yet, to make him blush. “Shall we send the lab results to the press? I have a journalist waiting madly for any type of news.”
“Don't bring him any news.”
“It's a her, and why not?”
“I just spoke with Chase; he wants nothing to do with any scandal. He wants to win this campaign race his own, fair way.”
“Ahh, so he's like his uncle, I see.”
“And, like you, Savannah.”
“We made it our way—the honest way—and so will he,” she replied.
The Admiral frowned as other thoughts outside of Chase entered his mind. “There's something going on, Savannah. And, I don't think my being honest about it is going to get me anywhere.”
“Oh? I'm not quite understanding, Admiral.”
“I'm on a lead, Savannah. I'll let you know more about it later.”
“Does it have anything to do with the poison?”
“Perhaps, although I fear it is something bigger, but I haven't uncovered everything.”
“I see,” she said. “You are always straight up and honorable with me, James, so I will trust you on this one. Is there anything you need from me? Can I help in any way?”
“Yes. I need you to protect my nephew. He is naïve, much like we were. Things are changing here in the governance and in Star Guild. It's becoming more dangerous than it has ever been and he needs a patrol around him at all times watching those who might be watching him. But Chase must not be aware of this patrol. Do you understand?”
“Completely. I'll send Sphere 6's best. My security details are to be trusted.”
“Thank you, Savannah.”
Admiral Byrd clicked off the com link, then peered out at his open doorway and down the hall, seeing no one coming or going. He spoke, “Close,” and the door shut. He turned in his chair and stared out of the large port windows and into space, touching his chest, squeezing a pendant that was under his shirt.
Make Chase safe; of all people, make him safe.
2 Months Before the Attack
Connor stared at a book his mother gave him right before he left for Star Guild Academy a few years ago. It was titled Be Love, by Anonymous. There were many books by this anonymous character and Connor had done little to read through any of Anonymous's books, especially this one.
He opened it, seeing the first chapter's titled, To Be. He read the first sentence.
To Be is the ultimate Love. To Be is To Be You—fully. When you let things go, let them flow, then the Universe opens up to you in a way a rose opens up to the sun. The only way love is allowed to stream inside of you without blockage is To Be, and To Be is To Allow. In one way, Love just happens and just is. In another way, it can only happen inside of you if you Allow it freedom to express itself through you. The best—
Connor closed the book, slouching in his chair. He wasn't too into his mom's strange ways, but his mom did seem to love most others and even herself, relentlessly, so perhaps these books by Anyonymous had something to them. Or, maybe the reason his mother was so nosy was because of these books. Who knew?
He placed the book on a cardboard box, then stared at all the boxes around him. Most were still not unpacked.
This was his first day in this plush apartment. He had just moved from a two month temporary housing situation set up by the admiral in Sphere 3's East Side blocks and was now in this attractive West Side building, closest to the giant biosphere that sat in the middle of the starbase. This biosphere fed all the streams and rivers that flowed through each and every Sphere, and supplied all the oxygen for the starbase, pumping it via a strange process with giant trees and salt lake planktons that Connor never quite understood. The biosphere kept the starbase and its inhabitants alive. It fed them, quenched their thirst, and was their main source of nature and beauty.
He eyed a yellow piece of paper on another box in the kitchen and walked over, picking it up. It was something he had read several times on this day. It was his rent invoice that itemized his four bedrooms, two baths, a hot tub, and a sauna, along with a view of the entire main city. The price: 3,000 bulvas a month.
He sighed. It had cost nothing to live at Star Guild Academy, but at the Academy he had to share a room. It cost nothing to stay in the temporary housing he was just in, but there he could feel, hear, and see dysfunctional people everywhere. At least here, in his new and expensive living arrangements, he could sleep, cook, and breathe without anyone else bothering him.
Why didn't I just get a studio costing me a fraction of this? This better pan out.
He let the paper slip from his fingers, watching it glide across the air, then slide across the ebb rock tile where it landed. It had been months, and so far all he had to show for his agreement with Admiral Byrd was this apartment. He had left his friends, lost his cadet ranking in Star Guild Starfighter Division, and his place in Star Guild vanished altogether. And even though Admiral Byrd cleared his name with the cheating scandal in the SGAG's, there was still the suspicious gaze from others. To make things worse, no one would know of his discharge from Star Guild Military. He'd just disappear and dissolve into the civilian masses, acting like one of them for the rest of his life. Whatever legacy he could have had was gone, deleted, along with his dreams of the future.
Why did I agree to this? Why so easily?
Money.
He wanted to cry, feeling that his new role in life, and what he agreed upon with the admiral, was not a wise choice. Not at all. He should have fought tooth and nail against the allegations and lies against him in order to remain a Star Guild pilot.
He leaned his hip against the kitchen counter, his head drawn low, his eyes welling up. He ran his fingers through is hair, wondering how disheveled it was, being that it had been more days than he could remember since he'd even thought of taking a shower.
The com link buzzed, and he softly spoke out loud, “Answer.” The com link turned on.
“Where have you been?”
I need to start screening my calls, he thought. “Hi, Ma.”
“What's the matter?”
“How did you get this number?”
“Star Guild headquarters gave it to me. Your other number isn't working. So, what's the matter?”
“Nothing, why?”
“I can hear it in your voice, Connor. What's going on? Are you still sad about the SGAG's?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, you didn't cheat and you shouldn't feel ashamed about it. How is your roomie?”
“Who?”
“Marty. How is Marty? He was such a nice guy when I met him. Did he pass starfighter training?”
“Mom, his training test was over a year ago.”
“Well, did he pass?”
“Yeah.”
“You're still rooming with him, aren't you? Such a nice guy.”
Connor looked around, seeing the apartment glow with space, much more than even a family of four needed, and of course, he didn't see Marty.
“Connor?” asked his mom.
“I'm here, Ma.”
“Well?”
“Yes, I'm still rooming with him here at Star Guild Academy.”
“When you graduating, dear?”
He wanted to tell her everything, tell her that he would never graduate, and that he would never wear a Star Guild uniform ever again, but he couldn't. He wanted to tell her that he wasn't living at Star Guild Academy anymore, and that he had been tricked to give up everything, and from this day forward, he would live a lie for the rest of his life.
“I'm postponing that, Ma.”
“Why would you do something like that?”
Connor started pacing. He wasn't good at lying and it never came natural to him, so he just didn't do it. But today he had to, and yesterday, and the weeks prior, he had to. And, from now on, for the rest of his existence—he had to.
“I'm extending my college career here for another four years to become an—”
“Four years? What are you nuts? I've never heard of s
uch a thing.”
“It's to become an officer, mom.” He started stroking his hair with his hand, tugging at the back of his head at every lie he gave to the woman he loved most in the universe.
“Oh, I see. To become an admiral or something? A captain just isn't good enough for you, honey?”
“It's good enough.”
“You know, all of your ancestors in the Jay line—”
Connor nodded his head up and down as he continued to pace, interrupting his mother. “I know, I know. We are always captains.”
“You don't need to go to officer training for that, Connor.”
You did, but Connor didn't correct her. “I know.”
“Why is it so quiet there? It's never quiet there.”
Connor squeezed the skin on the back of his neck. “Mom, 'cause Marty is sleeping. And, I have to go, Ma, okay?”
“You just don't sound right, dear.”
“Mom, I gotta go. They need me.”
“Alright. I want to come and visit soon.”
“Mom, you're not well. You can barely walk. I'll visit you, okay?”
“Alright, but soon.”
“Yes, soon. Bye, Ma.”
“Bye, dear. I love you so very much. You make me proud.”
The com link clicked off, and not a moment later did it buzz again. He rolled his eyes. “Answer,” he bellowed. “Mom, I will come visit you soon, okay?”
“I've never been called Mom in my life. It makes me feel...mmm...feminine.”
The voice was low and thick, confident.
“Admiral Byrd?”
“It's time. Pack your bags. You're leaving at 1300 hours.”
Connor looked at the clock. “It's 1100 hours now.”
“That's right. You got two hours. Meet me in Matrona's Sphere 1 docking bay. We're docked there.”
“Who is docked there, sir?”
“Starship Brigantia.”
“Sir, they won't let me on that ship, let alone even travel to that Sphere. I'm no longer with Star Guild, as you well know. I can't get into Sphere 1 without security clearance.”
“Check the left drawer in your bathroom. I'll see you in two hours. Out.”
“Admiral? Admiral?” No answer.
Connor went into the bathroom and opened the left drawer. There he saw a note, electric hair clippers, and an ID badge, with the name Sonny Jones printed on top. The only problem with the ID was that it didn't have a picture on it, let alone a picture of himself.
He read the note: Cut your hair off completely. Stare at the ID badge for ten seconds until it takes a picture of you and images on the ID badge. Then go to the hoversation and catch a hovertrain to Sphere 1. You'll be escorted to me upon exiting Sphere 1's hoverstation. Signed, Admiral Byrd.
“How did he know I was here? How did he know I was going to move here?” he questioned.
Connor took the clippers and stared at the mirror. His eyes were tired and shadows sat under each one. He hadn't slept much and he could tell by his sunken cheeks that he hadn't eaten much lately, either. Plus, his dark skin didn't radiate like it used to and his thick hair was unkempt and in need of a cut. He had lost touch with himself and with his usual Star Guild diet and workout routine.
The door to his apartment suddenly opened. Loud and fast footsteps came down the hallway toward him. Connor peered around the bathroom doorway and saw two heavy-set men about his height, advancing. The one in the back had a phaser, the one in the lead had an ebb crowbar.
Connor dropped his clippers. “Can I help you?”
The man in front was now a couple of feet away. He bared his teeth and squinted his eyes, then swung the crowbar at Connor, grunting in the process.
Connor ducked and the crowbar smashed into a portion of the ebb frame of the doorway, cracking and chipping the thin ebb material.
Connor's adrenaline kicked in and he pushed the large man, then kicked at him with a straight leg, connecting to the man's chest and he fell against the man in the rear.
It did little, but bought him a few seconds.
“Get down, Roj!” growled the man with the phaser, pointing his gun at Connor. His companion ducked, opening a clear shot.
An almost silent blast, imitating the sound of someone quickly sucking in air, filled the hallway. Then another. Connor naturally covered his body with his hands and arms, curling up into a ball, spinning away, and doing his best to protect his vital organs from being sliced through by phaser fire. He fell to the floor, hearing one thud, then another.
“Get up. We have to leave now.”
Turning around Connor saw the two large men on the floor, unconscious or dead. He didn't know which and at that moment he didn't care. He glanced up to see a man in Star Guild uniform, holding a phaser of his own. He was clearly a Marine, and a Marine he knew well.
“Sergeant Manning?”
“Aye, cadet. Get up. We don't have much time.” Manning gestured toward Connor's front door.
Connor looked down at the two men. “Are they dead?”
Manning tapped his gun with his other hand. “I had it on stun.”
Connor nodded, his heart still racing. “But I need to pack. Admiral Byrd told me to pack.”
“None of what Admiral Byrd said or wrote was what Admiral Byrd wanted you to do.” Manning walk down Connor's hall and out his front door, finding himself in the main hallway of this building's floor.
Connor followed him, shaking his head. “Wait! What?”
“Stop questioning, we gotta go.” Manning headed down a flight of steps, halting on the next landing, waiving Connor to come with him, then he disappeared down another flight of steps.
Connor shrugged and headed down the staircase, wondering why they just didn't use the elevator.
When they came to the street level door Manning pushed it open, ushering in daylight.
“In!” ordered Manning.
“In?”
Manning grabbed Connor's arm and pulled him toward a hovercar. “Yes, get in.”
The hovercar was black, long and slick, and was parked in a hover on the side of the street and next to the sidewalk. Hovercars zoomed by one after another, their reflections streaming on the long mirrored windows of the big skyscraper across the street.
Manning opened the hovercar's back door, practically pushing Connor onto the long and soft rear seat. The door then slammed and Manning opened the driver's door, jumping in.
“Get your restraints on. We're heading to Shadow Watt's place.”
Connor belted himself in. “Where?”
Manning looked over his shoulder. “You'll see. It's just off of West 9th and Glisan.”
“But that's across town. We need to get to Sphere 1.”
Manning started the hovercar and pressed on the gas, lurching it forward at an incredible speed. “Admiral Byrd doesn't want anyone knowing where you're going. They’re watching Admiral Byrd, so everything he said to you on the com link and everything written to you on that letter, was all a lie. You're heading someplace no one knows about.”
“Who's watching him?”
Manning shrugged. “We don't know yet. But it's a group that doesn't have humanity’s best interests at heart.”
“Sleuth?”
“That asshole is part of it, we think. The other part is most likely Zim.”
“The Prime Director?”
Manning chuckled. “Do you know of any other Zim?”
Connor slapped his hand against his forehead. Not good!
Admiral Byrd made a comment to him month's earlier about Zim, but Connor didn't take it too seriously. His mind had been on the money, not the missions.
The money.
It was a lot. It was more than a lot. He could live comfortably for years with just a couple missions under his belt.
But what's the point? he thought.
If he couldn't spend any of the money he earned, since he'd probably be on some evil group's death list from this point forward, doing their best
to find him and track his movements, then these missions would only get him in deep trouble. In order to stay safe, he couldn't expose himself, couldn't buy expensive things, let alone live in highrise apartments. He'd have to be in hiding. He'd have to live as if he didn’t exist. He couldn't visit his mom except under cloud of midnight.
What the Guild did I sign up for?
He signed up for hell.
Manning pulled the hovercar over. “We're here.”
The ride from his apartment to here only took five minutes, so where Manning stopped clearly wasn't on the Westside. “This isn't West 9th and Glisan.”
Manning put his finger to his lips, saying, “We're safe here. Get out.”
When Connor exited the hovercar he saw the admiral with his arms folded and standing outside the entrance of a vacant warehouse—several windows shattered with the paint peeling off the outside walls. The warehouse leaned as if it were about to fall over.
Manning gestured toward Admiral Byrd. “Go, please. I'm taking off once you get inside.”
Connor nodded and headed over to Admiral Byrd, about to salute, then realized he was a civilian now, never to salute again.
The Admiral opened a clanky, loud squeaking door and motioned for Connor to walk into the warehouse. “Sorry for the surprises, Connor.”
“It's okay, sir.”
The admiral shut the door and Connor immediately smelled mold and rust. The daylight that leaked through the holes in the roof showed hundred-year old equipment scattered around the warehouse.
“This way, Connor.”
They walked to the far side of the warehouse and came to two large doors.
“I'll need help with these,” said Admiral Byrd, reaching for one of the door's thick handles. “You grab the other one and pull hard.”
Connor grasped the other handle and walked backwards, slowly moving the door. “Why are these so Guildin' heavy?”
“To dissuade anyone from entering past this point.” Admiral Byrd gave a last tug. “That's fine right there. Step through.”
The Admiral led the way, sliding sideways between the two doors, sucking in his gut. Connor followed.
Down a short hallway they came upon a small garage door with a chain on one side of it. The admiral tugged on the chain, crossing one hand over the other as he pulled down, opening the garage door.
“Step in,” said the Admiral, walking inside.
Connor stepped in. “Where are we going, sir?” He looked around the over-sized elevator, probably used for large equipment in the past.
“You'll see.” He pressed a large red button and they started to descend.
Admiral Byrd started whistling and Connor folded his hands in front of him and looked down at his feet—the silence was a little uncomfortable. He cleared his throat.
The admiral continued to whistle.
After a few long minutes the platform clanked and shuddered to a stop. Admiral Byrd pulled on a chain again, opening a different door.
Connor mouth gaped open. “What the Guild?”
“Welcome to Shadow Watt's layer,” smiled Admiral Byrd.
Connor had never heard of Shadow Watt, but by the looks of things, this guy was beyond rich. Underneath the city, and unbeknownst to Connor and probably 99.9% of the inhabitants of Starbase Matrona, was a palace with white columns and a twenty-foot ceiling, as well as a small stream running through the place, and to top it off, a small bridge arching over the stream.
Connor stepped onto the luxurious white palace flooring that was streaked with pretty specs of gold and clear rocks that glittered.
A lone man sat on a red sofa in the