The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

final minutes closed in, the pain of dry eyes intensified. Much to his surprise, ten minutes seemed reachable on the first try.

That’s when a shadow moved into the periphery of his vision. Seconds later, he heard a familiar voice.

“I remember my first day,” Valentin said. “Took me twenty tries to complete the first test.”

James lost focus, blinked twice, and relaxed his stance. He glanced at the teacher, then at his brother, who stood at the edge of the observation deck, admiring the crystalline sparkles drifting around the Atrium Aeterna.

“I worked harder than every other initiate,” Valentin continued, as if oblivious to whether James was listening. “Had no choice. I was smaller, less aggressive. No one thought I could be UG material.” Then he pivoted to James. “Least of all my father.”

James tapped the amp against his temple, and the holographic program vanished.

“Guess your voice box is working again, huh?”

James recognized another change. Valentin’s eyes gave it away: Resignation, defeat. No. Humility. The animal was driven out. His brother started toward James but stopped at a safe distance, his shoulders sagging ever so slightly.

“No one ever bested me before today. You killed me, James.”

“Thought so, too. Turns out, the fight was rigged.”

Valentin nodded. “Which is why we need to talk. About the admiral, about my father… our father. The future. All of it.”

James looked his brother at eye level for the first time, his bulk approaching Valentin’s.

“I guess we’re both abominations now,” he said, recalling Valentin’s words during the duel. “So, yeah, dude. Let’s talk.”

23

Offices of the Admiralty, Suite 70

Great Plains Metroplex

 

R EAR ADMIRAL AUGUSTUS PERRONE enjoyed holding court while sipping what he considered the best café in the Collectorate. He swiveled in comfort during the circastream call, shifting his attention between the faces floating around his desk in holographic bubbles, their filters streaming like raindrops on glass. Leonard Mauritius of the Trent Presidium; Barbara Quinton of the Kilmurry Presidium; First Admiral Josephus Fierston aboard the intersystem transfer station above Ganymede. And ever faithful at Perrone’s side, Maj. Sexton Marshall, 9th Battalion, Inner Colony Command.

“As I noted before,” Perrone reassured his guests, “this is an evolving plan. The first major experiment was a success. Once we have the Ukrainian Jewel, we move into the next phase. And to arrest your concern, Barbara, I should remind you that as of one week ago, all of us were blind to what was about to happen. I would say we’ve done an exceptional job of playing catch-up. Yes?”

Barbara, a regal woman wearing a necklace of interlaced diamonds, grunted. “Can anyone ever be sure they have caught up to Emil Bouchet? He has fooled the best of us time and again.”

“Here, here!” Perrone slapped his desk. “And he may yet find another curve to play. But our people are in position. When we move on SkyTower, he will realize we have him in a vice.”

Leonard Mauritius interrupted. “Can you be certain he has no agents inside the GPM?”

Perrone turned to Maj. Marshall. “Sexton?”

“Negative. We have vetted everyone in the Admiralty division and its associations. No one here would dare ally with Bouchet.”

Leonard shook his head. “Among the Admiralty? No. That’s not how he would come at you. Have you vetted the Solomons?”

The others laughed. Perrone joined in. “I thought I was paranoid, Leonard. The Solomons have no interest in espionage. If they align themselves with a Chancellor faction and fail, they expose themselves.”

“And what does that mean?” Barbara asked.

“The Solomons are biding their time, waiting for the collapse of the Chancellory. They see themselves as our replacements one day, albeit a few generations down the line.”

First Admiral Fierston added, “They may very well get their wish, if we do not sort this business in proper order. What news do you have of the Ukrainian?”

Perrone took a sip and nodded to Maj. Marshall, who spoke.

“We have run into complications. The initial reports were chaotic, but she arrived and appeared, at least briefly, to be secured with our faction. Or should I say, with Dr. Ophelia Tomelin’s allies. We initiated Scorch protocol and eliminated Bouchet’s forces. As best as we can determine, our original assessment of the Ukrainian’s compliance to Chancellor command was inaccurate.”

Disgruntled voices rose in unison. Barbara was the loudest.

“Excuse me, Major? Are you saying both living Jewels on Earth are exercising free will? Their programs failed?”

“Failure is a relative term,” Perrone responded. “Both appear functional in every evolved manner except for the blind loyalty they promised us. Explain to them, Major.”

“Yes, sir. We have confirmed each of them is a Berserker. James Bouchet’s own account of his experience matches a report filed by an agent who crossed the IDF into the Ukrainian Expanse. The agent detected the signature of a Class 3 thermonuclear blast within ten kilometers of the fold. Since that Earth has only evolved to primitive uses of electricity, the explanation is obvious.”

“And what happened to the agent?” Admiral Fierston said.

“She was killed after returning with the Jewel and an observer. She filed her report seconds before her death, as Tomelin’s allies lost control of the Jewel.”

“Then Bouchet’s people could have her,” Leonard said.

“No,” Marshall replied. “She was last seen with an observer who is a loyalist to Tomelin’s group. Our concern is that the observer has not reported in, and we have been unable to track either.”

“However,” Perrone continued, “we have dispatched agents to the region. A delicate operation. Rough terrain, extensive earthquake activity near the fold. We will have her soon enough.”

“If I may ask,” Barbara said, “Why bother? We have James Bouchet, and he appears cooperative, despite your extreme measures, Augustus. There are eight others like him off-world. Should we not just eliminate the Ukrainian and cut our losses?”

“No. First, we do not have any of