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

It vanished in a steady procession, as if being inhaled by another smoker. The momentary theatrics did the trick.

“Do you wonder where it comes out?” Cabrise said.

Michael shrugged. “They say it could be anywhere, sir. Another planet, another galaxy. It’s a brain-buster, for sure.”

“Do you mind?” Cabrise held the guardrail as he reached Michael’s side and nodded toward the pipe. “I fancied myself a poltash connoisseur in the old days.”

Michael handed over the pipe. “No offense, but my grandfather always used that phrase, ‘In the old days.’ What does that mean for you? If you don’t mind me asking, Commandant.”

Cabrise took a short pull, allowed the smoke to dance between lips and nose, then blew it away. He returned the pipe.

“A secret, Lt. Cooper. There’s no such title as Commandant. It’s an empty honorific bestowed on old nags like me who won’t take to pasture but have too much leverage to be demoted beneath command. Research it! You’ll not find it in the Guard C/C.”

“So, you rank between Maj. Nilsson and Capt. Forsythe, but unofficially? How does that work?”

Cabrise played with his unruly silver beard, which appeared as if it hadn’t been groomed in months.

“How does any of it work these days? You and I serve a decrepit bureaucracy.” His eyes wandered off toward the Void’s green haze before Cabrise snapped back to attention, as if exiting a dream.

“I just realized, we haven’t spoken since the unfortunate news a few days ago. I trust you’re cracking on, Lieutenant?”

“I am, sir. I …”

“Didn’t we promote you? Where are your stripes?”

“The Major’s discretion, I assumed.”

“I think not. You’ve put your life on the line every day for this station. Yet your commanding officer neglects to … when a man serves with honor and distinction, he deserves proper credit. You are not the first or last to receive this sort of callow treatment. As I said, a decrepit bureaucracy. I’ll speak with Nilsson.”

Michael tensed. “Actually, Commandant, if you please, don’t say anything. The Major and I are on good terms, but he doesn’t believe someone who looks like me deserves to wear the uniform. Just give him a chance to come around.”

Cabrise harrumphed. “As you wish. Nilsson is a good man, but he plays an old game. Spec-ops tend to lean hard-right. Yes? You are an endlessly controversial figure, Lt. Cooper. And that was before the notion of bringing a PA into the Guard. In fairness, there was a time I’d have sooner seen you shot than handed a uniform. The old days. The glory days. All gone now. Yes?”

Michael put aside his fury at yet the latest proto-African reference and instead homed in on Cabrise’s nostalgia. As with every conversation, Cabrise tended to zig and zag between points. Michael took care to lead him down the right path.

“You talk about the old days, sir, but I’ve only heard a few stories.”

“The best ones, I trust.”

“I know you were Admiral of the Carrier fleet above Hiebimini when everything changed in 5320. I only know bits and pieces. The Admiralty never released the full history of what happened that day.”

Michael saw the forehead wrinkles crease together. He hit a nerve.

“And they never will. Mark those words. Thirty million witnesses. More testimony than you could read in a year. Buried. Every cudfrucking piece of it.” He waved it off with surprising nonchalance. “When you salute the Supremes for half a century, you learn to take these things in stride. Prerogative of the Central Staff, they call it. Oh, what’s the point? It will all be over soon enough.”

“What will, sir?”

“The list is too long, Cooper, and time is too short.”

Michael offered his pipe again, but Cabrise refused. Michael wasn’t sure how to pursue this subject line without giving himself away too soon. If anyone up the chain might drop a secret …

“I understand, sir. That feels like every damn day of my life since I crossed the fold. And now, with the Anchors working, Hiebimini seems so close. But it’s really not. We’re what? Four hundred sixty-five light-years away? How much do you think it’s changed?”

Cabrise fell silent. Michael thought the Commandant was choosing words carefully. Dare he suggest the world had turned into the paradise Salvation claimed in propaganda CVids to the indigos? Or was he debating whether to reveal classified intel?

On both counts, Michael was wrong. He sensed it as soon as Cabrise broke his silence with howling laughter. The old warhorse rapped himself upside the head then pointed back to the mountain in jest. Finally, he pivoted his tired, battle-hardened eyes to Michael.

“Now I see it,” he said. “She is good, that one. Played me on a string. Cooked up this little charade. Yes? She must have convinced Alayna Rainier to play a part as well, in case I reconfirmed. Oh, Michael, Michael. I thought you were the sort who aimed straight at the target. None of these rear-end maneuvers.”

Michael felt as if his stomach was lodged in his chest. He didn’t bother weaseling out of the moment.

“I apologize, sir. Please don’t go after Maya. She was doing me a huge favor. I reckoned if I got you alone and away from the office, just the two of us, maybe …”

“Maybe what, Michael? We might speak freely because you and I are tied to Hiebimini more than anyone else here or up there?”

“Yes, sir. I thought maybe you’d have some answers.”

“About the invasion? Forsythe told me you contacted him. He told me to expect a visit.” Cabrise chuckled. “Minus the subterfuge.”

Go for it, asshole. Throw the goddamn Hail Mary!

“Sir, both of us got unfinished business out there. But something ain’t right. I feel it. You’re Commandant. You must feel it too. It’s all wrong. I don’t know why. Tell me I’m not crazy.”

Cabrise tucked at