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

you, Rafael. I’ve never seen a harder-working officer. Let me ask you a question. Remember what my brother said about Tamarind? How it would play a vital role after we expel the Chancellory?”

“Yes. Did he ever elaborate?”

“Beyond his line about being the first day and the last day? No. But he’s always insisted we’re on a path, guided by the Jewels. If he’s right, and Tamarind will matter, then I don’t believe Cabrise’s presence is a coincidence. Do you?”

“No, sir.”

“But for now, it’s also irrelevant. Until my brother reveals himself and announces our next move, Cabrise is a concern for another time. Yes?”

Maj. Kane started to turn away, his report concluded, but Valentin decided he couldn’t wait on a notion bubbling in his mind for several hours.

“Major, I think it’s time we increased internal security throughout the fleet. My army can handle the load. I want double the complement on Greenland, Haven, Gemini, and Sunrise. Focus on deployment at all sensitive locations, especially navigation and engineering. Establish a new flight rotation for uplift transfers.”

“Yes, sir. Are you expecting trouble, Admiral?”

“Oh, yes. There’ll be trouble; I’m just not sure from whom.”

Valentin couldn’t sit here and wait for something to happen, but he damn sure was not going to beg his brother to speak. He told the Officers of Salvation where he could be found if anyone cared then left the command bridge.

He found a comfortable seat in the gallery of stellar dome. He visited here on occasion for quiet moments of consideration on how far they’d come, how far that remained. The star fields, punctuated by the Enfidi Horsehead Nebula’s beauty, provided Valentin little pleasure. Instead, they demonstrated the great expanse of their galactic neighborhood. The Collectorate spent centuries colonizing and establishing an empire spanning nine hundred light-years. He and his brother expected to tear it all down in a flash.

Are we truly this insane?

“Seven ships and a few Scrams,” he muttered. “Cloaked in a bubble where nobody can find us. Yes. We are insane.”

Yet, to his equal amazement, Valentin acknowledged they stood on the edge of success. If they could move past their wounds, the investment was in place. They could shake thirty-five billion humans to the core. They could create a future no one imagined possible.

Valentin lost himself in the improbable journey that brought them to this brink. All points began with the woman he ordered executed a day ago. Ophelia was there at the fold, where he met his brother. Again at SkyTower, where she gave up every bit of her leverage to save their lives. There at the rescue of the other eight hybrids. Trying her best to break the Chancellor compliance program. Working with him on a plan to assimilate frightened, confused immortals liberated across much of the Collectorate.

When did they lose the trust? Why couldn’t she have put the guilt of SkyTower behind and supported the new future? It never had to be this way, Ophelia.

Valentin didn’t hear the footsteps approaching.

“He is ready,” said Sister Rayna.

Valentin snapped to attention. His sister-in-law was dressed for war. The buckles, chains, and blades of her Ukrainian upbringing decorated a two-piece bodysuit made of a black fabric almost on par with the Guard’s body armor.

“Be in executive room in twenty minutes time. All Jewels plus immortal command staff and Slope pilots. My husband expects no one to be late. Is this understood?”

“Of course, Rayna. But I am the Admiral of this fleet. Why did James not contact me directly?”

“Does not matter. He is leader. What he says must be obeyed.”

“And what do you say, Rayna? Am I still the incompetent fool you accused me of being before you hid in your quarters?”

She paused for a few seconds, fashioning a widening grin like one she used to display before a raid where she gleefully slaughtered people. Before she became the wife of a living god.

“Apologies. I was much in grief. You are competent officer. But also, you are a fool.”

“Rayna, we’ve been together for two years. All I’ve ever done is protect us.”

She shrugged. “I give credit. You have tried. This time, you failed. No?”

“Rayna, I did everything James asked of me. He did nothing I asked of him. I warned him to suspend the Tamarind operation, and we came seconds from losing both him and Ulrich. I lost two of my soldiers because of my brother’s arrogance.”

He saw it in her glum features: She was not impressed.

“Do not equate losses. Your two soldiers count for nothing compared to Sister Ursula. She was building future for all. If you want more soldiers, kidnap them. There are more on colonies.”

He beat down his ire. “If your husband had not insisted on public theatrics, Sister Ursula would be alive. Did he tell you about his orders? Because as you say, he is leader and must be obeyed.”

Her bewitching grin turned to outright laughter.

“But you do not obey. You always said no when he asked you to kill Ophelia Tomelin. Obey is for always when my husband speaks. You will remember this when he speaks today.”

Valentin had no interest in responding, and Rayna didn’t wait around to listen.

71

E VERYONE ARRIVED IN THE EXECUTIVE room before James and his family, yet no one said a word. Valentin saw it in their body language and vacant stares – none knew what was about to happen, not even the hybrids. Whatever James decided, he did not divulge it in the shared mind.

Rayna entered first, followed by her husband, who wrapped an enormous arm around each of his sons. The rail-thin boys looked like bizarre appendages to their massive father. When he dismissed them, Benjamin and Peter raced to the conference table, fighting each other for the same chair. Rayna slapped them both until they submitted.

Brother James