bast ignored the remark. “What can you tell me about Captain Pike?”

“Colonel, I am sure you already know everything you need to know. I know you gained access to his military record when the Hermes project was compromised.”

“Much of the information was missing.”

“I’m not sure what else I can add.”

Bast sighed. “General, you are lying to me. You know as well as I do that things can become very uncomfortable for you. I will eventually get the information I want. Isn’t it better to avoid all that unpleasantness?”

Tallos stared back at Bast with large, unblinking eyes, then seemed to make a decision. “I think we can develop a relationship, Colonel. One where we both benefit.”

“Really? What do you imagine something like that would look like?” said Bast, not trusting the Diakan in the slightest.

“I have already told you. I can facilitate your return home.”

“This ship is my home.”

“I’m referring to Earth.”

“I cannot return. None of us can. Our brain chips do not allow it.”

“Perhaps, but what if you find Doctor Ellerbeck? What if she can remove the chips? Would you return then?”

“We would not be welcome. No human on Earth would accept us. We’re better off out here.”

“Not if you were to return as heroes. I can make that happen for you.”

Tallos had offered this before. Bast didn’t want to give in to the Diakan, even if the thought of returning to Earth was tantalizing. If things turned out the way the Diakan said and Tallos could make it so his crew were welcomed, that might be worth pursuing. He could also just as easily brand them as criminals and have them executed for treason. On Earth the roles would be reversed and Tallos would hold all the power. Bast didn’t like how that sounded. It would be wisest to string Tallos along, while keeping all options open.

“I am prepared to establish a tentative agreement with you, General. Tell me what you know, continue providing assistance when needed, and if you prove useful I will return to Earth.”

“This is progress. I can agree to these terms.”

“Very well. Tell me about Captain Pike.”

“The information about Captain Pike was removed because he is an assassin. He performed numerous ‘black operations’ for Space Force and Diakus.”

“I see. I assume he is good at what he does?”

“Captain Pike is not just good, Colonel. He is the best.”

“Why give someone like that command of a starship? Was the Hermes involved in some elaborate Black Op?”

“Captain Pike was not Space Force’s choice to Captain the Hermes. It was Diakus that requested he be given command.”

Bast sat back in his chair, feeling confused. “That doesn’t make any sense. Why would Diakus do something like that?”

“Because, Captain Pike is not just an assassin. He is also a Diakan experiment.”

“Experiment? What did you do to him?”

“I can assure you, Colonel, I had no involvement in what was done to the Captain. I was only brought in after he was assigned to the Hermes project. My role was merely to advise the Captain, and take over the mission if he lost control.”

“Lost control of what?”

“Captain Pike had a Diakan symbiont implanted into his body.”

Bast’s stomach tightened, reminding him of the Juttari technology in his own body. “Why would you do something like that?”

“Look no farther than yourself, Colonel. Your Juttari implants have made you a super soldier. A formidable opponent on any battlefield. Diakans are not slavers, like the Juttari. Still, Diakus wanted a way to counter your effectiveness. A symbiont was genetically engineered for Captain Pike. It was able to augment his own physical capabilities. Unlike your implants, the symbiont is a living, sentient being. Diakans have long lived in harmony with their symbionts. If humans could successfully host Diakan symbionts, their augmented capabilities would make them a powerful asset for Diakus.”

“You bastards,” said Bast, struggling to control his emotions. “You’re no better than the Juttari.”

“On the contrary, Colonel,” said Tallos, in that infuriatingly even tone. “We are very different from the Juttari. We have not abducted any children. We have not enslaved anyone. Captain Pike volunteered for the experiment.”

They were slavers. They were simply better at hiding it. If they implanted humans with Diakan symbionts, weren’t the human hosts now part Diakan? If the symbionts were sentient, did they not have their own loyalties? Could Diakus not command the symbionts? Could the symbionts in turn not command their human hosts? The pieces suddenly came together.

“You lost control of the symbiont,” he said, pointing a finger at the smug Diakan.

Tallos blinked. “We did not control the symbiont in the way you are suggesting. It is not a brain chip. The symbiont was supposed to enhance the Captain’s strategic and tactical abilities, yet the Captain behaved irrationally. In that regard the experiment failed.”

“Because the Captain tried to rescue the Reivers?”

“Yes.”

Bast wondered what might be going on inside the Captain. Was there some hidden battle waging between him and his Diakan symbiont? Was he fighting for control of his own body? Bast knew how that felt. The Juttari dictated his actions his whole life. Had the symbiont done the same to Captain Pike? Tallos believed that the experiment failed. Perhaps it indicated that Captain Pike had won out over the symbiont.

“How do you think the Captain will behave moving forward?” said Bast, still trying to understand.

“Have you not heard what I just said? The Captain is irrational. How can I predict what he will do?”

“Try.”

“If the symbiont still has influence, my guess is it will see you as a threat and act accordingly.”

“That doesn’t make sense. We rescued him and his crew.”

“You are expecting gratitude? Interesting. That is a human way of thinking. Perhaps your humanity will prevail after all. The symbiont, however, is not encumbered by these notions. It will view things rationally. Like a Diakan. It will deduce that the only reason you have rescued the Captain and his crew is because you need to find Doctor Ellerbeck. They can convince her that it is safe to remove your brain chips. Once that task is performed, you will have no use of the Hermes crew. At that point you become a threat.”

“The symbiont will make the Captain act first.”

“If it still has influence over him, yes.”

“Let’s assume that is the case. What could he do against a ship full of Chaanisar soldiers?”

“I do not know, but I would be concerned if I were you.”

The youthful Prime Minister of New Byzantium, Christopher Sallas, studied the stern face on the screen in front of him. The gray haired man reminded him of a derelict freighter, long past its prime.

“I still don’t see how any of this is our concern,” said the aging Franz Stumpf, CEO of Amboss Corporation. He had an impatient look about him. One that shouted, ‘Don’t waste my time.”

“How can you say that?” said Sallas, incredulous at Stumpf’s comment. “The Kemmar Empire has ruthlessly annexed Otan space. Soon they will be threatening human space.”

“There is no guarantee of that, Mr. Sallas,” said Stumpf, taking on the air of a parent lecturing a child. “The Kemmar and the Otan have been neighbors for centuries without a problem. Obviously the Otan did something to provoke this response from the Kemmar.”

“Provoke this response? We are receiving reports of orbital bombardment. They’re targeting civilian centers. Murdering millions. They’re throwing survivors into the Kemmar slave trade. This is not a response, this is an extermination.”

“I am sure these reports are exaggerated. Probably Otan propaganda to generate sympathy for their cause.”

Sallas did his best to keep his mouth from hanging open in disbelief. “The reports are from reliable sources. This is real, and we’re next. The colonies need to stand together. If we present a united show of force, the Kemmar will think twice about attacking us.”

Stumpf laughed. “A united show of force? Are you joking?”

“No, Sir, I am deadly serious. If each colony sends a contingent to the border, we would have some hope of mounting a defense against the coming attack. We may even discourage it altogether.”

“Mr. Sallas, I realize you are young and new to your position, so I’m going to attribute your proposal to inexperience. By amassing a large force on our border we will be provoking the Kemmar. That would make their invasion a certainty.”

Pompous asshole
, thought Sallas. “I disagree. If the Kemmar see us as separate entities they will pick off our planets one by one. The Kemmar are an aggressive, expansionist species. The Otan has long acted as a natural buffer between us and the Kemmar. With that buffer gone there is nothing stopping them from annexing each of our systems.”

“Mr. Sallas, what we need right now is diplomacy. The Kemmar Empire can be a tremendous trading partner. This is an opportunity to gain access to their markets. The last thing we should do is behave in a hostile fashion. Once the Kemmar understand our value, they will have no desire to invade.”

“There is more at stake here than just profits,” said Sallas dismissively.

“Let’s not turn this into an ideological debate, Mr. Sallas. Just because New Byzantium is no longer under corporate rule does not mean that profits matter any less. New Byzantium is closest to the border and stands to benefit the most from any potential trade agreement. Think of your populace.”

“You mistake me, Sir. I am not against profit. I am against invasion by alien slavers. The Kemmar are not a peaceful species. They will attack.”

“That is where you are mistaken. The Kemmar engage in peaceful trade with many civilizations. Why wouldn’t they do the same with us? Besides, with the exception of your planet, the rest of the colonies are commercial enterprises, not nations to be invaded.”

Cursed man
, thought Sallas. “If the Kemmar invade and New Byzantium falls, Amboss will be next.”

“Mr. Sallas, I’m afraid you see threats where none exist. Nonetheless, I can assure you that Amboss Corporation will not be sending any forces to your border. I don’t expect any of the other corporations will do so either. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a very busy day ahead of me.”

Stumpf ended the transmission leaving Sallas staring at a blank screen. He initiated another communication, this time with General Juneau. A hawkish face appeared on the screen. Dark, menacing eyes stared back at him.

“I’m sorry, General. Amboss refused to send help to our border.”

“That is unfortunate,” said Juneau.

“Has there been any new developments?”

“The Kemmar have tried to send scout ships past our borders, but we have intercepted and chased them off. They are testing us. Gauging our response.”

“Is this a prelude to an attack?”

“Not at this time. They are busy cleaning up the mess they made invading the Otan. That will keep them occupied for a long while. The border incursions are merely meant to gather information.”

“So we have time to plan.”

“Time will not save us. We need more ships.”

“Understood. I’ll keep working on the other colonies.”

“Will that be all, Sir?” said Juneau. There was something in his tone that Sallas didn’t like. It was the way he said the word ‘Sir’, with a hint of contempt in his voice. Sallas assumed it had something to do with him being a civilian. He had never served in the military, but Juneau would have to get over it. The people elected Sallas as Prime Minister. That’s all that mattered.

“Thank you, General. That is all,” said Sallas, cutting the communication link.

Sallas rose and walked out of his office. Directly adjoining was a larger room with several couches and large comfortable chairs. Less formal than his office, this room was for more relaxed meetings. Sitting on one of the couches was an attractive red headed woman. Sallas sat down beside her and eased back into the soft cushions.

The woman studied him for a moment and said, “Your meeting didn’t go well, I take it?”

He looked into the woman’s mesmerizing eyes, and had no desire to discuss his meeting. “No, but I’ll convince them.”

“I hope so. Our encounter with the Kemmar was not pleasant.”

“Yes, you were lucky to come out of that alive. But enough of this unpleasantness. What do you think of our medical facilities?”

“They are impressive.”

Sallas laughed. “You’re kind. I’m sure we are nowhere near as advanced as what you are used to.”

“Actually, you are more advanced than us. We rely on alien medical technology for most of our needs.”

“That’s right. What did you call your aliens again? Dukans?”

“Diakans,” said the redhead, smiling.

“Diakans. I’ll try and remember next time.”

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t imagine we’ll be seeing any Diakans out here.”

“You made it ‘out here’. You never know who will come next.”

“My arrival here was an accident.”

“A lucky accident,” said Sallas, smiling. “Now, Ms. Ellerbeck, I do believe you agreed to have dinner with me.”

“I believe I did.”

Sallas stood up and stretched out his hand. Dr. Elizabeth Ellerbeck took the hand and allowed Prime Minister Sallas to lead her out of the room.