Fragile Hope

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Fragile Hope - book excerpt

Prologue

Admiral Telixa Ethran peered through a large window that looked out on a field of stars against the eternal darkness of space. A darkness that was broken only by a cloud of blue gas that made an almost diagonal line from corner to corner. The Ra'toh Nebula was less than a lightyear away, and yet it loomed like a demon. The nearest Class-2 SlipGate was located there, which meant they could be surrounded by Leyrian ships in a matter of moments.

Telixa stood in a busy corridor with a black-tiled floor, her posture stiff, her hands clasped behind her back. People rushed past her, going this way and that, but she paid no mind to their hushed voices or muffled footsteps. Her thoughts were elsewhere.

“Admiral.”

Lifting her chin, Telixa felt her expression harden. She narrowed her eyes. “What can I do for you, Lieutenant?” With exquisite precision, she turned on her heel to face the young woman who had spoken.

Lieutenant Saera Ladon was short and petite with a pale complexion and red hair that she wore tucked under her gray officer's cap. The woman kept her gaze fixed on the floor tiles. “They're ready for you, ma'am.”

It was a short walk through a crowded hallway to reach the meeting room. Officers in gray uniforms saluted as she passed, and she favoured them with a glance or a nod, but she could not have named them. Not even one. So distracted was she that she would not have recognized her oldest childhood friend even if Lina Jhalia stood right in front of her.

A set of double doors opened into a room that was dominated by a large table in the shape of a crescent moon. The men and women who sat along the outer perimeter of that table all wore epaulettes that marked them as members of the Admiralty.

“Telixa,” Roan Divol said, rising from his chair. He was tall and well-muscled, but ten years behind a desk had gifted him with a bit of a paunch. His dark hair was marked by wings of gray over each ear. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

“Would any of you have delayed when summoned by the Admiralty Board?” Her curtness could be off-putting – Telixa knew that – but she was not the sort of person to engage in idle pleasantries.

Standing at attention with gloved hands balled into fists, Telixa nodded once. “Let's get to it then, shall we?” That made a few of them stiffen. Good. “When we learned about the Class-2 SlipGates, I recommended a policy of reconnaissance and observation.”

Telixa dropped into the nearest chair, crossing one leg over the other and running her gaze over the lot of them. “I now believe that the time has come for a more proactive approach.”

Admiral Toran Jaal, a dark-skinned man with a ring of thin, gray hair, drummed his fingers on the table. “Are you suggesting war?”

“I'm suggesting that we consider planetary security.”

At Telixa's command, the space station's central computer displayed a holographic representation of her battle with the Leyrians. Small fighters swarmed around her battlecruiser like angry hornets, each one spitting green or orange plasma. Shields flickered as they were struck.

“Until recently, our only contact with the Leyrians was in the form of long-range communications through the SlipGate Network. Based on their attitudes and their endless pleas for a cultural exchange, we assumed them to be a planet of pacifists with very little in the way of military technology. Easily conquered and no threat to anyone.”

Several of the admirals frowned at that; a few of them exchanged furtive glances. She knew some of them well. Others, however, were not much more than strangers. Dral Sovon would almost certainly favour an aggressive posture. Military might was a source of pride for the Ragnosian people; Dral was the sort who would not suffer a rival.

On the other hand, Rob Ixalon was all but guaranteed to advise caution. She could already hear his objections. A costly war with a reasonable chance of defeat should not be entered lightly.

Telixa stood up, facing them all with her hands folded behind herself, pursing her lips as she chose her next words. “We were wrong,” she said at last. “Leyrian technology is comparable to our own. Even superior in some cases.”

Admiral Jaal leaned back with his hands on the chair arms, appraising her. Was she supposed to wilt under his scrutiny? Any inclination to do so had been squelched a very long time ago. One did not learn the ways of command without developing a thick skin. “You will forgive me if I am hesitant to agree,” he said. “A lost battle, while unfortunate, is more indicative of a poor commander than it is of an unbeatable enemy.”

Perhaps that was supposed to rile her.

Crossing her arms, Telixa backed away until she was leaning against the wall. She shook her head slowly. “How little you understand the danger.” It was a biting comment but no worse than what Jaal had offered. “Computer, display footage from Cell Thirteen.”

The hologram rippled, fading away, and then a new one appeared in its place. This one showed Jack Hunter holding one of her security officers in an armlock and throwing the man face-first into a wall.

Several of the Admirals sat up straight as they watched another one of her officers step into the frame only to receive a kick to the belly from Hunter. The traitorous Novol Raan. Telixa would see him executed sooner or later. She took betrayal very personally.

“What are you implying?” That came from Admiral Jessi Vataro, a tall woman with dark eyes that were just a little too big, giving her a somewhat child-like appearance. “If the countermeasures that Slade provided are insufficient…”

Countermeasures.

They referred to creatures that had once been living, breathing and thinking human beings as “countermeasures.” Military officers did love their euphemisms. Perhaps it was the only way to ease the distasteful nature of what their jobs entailed.

Telixa stepped forward, held the other woman's gaze for a moment, and then let the ghost of a smile play across her lips. “These Justice Keepers disabled an entire deck of my ship,” she said. “They attacked critical systems, outmaneuvered security teams, battle drones and even Slade's pet. They are experts in the field of infiltration, and we have no way of measuring their number. If that doesn't frighten you, you are a fool.”

“Then what do you propose?” Roan Divol inquired.

“Computer,” Telixa said. “File Ethran 7B.”

A massive hologram of Leyria filled the space between the two prongs of the table. It was a lush world of green continents and blue oceans. Thin, white clouds drifted over mountain ranges, grassy lowlands, forests and cities.

A purple moon swung around the planet in a slightly elliptical orbit, turning slowly on its axis. “Our target should not be Leyria itself,” Telixa began. “But rather its primary moon: Laras.”

The moon grew larger and larger, pushing Leyria out of the way until it filled the space that its mother planet had occupied just a moment earlier. Through the thin, purple atmosphere, she could see craters and jagged rock formations on the surface. There were brief flashes, like lightning in storm clouds, but she knew them for what they really were.

“Laras is home to a strange species,” Telixa went on. “Organic cells permeate the atmosphere and communicate by electrical currents. Individually, they are…Well, they're nothing but cells. But together, they form a collective intelligence unlike anything that we have encountered before.

“The Leyrians have dubbed them 'Nassai,' and it is these Nassai that give the Justice Keepers their incredible power.”

Everyone looked nervous; they knew where she was going with this. Telixa forced herself to press on anyway. “Eliminating these Nassai is our primary objective. Sustained gamma-ray bursts should be enough to render the moon lifeless.”

Jessi Vataro shot out of her chair, her cheeks colouring as she watched the spinning moon. “You're talking about genocide!” she spat. “These Nassai are no threat to us.”

“But their masters are.”

“I will not take part in the extinction of an entire species.”

Telixa ignored her, opting instead to turn away from the others, and walked over to the door. She paused there, glancing back over her shoulder. “The Leyrians will make an adequate workforce, once they are properly civilized.”

“I see,” Admiral Jaal put in. “And you believe this to be a necessary step to ensure planetary security?”

With a quick about-face, Telixa rounded on them and strode back to the table. “I do indeed,” she said. “So, the question is: Do we have the stomach to do what is necessary? There's no way to covertly place ships in the Leyrian System. They'll detect our approach before we get within a dozen lightyears of their world.”

The hologram rippled as she walked through it, and then Telixa bent over with her hands on the table, staring Admiral Jaal right in the face. He recoiled as if he thought she might bite his nose off. “Which means any attempt to enter Leyrian Space would be an open declaration of war.”

The Queensboro Bridge stretched over the East River, its metal framework catching the light of a sinking that was just starting to dip behind the skyscrapers of Manhattan. A few boats were out on the river, but they were too far off to see him.

In cargo pants and a denim jacket, Nate stood with his arms crossed, his brown hair cut short. “So,” he said. “You got my money?”

The man who cowered against the metal railing that overlooked the river refused to make eye-contact. And Nate really couldn't blame him. Robbie was a skinny dude with pale skin, short dark hair and a mole on his cheek. “Half of it.”

“Half?”

“Okay, almost half.”

Tossing his head back, Nate felt creases lining his brow. “Gotta say, Robbie,” he began. “Things aren't lookin' good for you.”

Robbie flinched as if someone had waved a knife in his face and pressed his body even harder against the railing. The sound of his heavy breathing was so loud it should have drawn a crowd of people.

Except there were no people.

The strange creature that had bonded with him had given Nate eyes in the back of his head. He could sense the buildings behind him, trees along the sidewalk and even the odd person walking by. No one was close enough to pay him much attention.

He stepped forward, grabbing Robbie's shirt, pulling the man close so they were almost nose to nose. His lips parted to show clenched teeth. “I hooked you up with some damn good stuff.”

Robbie turned his face away, a tear leaking from the corner of his eye. He was shivering; he knew perfectly well what Nate could do. “So,” Nate continued. “I'm giving you two weeks to pay me or-”

He shut up right quick when he sensed a silhouette coming up behind him. As the figure got closer, he could tell that it was a small woman with long hair. Now, what did this bitch want? Nate would gut her right here and now if he hadn't spent the last nine months trying to stay off the Keepers' radar. He knew what his powers were, and he knew what those god damn aliens would do if they got their hands on him.

“Is this what passes for a suitable host these days?”

Releasing Robbie, Nate whirled around to find the woman standing just behind a bench that faced the river. She was short and slender and kind of hot in a white sundress with thin straps.

She had a round face, olive skin and long dark hair that fell to her shoulder-blades. “Harassing street vermin,” she said. “Can you think of no better use of your power?”

“Who the hell are you?”

She stepped forward with a sexy smile that made him want to cut that dress off her body and actually reached up to lay a hand on his cheek. Instinct told Nate that he should have pulled away, but he allowed it.

Closing his eyes, Nate breathed deeply as he savored the warm touch of her hand on his skin. “All right,” he muttered. “You got guts, lady. I'll give you that. Now tell me what you want.”

“Concentrate,” she said. “Focus on the sensations you get from your symbiont. Do not think. Just feel…”

There was something about her…Something strange. The creature Nate had Bonded was reacting to her in some way. No…No, it was reacting to another of its kind. This lady had one too! Was she a Justice Keeper?

“Who are you?”

He opened his eyes to find her smiling up at him, and to his shock, she stood up on her toes to give him a peck on the cheek. “I'm called Valeth,” she said. “And I'm pleased to see that the rumors are true. You inherited Flagg's symbiont.”

“Who?”

“All will be explained to you in time.”

Valeth snapped her fingers.

Some Asian dude who had been leaning against a streetlight on the sidewalk heard the noise and came stomping up behind her. He reached up to lower his sunglasses so he could peek over the rims. “Forget what you have seen here.”

Nate looked about in confusion.

Only then did he remember Robbie, and when he turned around, the dumb-ass was slumped against the railing with a dull glaze in his eyes and drool leaking from the corner of his mouth.

“Forget,” the Asian guy said. “And never trouble Nathaniel again.”

Just like that, Robbie shuffled off with his hands in the pockets of his sweater and his head bowed. Nate had never seen anything like it. He'd heard rumors about telepaths and the strange things they could do, but they were supposed to live on Leyria or Antaur or one of the other worlds that he couldn't pronounce. They weren't supposed to be living here on Earth.

Baring his teeth, Nate turned his gaze on the strange woman. “That guy owes me a lot of money,” he whispered. “You should have told him to pay me before you sent him away.”

Valeth smiled up at him, and for a moment, he thought she meant to pay Robbie's debt in a way that would almost make up for the lost cash. Then she chuckled and turned away from him. “The time has come for you to embrace a grander view of the universe.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Come with me. Together, we will discover your true potential.”

The soft patter of rain on her living-room window was soothing. Almost soothing enough to put her to sleep, but every time she started to drift, stress pulled her right back to full consciousness. Her Nassai was beginning to worry.

Curled up on the couch in a tightly-belted maroon robe, Larani pressed her cheek into the pillow and tried to rest. For once, she had allowed herself to go home early. She had planned on curling up with a good book, but the fatigue made her want to just sit and do nothing.

She rolled onto her back, scrubbed a hand over her face and pushed her hair out of her eyes. “Yes, I know,” she whispered for the symbiont. “I should get some sleep.”

It wasn't easy.

The pile of things that demanded her attention just seemed to keep growing. Now there were rumors of people with Keeper abilities hijacking ships on the Fringe. Slade's people, no doubt. She had ordered two of her best teams to investigate, but so far, they had found no answers.

Agent Hunter's recent encounter with the Ragnosians left her with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. The Sub-Council on Planetary Security was still trying to decide just how much of that story should be released to the general public. Things were already tense enough without inflaming the xenophobes who would use news of Ragnosian ships on this side of the galaxy as justification for their vitriol.

Speaking of xenophobia, Dusep's popularity was rising. The latest poll numbers all said that he had a strong chance of winning over a quarter of the electorate. Just ten short years ago, a man who displayed such open hostility to foreigners would never have found mainstream acceptance. There was little chance of him defeating Sarona Vason, but little chance was not no chance.

She kept thinking that she ought to be doing something to stop that man's rise to power, but politics was not her province. The Justice Keepers protected the innocent; they did not set public policy. Jack kept insisting that he had an idea, but he was dragging his feet in doing whatever it was he intended to do. So far, Larani had decided not to push him. After his ordeal last month, he needed rest.

On the coffee table, her multi-tool beeped.

“Answer call,” Larani mumbled. “Audio only.”

It surprised her when the Prime Council's voice came through the speaker. Sarona Vason had a curt way of speaking that made you want to sit up and pay attention. “Larani, I hope I'm not disturbing you.”

A yawn stretched Larani's mouth, a yawn that she covered with the palm of one hand. Her eyes dropped shut despite her best efforts. “Not at all,” she said. “What can I do for you, Prime Council?”

“Turn on the video,” Sarona barked. “I want to see you.”

Standing up with a sigh, Larani tied her belt even tighter and then nodded. “Allow video call,” she said. “Holographic display.”

The ghostly figure of an older woman in gray pants and a smart jacket appeared above her coffee table. Sarona Vason had a stern but kindly face of dark skin. Her short, curly hair had gone white a very long time ago. “My apologies,” she said when she saw Larani. “I didn't mean to disturb you.”

“No disturbance. What can I do for you?”

“My office just received an interesting message from the Antaurans,” Sarona began. “It seems they want to talk peace.”

Standing before the other woman with her arms folded, Larani shook her head. “We have made countless attempts to bring them to the negotiating table,” she said. “And they have ignored every one. What changed?”

The Prime Council shut her eyes and let out a slow breath. “I wish I could say,” she replied at last. “Their message was rather short and to the point. They have extended an invitation to a summit that they hope will result in a formal alliance between Leyria and Antaur.”

“To what end?”

“I don't know,” Sarona replied. “But it wouldn't surprise me if the Ragnosians have been encroaching on their territory as well.”

Hunching up her shoulders as a shiver ran down her spine, Larani nodded. “Better the devil that you know…”

“I beg your pardon?”

“An Earth saying,” Larani clarified. “Whatever animosity they may feel for us, the Antaurans know that we will leave them alone. The Ragnosians, on the other hand, have made numerous aggressive actions.”

The Prime Council turned and began pacing a line, though the hologram remained fixed in place. “Yes, that was my assessment as well,” she said. “And there is one other thing. The Antaurans have invited Earth.”

“Earth?”

“I received confirmation from the United Nations Security Council this morning. As you've no doubt surmised, we'll be sending a delegation of Keepers to accompany the Diplomatic Corps. I want Lenai and Hunter to be part of that delegation.”

Larani sat down on the couch with fingertips covering her mouth, her eyebrows slowly rising. “That could be a problem,” she said. “The boy has a head for politics, but he's unpredictable and disdainful of rules he doesn't like.”

“A typical Keeper then.”

“Lenai, on the other hand, is one of the most talented investigators I've ever seen.” Sarona's withering glare made it clear that she wasn't interested in Larani's objections, but Larani pressed on anyway. “But she's blunt. One glimpse of the way Antaurans treat the disabled as second-class citizens, and she will almost certainly say something to upset the talks. It may be wiser to send more seasoned officers.”

Sarona whirled around to face the camera with her fists on her hips, and before the woman uttered one word, Larani knew the argument was over. “Those two represent one of our greatest accomplishments,” she said. “The first Earther to Bond a Nassai and the woman who brought him into the fold. They're a symbol, one that we very much need if these talks are to have any chance of success.”

“I suppose I can't argue with that.”

“Good,” Sarona said. “Then have them prepped. They'll be leaving in a few days.”