When the Stars Fade (The Gray Wars) (55 page)

             
Like all natives of Boxt, the elder Cleric looked chiseled from stone. Having evolved under intense radiation, all members of the race borne of the Homeworld grew thick carapaces that covered their bodies from head to toe. Even though the ceiling stood ten feet overhead, the Boxti had to stoop as it paced before the warlord. Under its flowing multicolored robe, three sets of hands clasped behind a thin and spiny back.

             
“You were given orders, were you not
?”
The Cleri
c’
s questions seemed rhetorical
.“
I can assume you understood the Enclaves intent
?”
It blinked, its six sets of eyes going through the motion one after another.

             
Eruk stood his ground, though he sensed the Druuma trembling
.“
A mining vessel was attacked by a new species. They found a nearby world inhabited by the creatures and reported it to me
.”
He swallowed, trying in vain to moisten his pallet
.“
The Lord Kin
g’
s decree on such an attack is well known. An example had to be made
.
”

             
“And it was
,”
the Cleric said. One seven-fingered hand appeared, fingers tapping the side of its face. Eruk knew that all Cleri
c’
s were without gender, having sacrificed such wonton things in their purification rituals. He wondered if this specimen had been born male or female. The Druuma chastised him for such thoughts.

             
The Boxti continued
.“
Narakoff
was dispatched, along with a flight of destroyers and frigates. The planet was to be bombarded and used as an initial point-of-contact
.
”

             
“They outnumbered us
,”
Eruk started
.“
We had no choice
.
”

             
The Cleric spat
.“
You were reckless and endangered the Horde
.”
It turned away, clucking impatiently
.“
No matter. Your fate is not to be decided today
.
”

             
“No
?”
Eruk asked. He clenched his jaw.

             
“We are sending you back to the human system. Our presence is known to them now, for good or not. We will proceed with the introduction in the usual way
.
”

             
The warlord could hardly believe his luck. No punishment, and a chance at redemption
.“
And what message shall I bring to them
?
”

             
With a groan, the Cleric settled into a tall chair at the center of the wall
.“
Peace, young warlord. Let them know we come in peace
.
”

-                           
X                            -

January 31, 2237

              Jonah stood at the edge of the landing pad, looking straight down toward the ground. The fog completely blocked any sign of the streets below. From everything the news reported, one would think no one still lived down there. Crime had increased to an astronomical level, and pollution had raised the risk of lung disease by one hundred percent. But he had been in the ghettos with the other forgotten of society. He had smelled the raw sewage that oozed up from the overfilled waste lines under the massive towers. H
e’
d seen the emaciated bodies of women and children, no longer starving but just waiting for death. H
e’
d been a part of that grimy, unwanted life and relished in every moment. Those were his people.

             
Mars had been a chance to change the hand fate had laid out. That had been the slogan written in bold letters on the posters the
y’
d plastered all over the slums. The walls of buildings became bulletin boards for the different unions. No experience necessary, just a willingness to work hard and accept a challenge. The learning curve was
n’
t so steep that it precluded any particular person. Even the age limit had been lowered to allow younger and younger citizens to sign up for mining or tower jumping or line duty. If you had a sense for danger and wanted better pay, positions at the poles paid triple.

             
Jonah had been a child then, not yet fifteen, when h
e’
d put down his name on the charter form. He closed his eyes and remembered the day. The sun had barely been able to trickle down to the ground, even with the array of mirrors the city government had emplaced. H
e’
d stood there with his best friend, waiting patiently for the line to move forward, and listened to the sales pitch be delivered again and again as more people arrived. When his turn had come, h
e’
d put down his mark without hesitation. Anything had to be better.

             
“Sir
?”
The sound stole Jonah from his reverie. He looked up and saw a young soldier standing at the edge of the platform. From his wavering stance and wide eyes, it was plain to see the boy was
n’
t a fan of heights. The ride over must have been hell for him. Jonah smiled. Just to be here, the young man had overcome fear.

             
“What is it
?”
Jonah asked, stepping away from the ledge.

             
The soldier peered over the edge, swallowing back a wave of vertigo
.“
I
t’
s the reporter, sir. He wants an audience
.
”

             
“Oh, does he, now
?
”

             
He nodded
.“
Yes, sir. He said he needed to speak with you right away
.
”

             
Jonah pursed his lips, mulling over the request
.“
Send him in. And call Victor
.”
He walked to the center of the platform and clasped his hands behind his back. Jonah heard the reporter walk up from behind, shoes clacking on the concrete. Greg had on the same suit he wore to the New Yea
r’
s party. Jonah grimaced. The outfit was intentionally gaudy and struck him as being in poor taste.

             
“Mr. Kent, to what do I owe the pleasure
?
”             

             
The reporter stormed forward, coming within a half foot of the rebel leader
.“
Cut the bullshit, Blightman.
I’
m not in the fucking mood
.
”

             
Jona
h’
s eyes grew wide and his face flushed red
.“
Oh really? Well then, straight to business
.
”

             
“I thought we had an arrangement, Jonah. What the fuck
?
”

             
“Calm down, Kent
,”
Jonah warned
.“
What seems to be the problem
?
”

             
Greg paced around the pad. Droplets of water began falling from the sky, starting a drum beat that grew faster and faster as the storm swelled. The overcast clouds sent down a chilling rain that bit through clothing. Jonah barely felt the change in weather, so focused was he on the other man.

             
Greg grinned, but there was no humor behind it
.“
Yo
u’
ve got a lot of nerve
.
”

             
“I was thinking the same thing
.
”

             
“You asked me to tell the truth to the people of Earth. Your truth
,”
he said, pointing his finger
.“
And they believe it. They believe me, and tha
t’
s because they trust me.
I’
m your ace-in-the-hole, Jonah
.
”

             
“
I’
m still not hearing a point, Kent
.”
Jonah looked back toward the office and saw Victor standing at the window. The rain bore down in thicker sheets as thunder clapped overhead.

             
Greg stopped near the edge a few paces from Jonah
.“
Where would you be without me? Huh? I made this all possible for you. The siege ended because of me. Earth is on your side now because of me. Hell, if I wanted I could make you the next Governor of America. I could make you the fucking Ambassador of Earth. I have this planet eating out of my hand
.”
He turned to face the rebel
.“
And you have me treated like
I’
m still a fucking hostage. I ca
n’
t leave the tower. Your fucking goons have every exit blocked off, even though the rest of these peons come and go as they please
.
”

             
“If you wanted to get out, all you had to do was ask
.
”

             
Greg scoffed
.“
Like i
t’
s that easy. Yo
u’
d just let me go
.
”

             
Jonah kept his voice metered, but inside he urged to lash out
.“
Yo
u’
ve become very useful to me, a resource I would never let go of easily. I needed to make sure you were on the same page before letting you out into the world with only your word that you were coming back
.
”

             
The reporter placed his face an inch from Jona
h’
s
.“
So how about some fucking respect for a change
?
”

             
He moved so quickly Greg never saw it coming. In one instant Jonah grabbed the man by the collar and spun him around, throwing him toward the edge of the pad. At the last second he caught Ken
t’
s tie. The reporte
r’
s heels dug into the concrete lip as he hung precariously over the unfathomable drop. The knot closed in around his throat like a noose, choking him.

             
“No
,”
he coughed out
.“
Please
!”
Greg held his tie with both hands, his knuckles white.

             
Victor appeared at Jona
h’
s side in an instant. His face was stoic. He took the tie from his leade
r’
s hands, keeping Greg a second from death. Jonah paced around the two men, his face dark and angry.

             
“I think w
e’
ve reached a turning point in our relationship
,”
he said
.“
You seem to have forgotten the path that led us here. Allow me, then, to remind you of our terms
.”
He stepped forward, placing a finger on Gre
g’
s chest. The reporter whimpered
.“
I run this planet not because of your silver tongue, not because I have truth on my side, but because I possess the will to do so. I used you because you were in the building. If it had been your day off, I would have found some other idiot in a nice suit to sit down and read what I gave him. You owe me everything that yo
u’
ve become
.
”

             
Victor smiled malevolently
.“
It takes a seriously stupid man to piss off Jonah Blightman, Kent. Not that
I’
m that surprised at you
.
”

             
“Please, you ca
n’
t kill me
.”
Greg struggled to breathe
.“
You need me
.
”

             
Jonah shook his head
.“
Not anymore. I can get anyone to be the voice of Galactic Media. This was only one phase of the operation, and w
e’
re just about done
.
”

             
Tears streamed down his face, mixing with the pouring rain
.“
But you said you would
n’
t hurt me
.
”

             
Now Jonah laughed, a terrifying sound to the reporter
.“
No. I said I would
n’
t let you go easily
.”
He could almost hear the reporte
r’
s pounding heart as he leaned in from the side, close enough to feel the ma
n’
s breath on his face
.“
But Victor will
.
”

             
Victor released his grip on the necktie and Greg fell backward. He seemed to move in slow motion, tipping further and further toward the edge without his feet ever moving. Then gravity took hold and pulled him down toward the ground. Jonah and Victor leaned over the platform and stared into the ma
n’
s eyes as the fog swallowed him. Satisfied, Jonah clapped Victor on the shoulder.

             
“We should have done that weeks ago
,”
Victor said. He took a step and spat over the edge
.“
Dos v
e’
danya, asshole
.
”

             
Jonah walked toward the office, shivering from the cold
.“
He could have had a few months more. A shame, really
.
”

             
“We do
n’
t need him
.
”

             
“Earth is
n’
t ours yet, Victor. That prick Gilroy is still keeping Africa in check, and the Asians are busy fighting amongst themselves. And let us not forget the shitstorm Hans created down south
.”
He dropped his jacket into the arms of a waiting guard and moved quickly to the bathroom. Jonah pulled a towel off the rack and dried his long hair
.“
The elections are in a few months. If we can keep growing support until then, we can start to relax. Once Kerrigan is installed, we move to the next phase
.
”

             
Victor did
n’
t speak, but looked sullen as he stared out into the now torrential downpour. Jonah sighed as he saw his lieutenant sulking.

             
“Not every battle is fought with violence, Victor. Our leaders taught us that
.
”

             
“Your leaders
,”
Victor responded
.“
The old man filled your head with that
Art of War
crap. I was always told that a strong action was the most powerful argument
.
”

             
“Things were different on Mars
.
”