It wasn’t until four hours later, after Vaikyur had come off-duty, that he and Eiron returned to the privacy of the Senkaya-Sukura’s quarters for a glass of urbin root spirits and a lot of catching up.
Vaikyur was careful to activate his personal scrambler before the two took a seat on the sofa and chair in Vaikyur’s living area. As long as the faint whine of the device could be heard, they wouldn’t have to worry about whether or not someone was trying to monitor their conversation.
“So you’ve known about our Orian enemy all this time.” Eiron said after a while. “That the Great Leader is Beren’s nephew, that he seeks revenge for Tiasenne’s break with Orian and our violation of the co-existence peace treaties. And that’s why people say you sympathized with them.”
Vaikyur looked surprised, then shrugged unapologetically. “I told you all that you needed to know.” He insisted gruffly, gesturing in the air with his glass.
“I understand all that.” Eiron dismissed his defensive protests. “I know about your visit to Selesta.”
“My what?”
“Alessia told me everything.”
“Alessia? You mean she’s still alive?” Vaikyur balked. “But that’s impossible. When I knew her she had lived here at least fifteen years, and that was fifty-three years ago.” So she was indeed an ancient being, perhaps even immortal—as he had long suspected.
“She saved my life.” Eiron answered calmly. “I would have died if she hadn’t pulled me to safety and taken care of my injuries. Then about a month after the crash, she brought me to Selesta.”
“Then her ship is still there?” Vaikyur swallowed, his eyes glistening with interest.
“Yes.” Eiron nodded, unsuccessfully trying to suppress any outward show of feeling about this.
Vaikyur chuckled at his grandson’s enthusiasm, a reminiscent smile forming around the corners of his mouth, his eyes crinkling.
“You don’t remember,” he began, “but those stories about Selesta always fascinated you when you were a child.”
“You’re right, I don’t remember.” Eiron returned, confused.
“I understand.” Vaikyur nodded. “Your mother used to tell them to you.” He explained. “She was a lot like you, you know. Melain loved those stories when she was a little girl. I guess when she died, I tried to put those memories behind me.”
“You told them to her?”
“Yes.” Vaikyur sighed. “I guess that’s how I always knew there must be some truth to the stories,” he added cryptically, then went on in explanation. “I grew up in Inen, under the shadow of an unknown ship surrounded by rumor. I remember seeing it once from the transport tunnel skyway to the Aerospace Museum.”
“What skyway?” Eiron asked, bemused.
“Well, they’ve torn it down since then. The tunnel used to be fifteen deci-nariars above ground in those days, when it linked the museum to the top of the traffic tower. That was before we built the underground tunnels for the safety of our people.” Vaikyur added, reconstructing the city in his mind as it had been in his youth.
“Anyway, you could see the ship at the edge of the city for years. I remember it seemed to stretch halfway to Ernestia. Then one day it disappeared.” Vaikyur smiled with the memory.
“Grandfather, I have an idea that might end the war.” Eiron interrupted his reverie, avoiding his grandfather’s questioning gaze and rising from the sofa. He began to pace about the room. “And I’ll need your help.”
Vaikyur raised an eyebrow but said nothing, so Eiron continued.
“Sargon wanted to use Alessia’s ship to escape the system and find a new home for his people.”
“A reasonable request, under the circumstances.” Vaikyur said.
“Except that she doesn’t trust him. But if we don’t do something about Orian soon, he’ll try to force us to accept the refugees as colonists. If we refuse, we’ll have a real war on our hands.”
“Sargon isn’t the negotiable type.” Vaikyur agreed. “I’ve watched for signs of a new Great Leader.”
“But each attack on our remote sectors bears evidence that the situation hasn’t changed?” Eiron guessed. “We can’t wait forever, grandfather. We have to try something.”
Vaikyur agreed privately, but what could be done?
“What are you on about?” Vaikyur asked, intrigued.
“We’ve got to urge the High Command to negotiate.”
“Do you really think they would?” Vaikyur chuckled.
“They don’t know about Orian’s situation. Maybe some of them would listen. A lot of them would listen to you, anyway.”
“All right,” Vaikyur conceded. “I’ll try. But they aren’t afraid of Orian. Only a very few among them will care.”
“I’ve seen evidence that Orian’s building up an aerial force.” Eiron countered.
“Okay.” Vaikyur laughed. “Why are you so determined?”
“Alessia’s ready to come out of hiding.” Eiron said. “She wants to get the Orians safely away before the destruction of Orian.” Eiron ignored Vaikyur’s expression of surprise. He knew that Vaikyur had long suspected something of that nature would happen.
“But she also wants to protect us.” Eiron continued.
“We’re at a stalemate now.” Vaikyur reminded him.
“Exactly. But what if we were to build a rescue ship based on the designs of her ship’s engines? Dangle it over the Great Leader’s head and see what happens?”
“Even if Sargon does agree to peace, there’s no telling if he’ll honor it.” Vaikyur insisted.
“Exactly why we’d need something in our corner. A flagship to defend us.”
“And if we lose the battle?” Vaikyur asked tiredly. “If Sargon opts for mutual annihilation?”
“We’ll make the ship big enough that we can escape Tiasenne if we have to.” Eiron said. “We won’t want to use it for that, but it would give us an advantage.”
“I still think he won’t buy it. And we might not have time or space to get everyone out. So why don’t we just wait until Sargon dies?” Vaikyur asked and poured himself a drink from the decanter on the table before him.
Eiron stopped pacing, his brow furrowing as he considered whether or not to go on and how to phrase his words.
“We can’t.” He said simply.
“Why not?”
“Sargon isn’t going to die. He’s like her—like Alessia.” Eiron said. Vaikyur’s eyes flickered, but he was not really shocked, only surprised that his own wild suspicions had been confirmed.
“‘They fell before the power of immortals. But they shall rise again.’“ Vaikyur quoted, almost poetic under the influence of alcohol.
“What’s that?” Eiron asked.
“Oh,” Vaikyur shook his head. “It’s an ancient inscription. They found it etched in a stone outside Inen when Mourier put in the new northern Inen air base.”
“What does it mean?” Eiron asked, allowing himself a moment’s distraction.
“I have no idea.” Vaikyur said. “But I think I ‘m beginning to understand.”
“You are?” Eiron asked, confused.
“Yes,” Vaikyur said. “We’re the losers here.”
“What do you mean?” Eiron demanded, a little annoyed.
“Win or lose the battle, it doesn’t matter. We shouldn’t interfere in the affairs of immortals fighting against each other. We’re the only ones who can be hurt.”
“But—”
“Oh, I’m not saying we’re so innocent, or that we have any other choice but to fight.” Vaikyur waved away Eiron’s protest. “I’ll be the first to try to stop this bastard, no matter what the consequences might be.
“Just tell me one thing,” Vaikyur added. “Why hasn’t Alessia done anything until now?”
“She never told you?”
“Yes, but that was a long time ago. I expected something sooner, but I guess if she is an immortal, then she doesn’t have to be in any hurry.”
“I see your point.” Eiron admi
tted. “Honestly, I don’t know. It’s strange, though—when I was on Selesta, I had the feeling that—but it’s probably only a guess.” He shook his head.
“What?”
“That there’s someone else there, telling her what to do,” Eiron finished. “And she’s trying to resist for some reason. Whether it’s someone real or just in her own mind, I don’t know. But whatever it is, it’s got her. Tying her hands, I guess you could say.”
“Her conscience perhaps?” Vaikyur laughed.
“I think there’s more to it.” Eiron disagreed. “She told me her people once practiced mind control, like the Orians.”
“Sounds like an excuse.”
“She never used it like that. It’s just my opinion. Anyway, she’s doing something now. And she tried to give me her ship’s engine plans.”
“You refused them, I suppose?”
Eiron nodded. “I looked at them, but I couldn’t understand what I saw very well.”
“You think you can do it, though?” Vaikyur wondered. “Come up with something bigger and better than the Baidarka without any help?”
“I don’t really have a choice.” Eiron said. “Alessia’s calling in a favor, so I’ve got to try.”
“Ok.” Vaikyur laughed. “But it’s about time you used your Field of Specialization from the Academy. I’ve always said you’re as talented a Spaceship Engineer as your father was.”
“I knew you’d like the idea.” Eiron sighed. “Anyway, I need your permission and supply clearance to begin the construction of evacuation ships.”
“‘Ships’?” Vaikyur asked.
“You’re right. One won’t do it. At least, we couldn’t risk just one being successful. And we’ll need enough for both Orian and Tiasenne.”
“And where would we go, assuming we have to leave Tiasenne?”
“Alessia says we can survive on Bayria.”
“I’d rather stay here,” Vaikyur shrugged.
“So would I,” Eiron agreed. “And if the negotiations go well, we could help transport the Orians here, or evacuate them to Bayria if the negotiations fail and Orian becomes unlivable.”
“I can see you’ve already given the situation a great deal of thought, Eiron.” Vaikyur nodded his approbation. “I’ll organize the clearance petitions and send a few construction engineers over to you first thing in the morning so you can work out the details. I assume, then, that you’ve completed your engine blueprints?”
“I sure have.” Eiron laughed. “But I’ll have all of the documents brought to you before work on the outer hull components are completed.”
“One more thing.” Vaikyur rose halfway and turned his head slightly to keep Eiron’s attention when it was clear that Eiron had finished. “If anyone asks, these ships are to be prototypes—new defense space cruisers you’re testing out. Don’t let Ezáitur find out about them until we’ve seen how the negotiations go.” Vaikyur sat down again heavily on his chair.
“Yes, sir.” Eiron started to leave.
“It’s good to have you back.” Vaikyur added, cherishing his grandson’s answering smile before the door closed behind him.
But he sat moments longer on his favorite chair, considering what Eiron had left unsaid.
He’d had his own suspicions years before when he had met Alessia. Vaikyur had understood that more was going on than Alessia had led him to believe.