Rebellion (6 page)

“Our boys flagged his uniform when he came into town. They were keeping an eye on him and called me as soon as he showed up at the store.” Merek leaned in and swatted Ty’s knee. “You okay now?”

Ty’s hands shook from the adrenalin rush. “Yeah.”

Merek was a giant of a man with a kind face. Ty wasn’t sure how things would have ended today if he hadn’t shown up.

“Thanks, Merek.”

“You’re welcome, but you’ve really got to watch that temper of yours,” Merek said. “We need you. Getting yourself killed isn’t going to help our cause any.”

“I know.” Ty gritted his teeth. His life had gone down a twisted path. First the Sandarian military
crag
, Ria, and now this. None of it mattered anymore. He knew what he had to do.

Balastar Alder finished filing his customs forms and flicked on the view screen. He leaned back in his captain’s chair and enjoyed the scene. They orbited Florin 5. A fascinating planet whose designers had built their cities with the view from space in mind. Interconnected geometric patterns glittered below, but he’d been here before and knew the facade to be largely illusion. On the surface, the majority of inhabitants lived in poverty, and many of the massive structures stood abandoned or taken over by squatters. Still, those who had credits tended to have a lot. It was an active trade planet with a thriving entertainment industry.

A message flashed on his com indicating the contents of the ship’s holds had been transferred to the planet-side spaceport. The cargo would work its way through customs, then they’d start loading the new shipments. The whole process would take a day, maybe two, tops. Building his own transport business would take time, but with Rucon Cavacent’s support, he wasn’t worried. Besides, time was something he had plenty of. A broken heart was a damn good motivator to get out and change your life.

He scratched the day’s old stubble on his chin. He’d fallen hard and fast for Dani Standich, the beautiful human who somehow possessed psi. After she and Ian bonded back on Sandaria, he bowed out. Balastar knew she cared a great deal for him, that much was clear, but a bond was a bond.

He and the Cavacent clan had barely escaped that planet with their lives. Although Earth was his home now, he spent little time there. He busied himself learning his new profession inside and out. A far cry from his old life as the youngest Sandarian Council member, he now captained his own transport ship, ferrying goods from one planet to another. His life was new and exhilarating, seeing different worlds and all the experiences that went along with the job. Not to mention a few women he’d come to know in different ports. He’d yet to encounter any space pirates, but the ship was heavily armed. That was enough of a deterrent for most.

This run was a little different. He had company. Rucon’s brother, Mordo, and the leader of the now rogue Portal Masters, Durgan. EP Marco Dar had also come along to protect the Portal Master. Balastar shook his head. His gut told him that Marco could be deadly if needed, but the man’s natural state was one of comic affability. Every afternoon, when Mordo and Durgan returned from their expeditions hunting for the newly discovered form of psi, Marco would go back out. How many women the EP had slept with in the past two months was anybody’s guess. He returned to the ship late, got up early, and did it again the next day, his smile never fading.

Balastar’s com alerted him to the approaching shuttle. Mordo and Durgan could only canvas the locals for an hour at a time before needing rest. The process drained their psi quickly.

“You’re back early.” Balastar turned to greet them as they entered the bridge. “Get tired of planet-side food?” He bolted to his feet when he saw the look on their faces.

Mordo and Durgan were both shaken. Having given up the standard Portal Master robes, Durgan now dressed in regular clothes, slacks and button-up shirts. Mordo sported his usual black cloak, his skin unusually pale in contrast.

Marco followed them onto the bridge with a serious expression. “We had a little altercation.”

Durgan nodded. “It appears Gordat Prayda has placed a bounty on my head.”

The newly elected president of Sandaria was an old enemy of the Cavacent clan, but what he’d want with a Portal Master, Balastar couldn’t guess. “What happened?”

“I persuaded the bounty hunter to look elsewhere,” Marco said with a grin.

Balastar activated his com and did a quick search. The hit was almost immediate. He sent the results to the vid for the others to see. Durgan Serred and the other eight Portal Masters that had defected with him were wanted men.

Balastar shook his head. “He wants the Portal Masters dead?”

“Alive,” Marco said. “That much was clear. If he’d wanted them dead, Durgan here would be.”

“I don’t understand,” Balastar said to Durgan. “Why would Prayda want you returned to Sandaria?”

“I doubt Prayda is behind the hit.” Durgan frowned. “I’m quite sure the Portal Masters are pulling the strings.”

“They want you back?” Balastar asked.

Mordo and Durgan shared a glance. “It would appear so. Although we are not clear as to why they would go to such lengths. We are less than a quarter of the guild.”

“A quarter,” Balastar said. “I always assumed there were more of you.”

“Apprentices yes, but not full masters. Few make it past the fourth year.”

“Looks like your hunting days are over, my friends.” Balastar killed the feed to the vid.

“Over, perhaps,” Durgan said. “But not in vain.”

“You found someone?” Balastar asked.

“Not someone,” Mordo said.

“Something,” Durgan finished, holding out a small black box.

Balastar took the device. It was identical to the one Armond used to create portals. In theory, there were people in existence that possessed an alternate form of psi. With the help of the rogue Portal Masters, they could use the device to create interstellar portals. It was these people who Mordo and Durgan were searching for. As for the devices, now plural, they had no idea where they came from. As far as they knew, being able to create interstellar portals without the guild had never happened before. Interesting times, to be sure. “Where did you get it?” He handed the device back to Durgan.

“Sitting in a vendor’s cart at an open air market. We’d just purchased it for next to nothing when the bounty hunter appeared.”

“How did he find you?”

“
She
found him by pure luck,” Marco said. “Kept tossing around Gordat Prayda’s name like it meant something, so I mentioned Supreme Commander Torril Anantha, and we came to an understanding.”

Balastar cocked his head. “Have you met Commander Anantha?”

Marco flashed his boyish grin. “Not exactly, but I figure Rucon’s relationship with him is close enough.”

“Well played. I’ll report to Rucon.” He turned to Mordo and Durgan. “I’d prefer you not leave the ship again until we get back to Earth. We can depart as soon as my current contracts are loaded.”

“They ain’t going anywhere on my watch.” Marco crossed his arms.

Mordo sighed. “Agreed. Let Rucon know of our findings. We’re going to contact Armond and arrange a meeting as soon as we arrive.”

“All right.” Marco rubbed his hands together. “If no one needs me, I’m going back planet-side. I know a certain bounty hunter who needs consoling.”

* * * *

Nearly a week after Jafferies’s death, Ty sat in Merek and Trin’s small but immaculate kitchen. It was fifteen years to the day since his parents were killed.

He toyed with the crust of his sandwich as sun streamed through the lace curtains behind the sink. The anniversary always brought sadness to the Sordina household. Ty hadn’t wanted to come, but staying away would have broken Trin’s heart.

“How’s Father Arlo today?” Trin asked.

“He’s fine,” Ty said. “The underground took in that family he mentioned last night. I told him we’d let the boy work in the shop if he wanted. I assume that’s all right?”

“Sure.” Merek took a bite of his sandwich.

A slight ocean breeze ruffled the leaves on the trees outside the window.

Fifteen years.
He’d lived with his adoptive parents for twelve of those, but moved out three years ago when Bella had arrived. Not far, just a private space to call his own. The Sordina house was small, and at fifteen, Bella needed them now more than he did.

One of Father Arlo’s oldest friends had owned Bella and her real parents. A priest as well, he’d educated the family, and Bella, especially, took to books, languages, and math. When the priest had fallen ill and died, the church was assigned a new pastor. One with strong political aspirations and far less generous views of Curzans. Bella was to be sold as soon as she turned twelve, which at the time, was only weeks away.

When Arlo had gotten word, the Watersedge underground went into action. They had traveled four hundred miles to the west and smuggled her out. Like Ty before her, she had assumed the position of the child of Merek and Trin. Arlo and Merek had spent the last twenty-five years growing their community on the edge of town. More Curzans were finding mates among the Mitan population. The lines were blurring. Despite the new edict of the Galactic Trade Organization to treat all psi-abled and non psi-abled as equals, the Mitah government lived in the past, and the GTO had more important battles to fight.

Ty tore the crust off his sandwich and set it aside.

Trin repositioned her plate. “You should let me cut your hair while you’re here. It’s long overdue, you know.”

She was right. “Maybe tomorrow.”

Trin pushed her untouched plate away. “I’m sorry, Ty. I shouldn’t have insisted you come today. I just hate the thought of you being alone.”

“It’s all right,” Ty said. “To be honest, I can’t stop thinking about Jafferies.”

“Gods, I know. That was an evil thing to do.” Trin placed her hand on Merek’s, who sat next to her. “Maybe we should leave Mitah. Find another planet to call home. I have a cousin on Tondor. We could all go there. I’m sure she’d help us.”

“We’ve been over this,” Merek said. “It would cost every credit we have. No. This is our home. The emperor is gone. It’s a new day.”

Trin closed her eyes, a pained expression on her face. “Not on Mitah, it isn’t. Not with Chancellor Mortog’s henchmen killing Curzans simply because they choose to educate themselves. What if they find us, or little Bella? She’s only fifteen. Dear Goddess, I couldn’t live with that.”

Merek squeezed her hand. “Don’t think like that. You’ve got to stay positive and look to the future. We have the books and the journals. Father Arlo is sure he and Ty and Bella are making progress.”

Trin pulled her hand back and twisted her napkin. “You three have been at it for two years. What if there’s nothing to find?”

“We are making progress,” Ty said. “Once we formulate the key, it’s going to crack wide open. Every word will be ours to read.” He wanted to add that it wouldn’t make any difference. Chancellor Mortog would never let the information get out, but Merek believed if they could prove the original Curzans had psi, the planetary rulership would be defunct. Planets with psi-abled citizens could not be governed by non-natives. And Mitah had psi-abled citizens. In theory, if they could prove they’d been here all along and weren’t the product of inbreeding, they could go to the GTO and revoke the rulership. In theory. Repeated attempts to reach out had failed and Mortog was determined to keep the status quo.

Ty stood and hugged the back of her shoulders. He picked up the plates and carried them over to the sink where Merek joined him.

Trin remained sitting, tracing the design on her cold cup of tea.

They put the food in the fridge for later.

“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” Ty said. “Tell Bella I said hi.”

Trin simply nodded, her shoulders slumped forward.

Merek followed him downstairs, through the woodworking and furniture shop where Ty also worked, and out into the warm day. They stood on Merek’s small deck. The two moons were clearly visible in the sky. The smell of the ocean, mixed with the nearby forest, brought both comfort and painful memories.

The school where his birth parents had taught the local Curzan children lay deep in the forest. Ty had never found out how they were discovered. His gut clenched at the memory.

Leon Jara.

He and fourteen other kids watched as Jara and his men burst in and murdered his parents. When the screams of the younger kids died down, Jara had turned to the class and told them if he ever caught any Curzans trying to
learn something
again, he would personally hunt them down and kill them and their families. And then Jara and his men left, his parents’ bodies bleeding out on the old wood floor. Ty hadn’t seen any of those kids since, but he’d heard more than a few had gone missing.

Traffic meandered along the road at the bottom of the hill. Over the treetops, the ocean beyond the cliffs sparkled.

Ty scanned the area. In a low voice he said, “I know who he is.”

“Who?” Merek asked.

“The man who killed Jafferies. His name is Leon Jara.” Ty turned and looked Merek in the eyes. “He’s the one who killed my parents.”

Merek sucked in a breath. “How—? Why—?”

“Olivia Zar. Her underground’s infiltration of the government in Starfall is extensive. She was able to find out who he is. Apparently, Jara doesn’t like the new direction the GTO is taking, so he came home to pick up where he left off.”

“Oh, Ty. I’m so sorry.”

“He’s been serving in the Sandarian military.” He couldn’t think about the military without a certain redhead invading his memories. “Jara’s going to the ball, of course.” Ty looked away. “I know what he’ll be wearing, who he’ll be with, and where their reserved table on the lawn is located.”

Merek bowed his head and leaned forward, palms on the pristine white rail he’d made himself. “Don’t do anything rash. Our underground needs you.”

Ty knew the older man didn’t want to hear the truth. “It’s time to start our war.”

“It doesn’t have to happen like this. There are the texts…and when Zander Salvator returns from university, Mortog will lose his power. Zander’s father was a good man. Is a good man, I suppose.”