Freedom Saga 2: Freedom's Bell (25 page)

A
few days passed before word of Zaris’s death reached all of the outposts of the
Malcovin military. Once the news was known the colonial garrisons surrendered
to the people. The Columbia and Sicily bases stayed in orbit over the Malcovin
home world as the crowds below celebrated their newfound freedom. The Malcovin
crew members on all the ships, including Dreka and Grigon, went down to the
surface to join in the festivities. Veda watched the scene from the command
center with a glass of wine in her hand. Shiken Ka stood next to her with a
glass of tea.

“It
looks like Kalaidia eleven years ago,” Veda said.

“I’ve
heard all the associated factions will begin talks in two days,” Shiken said.

“It’s
going to be a mess,” Veda said.

“You’re
only saying that because you’ll be heading the negotiations,” Shiken said.

“I
told Brian I could handle it,” Veda said. “You’ll be there, won’t you?”

“Of
course I will,” Shiken said. “I’ll be heading back home after that for a
while.”

“I
heard you’re taking a mate,” Veda said. “Sounds like a lot of things will be
happening for you.”

“I
delayed my vows with her for too long,” Shiken said. “When this is over I want
to make sure she’s happy.”

“She’ll
wait for Lord Ka,” Veda said. “You’re a good man, if I was Shandi I’d wait for
you.”

“That’s
a great compliment coming from a mammal,” Shiken said.

* * *

Brian
relaxed in the Freedom’s HDC with a bottle of tea. The scenery in the room was
the Kalaidian countryside with the sun high in the air. He was not wearing his
exoskeleton and instead wore a simple white, sleeveless shirt and loose brown
pants. While he enjoyed the tea he sat cross-legged and gazed into the jungle.
Myden stepped out of one of the few shadows and stood next to him with his hood
down. The Grey covered his large eyes for a moment before stepping into the
shade of a tree.

“It’s
going to be quiet for a while,” Brian said.

“You
sense that too,” Myden said.

“The
Malcovin have the best equipped military amongst the younger races,” Brian
said. “The others will think twice before challenging us.”

“The
Viken are in the middle of a civil war now,” Myden said.

“Their
government was democratic for decades,” Brian said. “But as the years passed
money entered their politics and turned it into something else. Because we
don’t know who’s who right now we’ve chosen to not intervene.”

“A
wise decision,” Myden said. “It’s better to let the people make their own
future if they can.”

The
door opened to allow Seles, Mira, and Jesela to come inside. All three of them
went to Brian and stood over him.

“You’re
not skipping out on us, are you?” Seles asked.

Brian
smiled. “No, I’ll be there. I want to relax in the sun this morning.”

“I’ve
been working on some new material in my spare time and don’t want you to miss
it,” Mira said.

“Why
don’t you join her?” Jesela suggested.

Brian
laughed. “I’m out of practice. So I’ll put some effort into it and make sure
next time I can. Is it a deal?”

“Deal,”
Mira said.

Seles
looked at Myden, “What about you old man?”

“I’ll
be there,” Myden said.

* * *

Admirals
Vikrit and Regelik met in the command center of the Sicily base. Daekon
attended to his station while the two watched the celebrations on the surface.

“Are
you sure about this?” Regelik asked.

“I’m
part of Heaven’s Light now friend, not the regular military,” Vikrit said. “I
leave the navies of our world in your hands. The ships on this station are all
that I command from here on.”

“I
accept the honor,” Regelik said. “What do you think is going to happen?”

“Our
people will form a working government within the next year,” Vikrit said. “All
you have to do is keep the military in line.”

“I’m
going to need competent leaders alongside me,” Regelik said. “I think I’ll
enlist the leader of the underground, Seka the Red.”

“She’s
a perfect choice,” Vikrit said. “I also have a list of other worthy candidates.”

“I’d
appreciate seeing it,” Regelik said.

“I’ll
send it to you in a few days,” Vikrit said.

* * *

After
several hours of celebrating Dreka and Grigon boarded their Talons and headed
back to the Columbia base. The two found the place was quiet as they landed
their crafts.

“Where
is everyone?” Dreka asked.

“Probably
celebrating or relaxing,” Grigon said.

He
turned on his com and heard Mira singing in the Freedom. The same sound came
from Zae in the Avoni.

“It
looks like they’re having a good time,” Grigon said.

“Should
we join them?” Dreka asked.

“In
a little while, I prefer the silence right now,” Grigon said.

The
two birdmen looked at the docking area of the Columbia base. The six ships were
parked in their usual spots. What they noticed was the dock had been enlarged
since they were gone. Four more slots were open for additional ships.

“Looks
like they finally completed the first bay,” Dreka said.

“We’ll
start construction on the second soon,” Grigon said. “In a few days everything
will be back to work, work and more work.”

“I
know you like it that way old man,” Dreka said.

“I
do,” Grigon said. “It keeps my mind off the difficult things life brings.”

“I
understand the feeling,” Dreka said. “By the way, how many docking bays are
projected for the bases?”

“Ideally
each base will have four or five,” Grigon said. “But Heaven’s Light has a
budget to worry about, so we’re taking out time. Not to mention its difficult
refitting all the ships that’ll be in here soon.”

“We’ll
manage,” Dreka said. “We always do.”

* * *

After
Mira’s concert Brian found himself wandering around the ship alone until he
reached the stairway leading out. He walked outside and noticed Dreka and
Grigon at the other end of the dock discussing something. As he walked by the
Avoni he noticed Valis leaning against the entrance to her ship, almost like
she was waiting for someone. As her eyes met his he went to her.

“It’s
been awhile,” Brian said.

“There
are a number of ways to interpret that,” Valis said.

“I
was purposely vague,” he said.

“Did
you have something in mind?” she asked with a funny smile.

“We’re
two consenting adults, so let this go where it may,” he said.

“I’m
glad I didn’t have to go hunting this time,” she said.

“There
was something in your eyes last time we talked that told me you wanted this,”
Brian said. “You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?”

“I
left to find myself,” she said. “And I did.”

“I’m
glad,” he said.

“Let’s
go,” Valis said as she took Brian hand and led him inside the Avoni.

At
the foot of the Freedom Seles and Mira watched the exchange between the two. As
they went inside Seles sighed.

“It
looks like he’s busy tonight,” she said.

“We
both figured he would be,” Mira said before sighing as well. “You’re right
though, this relationship thing is strange.”

“We
could still clone him,” Seles suggested.

Mira
tapped her earring. “I have a better idea.”

“Let’s
see this idea then,” Seles said.

“It’ll
take me a few years to see if it can become real,” Mira said. “Until then,
it’ll have to remain a mystery.”

A
few days later Grigon knelt before a grave outside the city of Jerikai while
rain fell. The celebrations had given way to the return of everyday life for
the bird people as their new leaders met to find a way to govern. While wearing
his exoskeleton Brian walked up to Grigon. He stood silently next to the grey
feathered birdman for a while before Grigon stood up.

“Saying
a prayer for her?” Brian asked.

“For
Rikai, and all the others who died,” Grigon said. “I tried doing the right
thing, but Zaris wouldn’t let me.”

“He
chose to run rather than face the future,” Brian said. “We must always do the
opposite of that.”

“Are
we to do so even if it kills us?” Grigon asked.

“Heaven’s
Light was created to change Alden,” Brian said. “Even if we’re destroyed, the
people will be better for it.”

Grigon
looked at the sky. “They will come, won’t they?”

“They’ll
attack within a decade,” Brian said. “All the evidence we found during the
sojourn affirms those suspicions. I hope we can avoid major fleet battles from
here on and move to the small scale. Precision does us better than brute force
right now.”

“We
can’t afford to lose any more military might,” Grigon said.

“No,
we can’t,” Brian said. “Because when they strike they’ll go for our heads
first.”