Soon thereafter, Amayas catalyzed the wormhole drivers and opened an aperture. He spent much of his twenty-one minute flight preparing his case for a broadsided audience. Yet he never found proper focus. Reality distracted him:

  Bonju crossed the divide.

  They had not spoken face to face since the Origin. All the secrets they uncovered but could never talk or write about; all the moments where they shared personal histories and dreams; all the moments that felt like years but passed in hours.

  “I opened the door,” Amayas muttered to no one. “It’s my fault.”

  He showed Bonju the path that led to Royal and the test of trans-universal Splinter travel. Amayas stood back and watched as Bonju manipulated Royal into believing Amayas posed a danger to all life. He allowed so many dominoes to fall on Hokkaido, never predicting the strategy Bonju would take, let alone do it with the Swarm’s help.

  Amayas intended to stay silent on that backstory in response to the inevitable barrage of questions he’d face from Michael Cooper.

  He didn’t know what type of greeting he’d encounter in Promise, but Amayas didn’t expect to stare into a phalanx of blast rifles. Amayas thought he’d catch the Aeternans unaware; he didn’t realize they built a wormhole early-warning system.

  On the positive, he timed his arrival to perfection. Having Ham Cortez and the Scylla crew join the fray expedited matters. When the immortal soldiers lowered their weapons, no doubt at Michael’s orders, did they recognize their former Admiral Valentin? Had Michael publicized the new face or kept it classified?

  He looked over Michael’s shoulder.

  “Hello, Capt. Cortez. I wasn’t sure I’d ever meet you in person. The future is so uncertain.”

  Ham winced.

  “You know me? Have we met?”

  “No, but I am well informed. I’m pleased you’re here in Promise. It will save us time. Michael, I’m sure you have many questions, and I’ll answer them in due course. Now we need to talk about an urgent matter. May I speak to you and Scylla’s leadership in private?”

  Michael burrowed in close, studying the Inventor’s new face. He was more imposing up close than seen through the mirrors. The Michael he once knew arrived on Aeterna as a muscular man, but the old version seemed like an amateur against this beast.

  “You waltz in here after eight years, scare the shit out of my people, and make demands?”

  “I believe I phrased it in the form of a question, Michael.”

  “Don’t be a patronizing ass with me, Valentin. You abandoned your people.”

  “And you have been a magnificent leader, Michael. I have no claim to authority. However, I’m not Valentin Bouchet. My name is Amayas Knight, and I’ve had some successes of my own. I’m sure you and Capt. Cortez are aware. I know more about what’s happening far from this system than anyone. I would not have returned here if it weren’t necessary. I need you to hear me out.”

  Ham stepped between them.

  “Michael, we need to take this inside.”

  Michael acted as if he didn’t hear Ham.

  “We were nearabout ready to hunt you down.”

  “Scylla’s crew has been trying for months. I saved everyone the bother. Now, please. As the Captain said, we need to speak inside. What I have to say is not for public consumption.”

  “Anyone else onboard our Scramjet?”

  “I came alone, Michael.”

  The Minister acknowledged Ham.

  “Gather your people.” His irises glowed. “I’m ordering Kane and my Colonels now. We’ll meet in Tactical Prep.”

  Michael turned to the Aeternans who arrived with blast rifles.

  “I’m standing down emergency protocols. We’re safe. Return to the party. I’ll tell everyone else the same through Occip.”

  They shifted from combat mode on a dime, which Amayas found fascinating. They must have heard Michael invoke Valentin’s name, yet no one asked for clarity. Was this really the famous Admiral Valentin come home at last? Had Michael so diminished Valentin’s role in Aeterna’s founding? At least one other remembered him.

  Samantha and her boys stopped them en route.

  “It’s really you, Valentin?”

  “Not Valentin anymore. New face, new name.”

  She hugged him without warning. Judging from Michael’s glare, he had no use for the gesture.

  “All these years, I wondered if you were alive and well. I hope we’ll have the chance to talk later.”

  “If your husband and Scylla’s Captain are as reasonable as I hope, I doubt we’ll have time. Someday, I promise to tell you everything.”

  “Is that him?” The older boy asked.

  “It is. Val … Amayas, this is ….”

  “Danny. Yes. A pleasure to meet you. The last time I was here, your mother was about a month away from giving birth. You have the best features of both your parents. As do you, Harry.”

  “You know their names?”

  “I’m well informed about many things, Samantha. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have to speak to leadership at once.”

  Michael said nothing until they entered Central Command then cornered Amayas. He whispered.

  “How did you know my boys’ names? Who is your spy?”

  “The answer is too complicated, Michael. If it makes you feel better: I don’t have a spy on Aeterna.”

  “Whatever you gotta say to us better make my head spin.”

  “I’ll do my best, although some of the others will have a greater appreciation for what is at stake.”

  The round conference table inside Tactical Prep encircled an elevated holo station. Seven from Scylla and three from Aeterna leadership took their seats. Amayas realized who would take the news worst: He counted three who fought Swarm, three who grew up in The Lagos, and the ex-Chancellor who adopted Pinchon.

  Good. He needed a receptive audience.

  At first, he didn’t recognize Exeter.

  What? He’s a Colonel now?

  The officer with orange braids and a facial tattoo of a fist stared at Amayas without blinking. If his eyes fired lasers, he’d shred the Inventor’s chest. For months, Amayas dreaded reuniting with the boy he cast out into the Beta universe. Never once during his flight to Aeterna did he think of Exeter.

  No. Not now. You’ll have to wait.

  Beneath the holo station, Admiral Rafael Kane stood next to an officer Amayas did not recognize. Most of the population arrived long after he departed. Like Exeter, seeing Rafael brought a pause. They went through so much together in those final months of Salvation, navigating around the growing madness of Valentin’s older brother.

  “All right, Valentin,” Michael said. “Get on with it.”

  “My name is Amayas Knight. Thank you, Minister Cooper.”

  Where to start? How soon to go for the jugular?

  The beginning seemed like the best place.

  “By my count, four of you in this room have fought the Swarm. I assume the rest of you have been apprised as to their nature.”

  A man rose from his seat.

  “Don’t say it.”

  “I will, Cando.”

  “How do you know …?”

  “The Swarm are here. They learned how to cross the divide.”

  They reacted with swift anger and panic.

  “Here?” “Where?” “How many?” “No, you’re wrong.”

  The Twenty Talons seemed the most devastated, as if a lifelong nightmare they thought vanquished had reappeared without warning.

  “Please, everyone. Talking over each other doesn’t help.”

  Exeter pounded the table and pushed back his chair.

  “If they crossed over, it’s your fault.”

  “I’m trying to stop them, Exeter. That’s why I’m here.”

  “You’ve been experimenting with other universes for years, and this time you screwed up. You let those evil bastards through.”

  Michael grabbed Amayas’s arm.

  “Is this shit true?”

  “I need your help. At the moment, there are three battleships, not an enormous fleet. We can wipe them out quickly and send a message. To do this, I am asking for Scylla plus several ships of the Aeternan Navy. I have Hermes and Charybdis, the other warships of my design. Swarm only respect a navy they cannot match head to head.”

  “Where are they?” Ham said.

  “As of forty minutes ago, hovering above Pinchon on Hokkaido.”

  The Hokkis turned white. Tears followed.

  “This is difficult news, but we can regain control without harm to the Hokki population if we act quickly. The trip by wormhole is twenty-one minutes.”

  “How long have they been there? Have they attacked the city?”

  “A little more than a standard hour, Kara. I was in Pinchon at the time. I was fortunate to escape. They hit two targets with defensive systems. When I left, they had done no other damage. I don’t know their plans. We need to act swiftly.”

  “What if it’s the vanguard of an invasion?” Cando said.

  “I don’t believe it is. You know how the Swarm work. They lead with their flagship followed by their deadliest forces.”

  “You don’t sound sure.”

  “I’m not. But I do have encouraging news. Right now, allies are trying to help. One of them is inside that battle group, but not by choice. I have an agent working across the divide to cut the head off the Swarm leadership. I can’t be certain they’ll succeed. Even if they do, they can’t rid of us of those ships and the soldiers inside. I don’t have to tell those of you who fought Swarm just how relentless and inhumane they are.”

  Exeter seethed. He had yet to take his seat.

  “How do you know the Swarm’s tactics? You never fought them.”

  “No, I haven’t. What I am, my friend, is very well informed. This is why I believe Lioness must lead the AN forces.”

  “Not a chance,” Michael said. “She’s our flagship, but she leads our defense. Lioness ain’t going anywhere. Hell, my navy ain’t taking part in your shitshow. You got warships. Do it yourself.”

  “Michael, I’m looking to avoid collateral damage on the ground. We can destroy those ships with particle missiles, but not without causing mayhem down below. If we present a large fleet, led by an impressive flagship, we can force their retreat. Lioness is twenty percent larger than the warships. We’ll protect her.”

  “You want us to drop everything and go off to war?”

  Amayas focused on the Hokkis and Ham.

  “If it were Aeterna, you’d do anything to protect it, Michael. There are people in here who want to protect their home. I can’t guarantee what it’s going to look like in a few hours. We need to do this now.”

  A Hokki from another universe raised her hand.

  “Did these ships travel from my Hokkaido?”

  “Yes, Lin, they did.”

  She turned to her crew:

  “We can’t let them do it again.”

  The Talons nodded. Ham stood.

  “Amayas, even if we wanted to join you, we can’t. Scylla is barred from jumping while inside this star system. Your design, I believe.”

  “Easily fixed, Ham. I know the code. Ten minutes, and I’ll open her up to every point in the galaxy.”

  Michael must have seen what way the wind was blowing.

  “What aren’t you telling us?”

  “Many things, Michael. The Alliance. The Splinters. How I know so much about everyone. It goes on, but none of it matters now. Help me end this crisis, and I’ll tell you everything. After that, I’ll await your judgment as to whether I’m friend or foe.”

  “You always were a smug asshole.”

  “I’ve been called worse.”

  “Captain? Thoughts?”

  “You know which way we’re leaning, Minister.”

  “Admiral Kane?”

  “As you’ve always said, Minister, the defense of Aeterna comes first. We’ll need to make significant compromises if we send a fleet abroad.”

  Cando intervened.

  “For what it’s worth, Amayas is right. The Swarm fleet leads with its biggest ship. Lioness will make a statement.”

  “Even if we play along,” Michael said, “we need time to work shit out. We don’t play half-ass with our defense. We remove one firewall, we slide another in its place.”

  “Then perhaps you should consult with Admiral Kane and your Colonels to determine the best approach. Please, don’t take long.”

  Michael started a long sigh and didn’t let go.

  “I want to see command staff in my office. Captain, your people can have the room to talk things out.”

  “Thank you. I’m sure we’ll have many questions for Amayas.”

  The Inventor whispered to Michael.

  “Could I possibly have a moment alone with Exeter?”

  “Why? So you can fuck him over again?”

  “I realize he’s part of your command staff. I’ll be brief.”

  Michael’s breath smelled of onions.

  “That kid’s happy for the first time in his life. You mess with his head, and I’ll cut off yours. Valentin.” Michael looked away. “Col. Woolsey, hold up.” To Amayas, he continued: “Through that door there’s a lounge. Should be empty. I want him in my office in five minutes. Not one second later.”

  As Michael huddled with Exeter, the Inventor turned to Ham.

  “Captain, I’ll be with you shortly. We’ll talk about the release code, and much more.”

  Amayas opened the door for Exeter, who slid past without a word. One look back into Tactical Prep revealed every set of eyes glued to Amayas. They knew Exeter’s story, too.

  When he shut the door, Amayas turned directly into a fist. He slammed into the wall.

  The blistering pain surprised him but not the fist. He foresaw it in every vision of their reunion. He also saw an extended, well-deserved beating followed up by laser weapons.

  Reality proved less punishing.

  Exeter backed off.

  “I’ve been waiting six years to do that.”

  “I’ve spent less than a year wondering how you’d come at me. I regretted what I did from the first moment.”

  “Then why? I trusted you, Amayas. You were the closest thing to the father I never had.”

  “I could tell you why, but you won’t understand. Not yet.”

  Exeter’s eyes burned with rage, but he stifled a laugh.

  “That’s it? You throw me into a neverending war, where I killed people practically every day for five years just to stay alive, and you say I won’t understand.”

  Amayas pushed himself up and moved gingerly toward Exeter.

  “I knew you’d be OK in the end because you’re immortal, and I knew you’d have Ryllen to look after you.”

  “Ryllen? That piece of shit looked after me, all right. He treated me as badly as the Caribs but told me it was love. After a while, I believed him. I don’t understand, Amayas. You took in Mother and me. You promised to look after us. You knew what my life was like on Everdeen. Then, what? You make me kill Mother by saying she’s going to ruin everything. Then, what? I killed all those people on that Chancellor ship because I thought I was keeping you safe. You used me.”

  Amayas reached out, but Exeter recoiled.

  “Yes. Yes, Exeter. I used you. I knew a Bouchet immortal would be important to my work. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t love you like a son. I agonized every minute after I sent you through the Splinter.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “I’m proud of you, Exeter. You’ve changed so much. You’re a grown man and an outstanding soldier. Michael Cooper believes in you. You’ve found a place to belong. I like the orange. It’s a good color for you.”

  “You don’t actually expect me to forgive you.”

  “No. I want you to know how much I admire who you’ve become. You’re a strong man. You built on top of your pain rather than allowing it to destroy you. Michael says you’re happy. Are you?”

  “I am. That’s all the time you get.”

  Exeter rushed past Amayas, wiping away sudden tears.

  Bringing up Ryllen Jee wasn’t the best strategy, but it proved instructive. The Inventor had no doubt: Exeter would never understand why this had to be, or why the renamed Royal took Exeter’s place in Amayas’s life.

  17

  Swarm Gallant Carrier Sturgeon

  Rally Fournos System

  Beta Universe

  R OYAL AND HIS COMPLEMENT OF TWO SV’s materialized outside the double-wide entry to the Imperial Suite. The towering red walls, matching carpet, and heavenly organ music told Royal he missed the mark. Again. He envisioned arriving inside the double doors, where servants and a priest were unarmed. They’d slit a few throats and reach the Empress without a hubbub. Oh, well. That plan was out. The Imperial Guard greeted them in white armor and plumage sprouting from their helmets like fountains. Hidden beneath golden armor, Royal decided to play a little game, just for giggles.

  He hid his Splinter inside the armor, which phase-shifted.

  “We are the emissaries of God,” he told the foursome, who carried staffs which emitted spikes of blue fire at the end. “We have come for Chastain.”

  The Guard made no rash movement. Did their hesitation suggest uncertainty? They witnessed three golden creatures appear out of nothing deep inside the galaxy’s most secure ship. Maybe zealots would fall for it?

  The sudden shift into a combat stance suggested otherwise.

  “Stand aside,” Royal said, hoping his SV’s didn’t make any reckless maneuvers. Shin gave Royal the two who consistently scored the lowest marks during training exercises. “No one may oppose the will of God and His Empress.”

  Not bad, Royal thought. Once again, he was a master of improv.

  Just not good enough this time.

  The Guards swung into attack mode. They charged the golden enemy, their staffs firing recognizable blue bolts. Force Drums discharged the same compressed energy bursts.

  The SV armor absorbed the hits by dispersing the energy through its synaptic network until rendered harmless. The temperature rose inside, but not enough to throw Royal off his game. He danced around the Guard and hit the closest with headshots from both his rifles. The one-two punch cracked the helmet, creating a seam from the neck collar to the ear; the second hit turned the enemy’s brain into gelatin.