Hellhole: Awakening (52 page)

Ishop fought down a gasp. He had not made the suggestion to Michella, but suddenly he knew that Laderna must have done it. He turned from side to side, looking at the faces crowded in the general audience chamber, until he spotted her. She was grinning at him.

Laderna was such a dedicated partner, devoting her energies to advancing his cause. Now he easily grasped her logic in making this revelation to the Diadem: By pointing out the forgotten proviso in the Charter that endorsed banishment for seven centuries, Laderna was setting the stage for Ishop to step forward with his own claim. Since the Diadem now used the proviso to punish Enva Tazaar, she therefore explicitly reaffirmed its legality. Thus, when Ishop presented his own case, the nobles would have no excuse not to follow the same proviso.

Even so, he had a knot in his stomach as he watched the heavy blow of disgrace fall on Enva Tazaar, and saw the dark, hate-filled expression she could not conceal. He knew this was exactly what had happened to his own noble family. At some point seven centuries hence, would a resourceful Tazaar descendant write a list of his or her own that included one of Ishop’s family members? It was too far in the future to think about. Seven hundred years was a long time.

After the jeers and catcalls subsided, Diadem Michella continued, smiling now. “Prisoner Tazaar, criminal sentencing will commence within the week, after I consult with my trusted nobles.” The old woman waved an arm dismissively, signifying that the soldiers were to remove Enva from the chamber. “You have stained Constellation history and poisoned your own bloodline for centuries. At least you can serve as a warning for anyone else planning treachery.”

Amid cheering and clapping, Ishop knew that Michella’s consultation with the nobles would be nothing more than symbolic. In fact, he was sure they would all endorse the Diadem’s suggestion of a death sentence. Lady Tazaar’s fate was a foregone conclusion.

But the odd displacement in his feelings gave him pause, and he made another consideration. Perhaps he should take a different stance himself, since he knew what his own family had endured for seven hundred years. Was it a twinge of conscience? Ishop wasn’t certain, because he had never known what a conscience felt like.

*   *   *

A day later, Sonjeera was shocked when “Adolphus loyalists” succeeded in removing Enva Tazaar from her cell and slipping her out of the highest security zone. It was a daring midnight escape, which showed extensive knowledge of the Council City prison system and secret-access passages in the bowels of the ancient building. The uproar and further scandal dominated the public’s attention so much that the Diadem’s announcement of several restored Crown Jewel stringline routes went unremarked.

Ishop had hired his freelance team with great care and briefed the operatives with every detail they needed. He had himself slipped in and out of the noble prison chambers many times before, most recently when he’d murdered Louis de Carre. This time he did not inform Laderna of his plans, though, still fearing she might have some innate jealousy toward Enva Tazaar. Instead, he took care of every detail himself.

He did not breathe a sigh of relief until he received word that Enva Tazaar had been slipped onto a small black-market trade ship and whisked away to the Deep Zone world of Tehila. The disgraced noblewoman never even knew the identity of her surprise benefactor, nor would she unless Ishop found a way to call in a favor. With a little rewriting of events and payoffs in the proper places, he might even find “proof” that Enva was innocent after all, and return her to prominence in the Constellation—when the time was right. If that ever proved beneficial.

With the task completed, he eliminated his well-paid operatives quickly and efficiently, tying up the loose ends.

Very soon, with Orsini and all the Tazaar holdings available, and with Diadem Michella fully convinced of his worth, Ishop Heer would formally enter the ranks of nobility and take his long-overdue place.

It was better than a fairy tale.

80

Within five hours of Escobar Hallholme’s acquiescence, General Adolphus prepared to travel up to the
Jacob,
where he would meet with his enemy and accept his surrender. Though he knew the significance of what was about to occur, Adolphus did not relish the humiliation of Commodore Hallholme’s son.

The General was not a vindictive person. He simply wanted the problem resolved and the Deep Zone planets kept safe from harm.

Escobar’s task force had been overconfident, and so foolish in their assumptions that they did not adequately prepare for battle. Without doubt, the Redcom would have ordered
his
execution upon capture, or perhaps brought him back to Sonjeera in chains so the Diadem could make an even greater spectacle of him.

At Elba, as he put on formal clothing, Sophie seemed more satisfied by the impending surrender ceremony than he was, but she did not gloat, either. The DZ worlds had already suffered too much pain, and they both felt compassion for the haggard and malnourished soldiers aboard the Constellation fleet. When he’d cut the stringline, Adolphus had never intended to put even his enemies through miserable months of deprivation. He knew how much the soldiers must hate him. Nevertheless, he had defeated them, and they were now his prisoners.

Sophie’s workers were already fencing off a large compound in the Slickwater Springs valley, where the prisoners would be held. They quickly erected tents, supply stations, prefabricated shelters—watched over by a contingent of armed guards.

“Those pampered Constellation troops don’t understand how rough Hellhole can be,” she said as she helped him with his uniform. “They might try to escape into the wilderness, thinking they can live off the land. Ha! The fences and guards will be mainly to save those people from their own stupidity.” She straightened his jacket, stepped back to appraise him. “You look so distinguished and handsome. I’m glad I bought back your jacket—it was worth every penny.”

Craig Jordan transmitted from the orbiting flagship that the Deck 3 meeting chamber was ready. The surrender ceremony could have been held in the much larger all-hands auditorium with the General’s loyal soldiers crowded in to watch the humiliation of the Constellation commander. Such an event would have twisted the knife, but Adolphus decided it was not necessary for Escobar Hallholme to suffer such indignity. Instead, he would broadcast the ceremony widely, and the inhabitants of Michella Town would watch and cheer the General’s victory.

An hour before the shuttle’s departure to rendezvous with the flagship, Devon and Antonia arrived at Elba, accompanied by Keana Duchenet. Along with all the shadow-Xayans here, they had been affected by the psychic backlash from the converts’ horrific deaths on Candela, which had occurred only moments after their gigantic release of telemancy to stabilize the planet’s seismic upheaval. Devon described the mental blow to all of them as an embrace of razors. The shadow-Xayans on Hellhole had been drained of energy and now struggled to regain their strength.

As they arrived, the General could tell from Keana’s animated and worried expression that her own personality was back in control of her mind, rather than the alien presence. “My husband is with the captured fleet?” She looked confused. “Why would Bolton come here?”

“He asked about you,” Adolphus said, “wanted to know if you are safe.”

Keana bit her lower lip. “I thought he wouldn’t even notice I had gone away. We’ve led separate lives for so long.”

“He
is
still your husband, Keana,” Sophie said.

The Diadem’s daughter shook her head, looking puzzled. “I must have disappointed him so much. Bolton’s not a bad man, and I didn’t mean to hurt him. We were both trapped in a sham marriage that was just a token alliance of powerful families. He’s done nice things for me before, but I didn’t think he cared much.”

“Well, he seems to,” Sophie said. “If he came all this way.”

“It does suggest an interesting opportunity for us,” Adolphus pointed out. “If Bolton Crais is concerned about you personally, Keana, maybe the two of you could negotiate some sort of détente between the Deep Zone and the Crown Jewels. He might be able to make Diadem Michella listen.”

“My mother listens to no one, but I’d like to attend the surrender ceremony nonetheless. I’d like an opportunity to speak with him.”

Devon and Antonia had offered to represent the shadow-Xayans during the surrender formalities; Adolphus had considered inviting Encix as well, but didn’t want to tip his hand about the aliens too soon. Keana Duchenet, a known convert, would be enough of a surprise.

Sophie sounded cheery as she hurried them to the Michella Town spaceport. “We can’t finish the surrender ceremony until we start it. Let’s get going. I’m sure Redcom Hallholme has other things to do today.”

*   *   *

Only moments after the General arrived aboard the
Jacob,
an emergency message drone hurtled in along the stringline from Candela. The recorded message from Administrator Tanja Hu broadcast on all frequencies as soon as it arrived at the Hellhole hub. “This is Candela, declaring an emergency!”

The General felt an immediate chill, afraid the Black Lord had somehow managed to dispatch an attack fleet after all, despite the damage the telemancy blast had inflicted on the Sonjeera hub.

On the imager, Tanja’s expression was drawn and urgent. “Two massive asteroids are on a collision course with this planet, with impacts to occur within a week. We are in the midst of a full-scale evacuation, but we don’t have the capacity. Send evacuation ships fast, General—as many as possible. We have to get our entire population off the planet.” Her voice hesitated, then cracked as she continued. “Please help us, General.”

He sat up straight. Asteroids on a collision course? “That’s not possible. Two at once, with impact in a few days?” But he knew Tanja Hu was not prone to wild fantasies. “We don’t even have time to verify her message.”

Craig Jordan was astonished and skeptical. “It could be a trick to lure away our defense ships, sir.”

Sophie looked at him. “We have to send everything we can, Tiber. We’ve defeated the Constellation fleet. How could this be a trick?”

He spread his hands, standing on the
Jacob
’s bridge. “All our crews have their hands full here. Most of my personnel are heading over to the captured ships for retooling.”

Jordan shook his head. “I still don’t like it, sir. The story’s not believable.”

Sophie crossed her arms over her chest, and he had seen that stubborn expression before. “We won’t be without ships. We’ve seized the enemy fleet and can convert them for our own defenses. Meanwhile, you have at least twenty large vessels you can dispatch right away—and you’ll barely have time as it is. No other DZ world can send help in time.”

Tanja’s message pod contained images of the two oncoming asteroids, each one gigantic enough to wipe out most life on Candela. Adolphus reviewed the data, knew he had no choice. “I’ve got to help her. If it’s a trick, then I will use my wits and resources to deal with it. If those asteroids really are hurtling in … I can’t risk being wrong. We need to save as many people as possible.”

Without further delay, he summoned two of the captured stringline haulers his military had just brought in from the new terminus at the edge of the system. “Load them with as many available ships as will fit in the docking clamps and launch—two hours maximum.” He shook his head, feeling naked to send away so many ships, but he could not turn a blind eye to such a desperate plea from one of his own planets.

He focused attention back to the ceremony at hand. “Now let’s get this surrender over with.”

*   *   *

Aboard the
Diadem’s Glory,
Bolton had a final meeting with the Redcom and Carrington before they departed for the General’s flagship. Bolton had little advice to offer his commander; his mind was exhausted from weeks of frantically seeking solutions to critical situations.

During their many weeks of desperate isolation, Escobar Hallholme had implemented the ruthless but necessary measures for survival. The Redcom would take the credit for them all, and the blame—with Bolton’s blessing. Even if this had been a flawless operation, with a complete victory over the rebels, Bolton would not have wanted any glory when they returned to Sonjeera.

And this had most certainly
not
been a flawless operation.

At least they could take satisfaction now that the last-ditch computer virus had been transmitted, and Bolton had bought the Constellation soldiers enough time to get to the surface. When the captured fleet began to surge out of control, it would be a dramatic and satisfying blow.

After their formal surrender, Redcom Hallholme, Carrington, and all surviving crewmembers would be out of the conflict, held prisoner until someone else defeated the General, or until some sort of peace accord was negotiated. Bolton dreaded living on that hellish planet, but took comfort from the fact that at least he might see Keana again, if he could find her. He would look into her eyes, talk to her, and try to figure out whether she was truly happy with the strange alien cult. Bolton had been unable to give his wife what she needed, but he didn’t begrudge her a chance for a contented life.

In his ready room, Escobar looked broken and miserable. “There is no way I can paint a cheerful picture of our situation. We’ve been soundly beaten, and I take responsibility as the fleet commander. But now I have to face facts and think about my soldiers. As the one in charge, my first duty is to keep the rest of them alive. I already have too much blood on my hands. Maybe saving them is one way I can earn back a glimmer of honor.” He heaved a sigh, and his shoulders slumped. “I will be satisfied with the small victory of keeping Adolphus from using our fleet. Thank you, Major Crais, for your modifications to the scuttling virus.”

“You are both fools, too willing to accept easy solutions.” Gail Carrington’s glare flashed from Escobar to Bolton. “Your first duty is to the Constellation and the Diadem, not to pamper your soldiers. They all knew the risks when they joined this expedition, and all were willing to die in order to make the mission succeed. We have a chance to cut off the head of the monster that threatens to devour our way of life.” She raised her voice. “And we
must
do so!”