Balance (The Neumarian Chronicles) (15 page)

Ridgecroft
retrieved a handkerchief from his vest and dabbed at his forehead, then grabbed a glass of water, drained it, refilled it, and drained it again. As I studied the two councilmen, I noted he and McCormick had gained substantial weight since I’d last seen them, giving lie to their claims of suffering.

McCormick stood, his fists jammed atop the table.
“You should’ve double-checked your sources.”

Using a laser pointer, I aimed at a specific spot on the screen.
“Then you’ll agree to a few of our allies checking this location and searching your ships prior to departure?”

“
We’ve no such weaponry, I assure you,” McCormick hissed. “It was all destroyed after the Great War. Queen Valderak’s personal guards saw to it.”

I returned McCormick’s sick smile with a beaming one. Truth was
I didn’t really know where UE had stashed their chemical and biological weapons, but the moment they went to retrieve them, our spies would know and acquire them. “Yet, such weaponry seems to now exist. It would be wise to have outside observers to confirm this. After all, isn’t facing two nukes enough danger without further poisoning the planet?”

A senior pilot scanned the table then paused upon me.
“So, you admit there’s a chance the queen will betray us?”

“Given her history—”

Ridgecroft smacked his palm on the table. “Before we decide upon a plan, perhaps you would do us the honor of listening to us. We’ve traveled some distance to speak with you about the council’s decision. We discussed the probability of betrayal versus the benefit to our people. The benefit outweighs the chance of treachery. Therefore, we recommend accepting her offer.”

“Ya
be a bigger fool than me thought,” Dred accused. “It not be question of if but when, ’cause we know the how—them two nukes.”

My father
motioned me to take my seat then leaned forward. “I agree with Dred. We can expect a trap. Her first strike will be at you, McCormick, and your troops. You won’t have a chance. As such, all rebellion ships will be manned for battle. What UE does, will be up to them. But you will not leave UE territory with any bio or chem weapons.”

Penton
jumped up from his chair. “UE will not murder innocent people. The sleeping gas is ready. It’s non-lethal and there isn’t any lasting harm to those affected. Yet, it’ll allow our troops to secure the people in camps without unnecessary harm. Then we can take our time sorting the threat from the innocent.”

“Great plan
, except your sleeping gas won’t work on trackers, assassins, or any other of the queen’s creations,” McCormick snarled.

Furious, I took in Penton’s ashen face as he sank onto his chair. Eyes narrowed, I leveled McCormick the hard, emotionless stare I’d learned at
Mandesa’s knee. “Neither do biological or chemical weapons. They get their life and power from Mandesa. She is also immune to these weapons. But those living in the slums don’t support Mandesa. They just want to survive. Within the city proper are our spies and many supporters, which include all three races.”

My father
leaned back in his chair, his steepled fingers tapping his chin. “We agree, we have no choice but to participate in the peace talks. Before McCormick or Ridgecroft said a word, he held up a hand and continued, “
But
Penton and Semara are correct. Loss of life should be minimal. We have many supporters within the population at large.”

T
apping his lips, my father’s gaze stayed locked on the two councilmen. “Perhaps Penton might be able to develop a weapon to take down altered creatures. Now that the sleeping gas can be deployed, he can focus on this problem. I suggest stalling until the weapon is ready. We need it if we plan to take the city.”

“
Is the sleeping gas really ready?” Ridgecroft asked.

“Yes
,” Penton said.

Ridgecroft pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I’m unsure how long I’ll be able to stall the peace talks.”

Father nodded in seeming sympathetic understanding.
“Tell her we’re in negotiations. General Bellator is being difficult, as is his daughter, Corporal Semara Bellator. If Mandesa demands to know what the problem is, tell her Semara refuses to allow her fiancé and his sister to meet with Mandesa unprotected. Tell her Semara still has nightmares over Mandesa’s butchery of Raeth.”

I almost arched an eyebrow at that. I was more worried what
Mandesa would think when she saw Raeth’s new leg. But I could see where my father was going with this. “Also, tell Mandesa I’ll be with them. If she refuses to meet with Princess Semara, who her people believe is her daughter, there won’t be any peace talks.”

Once again, Ridgecroft mopped his brow.
“She was very firm about your not coming.”

I shrugged.
“Tell her it might serve her interests if I attended. That it could quiet rumors that she’d tried to kill me.”

I knew getting my message to our best supporter and spy on
Mandesa’s council, Ralona, would be easier and more direct if I used Ridgecroft, but I didn’t trust him or McCormick. That left me with contacting her handler and having him relay the message that both the Triune and I required her assistance. I shook my head, remembering my shock at discovering Acadia’s Senior Councilwoman was a secret supporter of the Rebellion and Triune. As such, she was perfectly positioned to rally the necessary support from the citizens and council for me to attend the peace talks. Knowing Ralona, Mandesa couldn’t ignore the outpouring of support and stay in power.

Dre
d pushed back his chair and stood. “If pretty face’s traveling to Acadia, I must return to me people, General Bellator. Believe I can get me people to join the fight.”

Fallon nodded. “
Dred’s right. It’s also time for me to return to the Mining Territory. We’ve been waiting to act.”

Mart
stood as well, shifting between feet. “Count me and Captain Paulson’s crew in the fight. We’ll be ready.”

Father sighed and stood.
“Councilmen Ridgecroft and McCormick, I believe this is the perfect time to take a break. We’ll continue in the morning. Sergeant Walker will escort you to your quarters and later, to dinner.”

“Is a guard really necessary?” McCormick asked.

“Since the bombing, we’ve tightened security.” He turned to the sergeant. “Ensure they have everything they need.”

The entire room knew
the councilmen weren’t being escorted, but watched, including the councilmen. Not that they had a choice, and if they tried to leave their rooms, they’d discover an armed guard at each door and two patrolling the short hall of the guest quarters.

Once
they’d left the room and entered the lift, I stood. “All personnel dismissed.”

As the senior staff members
filed out the door, I grasped Dred’s forearm in a Neumarian greeting. “Be careful, my friend. I’ll see you soon on the battle field. Let’s hope it’s our last fight.”

Dred locked me in a hug. “I’ll protect you at all costs, pretty face.”
Releasing me, he marched from the room.

Turning
back, I spotted Mart huddled in the corner with Ryder. Strange, but I didn’t feel the surge of insecurity or jealousy I once did aboard the
Freedom
. Instead, a warmth, accompanied by the knowledge they were comrades and nothing more, filled me. Smiling, I retrieved my halo pad and, swiping my finger down, scrolled through the personnel logs, hunting for Annie’s father.

With our resources stretched to breaking since the bombing, we instituted a series of new regulations. One of them prohibited a person going on a one-way mission if their death resulted in an orphan. Haunted by Annie’s tear-stained face, I was driven to find and reprimand the
chief officer who knowingly violated this regulation. Because someone didn’t do their job, Annie was denied her father’s love and attention. Spotting her father’s name, I checked the chief officer’s name.
Corporal Semara Bellator. Reason: Lack of available personnel.

Chapter
Eighteen

“It’s been a long, year and a half,” Ryder murmured, his hand pulling me flush against him.

Seeking warmth, I snuggled closer. For the first time in forever, tension bled from me. My mind raced, even as my body relaxed. I hadn’t experienced a good night’s sleep in eighteen months, one that went deep enough I’d dream. I didn’t care if they were nightmares, which they usually were, that my sleep would be deep and I’d actually dream was reassuring. Until this moment, I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed Ryder’s arms wrapped around me, reassuring me I wasn’t alone when the night terrors descended.

“Missed you, too.” Sighing, I closed my eyes and drifted into the waiting arms of Morpheus.

Blue mist stretched and twined through the landscape, surrounding people, seeming to absorb them. I couldn’t see where it originated, except it appeared to have no end or beginning. It just advanced. The stench of oil, machinery, and death overwhelmed me.

No, don
’t go,
I called out. Then a baby’s cry shattered the deadly stillness. No, not a baby, but a small child, whose sobs I recognized.
Annie!

I
charged forward, my bare feet slapping against the damp floor. The implant in my skull buzzed, its warning reminding me of a connection. As I neared a sealed door, it intensified. I pressed my hands against the heavy bronze barrier keeping me from Annie and shoved.

It opened into a
world of sand and heat, swirling in a frenzy. Large beasts with pincers erupted from the dunes and soared into the air, their bodies resembling corrugated pipes. Thousands of legs made an eerie clicking noise. In spite of the searing heat, a chill blasted through my body.

O
ff to the right, sand shimmied and shifted. A hairy, midnight black creature shook itself free of the grit. On long spider legs, it skittered across the dunes. Joining the corrugated pipe monster, they squeaked and clicked at one another. Then both creatures halted and turned to face me. Hissing and spitting, they slithered and crawled toward me.

Help us
, a voice whistled in my ear.

I stumbled back as t
he spiderat thrust its front leg forward. The stinger at the end pierced the air and drove toward my chest.

No
! I screamed.

The
bronze door slammed shut, the implant in my head going silent. I stood panting, my heart racing, my legs quaking.

Gathering my courage,
I strode to another door. As with the first door, it opened into the past. To a time before I was born, a time before my mother died, before the war began.

An embittered-looking woman—Mandesa, I realized—
rummaged through a desk drawer. Gasping for air, Bendar raced into her office. “You right. Harrison struck. Lanena in danger.”

“
They’re alive? Good. I was worried Harrison would kill her and the child. But I can only help if I know where he has her,” she said as she thumbed through some paperwork. Then she glanced up and pointed to a screen on the wall. “Do you see that?” It showed a Neumarian robbing a bank and another blowing up a building. Story after horrible story scrolled over the screen.

Bendar shifted from foot to foot, seemingly unable to stop fidgeting.
“Know where. Found underground.”

A slow, sick smile curled Mandesa’s lips.

“Yes, yes,” Bendar continued. “Just moved. Cabin in mountain. Baby held once, now three.”

“How many Neumarians?” she asked, round the desk.

“Alone. Harrison angry. Coordinates here. Hurry.” He handed her a small device. It reminded me of the cell phones I’d seen pictures of in history books.

“This better not be a trick
,” Mandesa warned, acid dripping in her voice. “Did Harrison give this to you?”

“No
. I stay with Lanena after baby born. Save them,” Bendar begged.

“General!
We’ve got them.” Mandesa shoved Bendar out of the way and returned to her desk. “Ready my ship.”

The general
marched into the room. “Ready in five.”

My mouth dropped open at the
younger, leaner version of the general. Gone were the metal chest plate and hair plugs, he now sported a full head of auburn hair. But the grin was identical to the one he always wore when brutalizing me. While age and war hadn’t changed him into a devil, it had given the monster free rein.

“Bring
Lanena here?” Bendar asked.

“Only if she agrees to leave that worthless excuse of a husband.”

“If doesn’t?”

Mandesa stalked back toward him then leaned down, her nose almost touching his.
“Then she’s dead to me.”

“But she sister. You say you save!”

“She either comes with me or I’ll take her head, just like I will those sitting on that farce of a council.”

As the
soon-to-be-queen swept from the room, Bendar fell to his knees. Sobbing, he covered his face. “What I done?”

Watching the tough little man,
who had nerves of steel crumpled on the floor, tore at me. How could I not forgive him? He’d been tortured with guilt for years. Yet, it was Bendar and those implanted false memories that had kept me sane and reasonably whole.

No sooner had that realization crystalized then the
door slammed shut, locking me out of the memory. Sighing, I moved onto the next door. Part of me wanted to know the rest while another part feared what I would be shown, but I couldn’t stop. My dreams had always been the gateway to the information hidden in my mind. These weren’t just nightmares. They were history, my history. Perhaps I was seeing this as a prologue to meeting with Mandesa and the general again. Knowledge was power. Understanding history was the key to preventing repeating it.

We needed every edge if we were to
defeat Mandesa. Remaining calm and unafraid when facing her would be a huge advantage. Otherwise, I’d be mentally crippled, unable to respond.

Gritting my teeth,
I stared at the door in front of me. Did it mean something that it was wooden, not bronze like the first two?

It
swung open, and I grabbed the doorjamb. A familiar scene played out before me. One I’d lived through multiple times aboard the
Freedom
as Captain Gordon attempted to free my mind from the memory blocks. Throat dry, I forced myself to watch the events unfold.

As if through a dark window, I saw my parents’ cabin. Someone stood on the porch, beating on t
he front door. It thundered in counter time to the storm raging above in the night sky.

Like flipping the switch on a viewfinder, the scene moved to inside. A little girl, about three or four,
sat on an area rug playing with a doll. Me. My mother scooped me into her arms and hugged me. “It’s time, Semara. Now the future will rest in your hands. Someday, you’ll be in power. Rule with integrity and love. Don’t close your heart. It’s your greatest protection and weapon against corruption.”

“My heart here,
Mamma.” My small hand pointed at my chest.

Tears fell at my
childish innocence as I watch the scene before me.

My f
ather pivoted and clutched my mother’s biceps. “Why are you telling her this? Why now?”

“Mandesa
tricked Bendar into revealing our location. He thought he was saving us, but now he knows the truth and is racing to our aid. Harrison, he cannot sacrifice himself for me. He is destined to protect Semara. My time to face my sister has come.”

“This can’t happen.” Father collapsed beside Mother on the rug and shook her with frantic desperation.
“You promised me we’d make it. I can’t go on without you. Semara needs her mother. Let me die in your place.”

“I
don’t control the future, I only see it. I’ve attempted to change statistics. Some minor things changed, but not this. Nothing can stop this.” Her fingers traced my father’s grief stricken features, as if memorizing them. “Promise me, Harrison, that you’ll protect Bendar. And understand, you also won’t be able to keep Semara. If you try, she’ll be murdered in her sleep.”

“But—”

“Yes, she’ll suffer at the hands of my sister, but Bendar will protect and love her. But to survive what awaits her, his love will not be sufficient. She must also have implanted memories of time with you. Make them glorious memories that wrap her in love and will carry her through the hard times ahead by allowing her to escape into a wondrous place.”

Weeping, Father
reached for me.

“No, there isn’t time
to escape,” Mother said, as if anticipating his next move. “Not if you’re to live. Semara and you must be here when I die. In our hidden place. Know that within the next three years Mandesa will capture you both. You must be strong. And when the day comes for you to escape, you must leave Semara behind. She is the only chance our people have to survive. Two others will join her to complete the Triune. And a friend will die.”

Sobbing, Father held me to him and reached for Mother.
“If we leave together now, she won’t find us. I know places that—”

Ship
engines roared overhead.

Mother knelt. Without fear of the
horrific death to come, she smiled up at us. “Go now. Bendar will meet you in the tunnel. He is the betrayer who will protect the child.”

“What
betrayer mean?” I asked, my lip quivering. I remembered the scared, confused feeling. The same deep, bone-aching, shaking with fear that had plagued since Ryder had distanced himself from me. Strangely, each time I’d faced death, I hadn’t felt like that scared little girl. It was only without Ryder at my side that fears and doubts reared their ugly heads.

Mother
cuddled me in her arms. “I love you, Semara. Take care of your father. He’ll give you a special gift. When you learn about it, you’ll resent him and then understand.”

“Scared, Mamma
.” I blubbered.

“
It’s time, Harrison. Take her and hide.”

The door slammed shut in my face. I
knew what happened next. With Gordon’s help, I’d already seen it. Yet, I clung to the wooden door, willing the past to change with the desperation of a three year old who still believed if she wished hard enough it’d come true.

You can’t change the past, only the future
, my darling. You must choose to be a weapon or a savior.
Mother whispered in my head.

“Why? What does the future hold? Am I to save our people? Will I fail them?
What do you mean a weapon?” I demanded in a weak, shaky voice.

My eyes widened. I hadn’t moved, yet I stood before a
n ornate door with three intricately carved panels. The bottom one contained a scene of people working and playing together. In the middle panel, the scene had changed. The people had turned on each other. A solitary woman outcast at the side. Ships, fire, mushroom clouds, cities in ruins, and zombies walking out of the mist filled the rest of the scene. To the other side of the scene a woman appeared again. This time, she wore a crown with her head thrown back as she laughed. Cities, forests, lakes, and laughing children filled the upper third. On the top panel, a simple carving displayed two couples with a golden halo surrounding them.

Before
I could touch it, the door swung open. Gunfire erupted in a rhythmic drumming and I cupped my ears against the booming noise. I saw myself and everyone I knew, grabbing children and racing for safety. Reaching a downed plane for cover, I glanced behind me. Annie sat screaming in the middle of the mayhem. I handed off the child in my arms and sprinted to her, yet no matter how fast my legs pumped, I couldn’t reach her. Heart pounding, smoke filling my lungs, I screamed, “Annie!”