“For a second there, Moon, I thought you were gonna say, ‘Plus, I owe you one.’”

  “That, too. I guess this will make us square.”

  “What do you say we wait until after the fight before we balance any scales?”

  “I can do that. C’mon, Royal. Let’s find these assholes. I’m hungry and I’m tired of this shit.”

  Royal slapped Moon on the back.

  “Couldn’t have said it better. In fact, that’s exactly what I would’ve said. Just so you understand: Talking like me don’t make you like me.”

  “Not yet.”

  “OK, killer. Which way you wanna go? Gingerbread said we could take any direction.”

  Moon pointed downhill to a narrow, twisting river. Whitewater broke around large boulders. They caught fish in calmer waters upstream a few weeks ago.

  “Why not?” Royal laughed. “Time to do stupid shit. Lead the way.”

  As they descended, Royal watched for movement along the tree line. Gingerbread’s language suggested the Destroyers would not beset them immediately, but Royal took no chances.

  “He called us both Rider,” Moon said as they neared the river. “Do you have any theories why?”

  “He used that name the first day, when he reunited us at the cabin. He had a big-ass smile on his face like he was honored.”

  “I didn’t see him smiling this time.”

  “No. He seemed worried. Almost like he was trying to convince himself who we were. I say that as if Gingerbread has emotions. I don’t know what the fuck he is.”

  “Maybe that’s the test. To decide if we’re really Rider. Does he think there’s someone inside us?”

  “That’d be my guess. Been hearing voices, by chance?”

  “Only yours when you talk in your sleep.”

  Royal stopped to study the ridgeline above and the grove between them and the river, which roared in the distance. All clear.

  “Since when do I talk in my sleep?”

  “Most nights.”

  “What do I say?”

  “Nothing I can make out. To be honest, I try to ignore it.”

  “I appreciate you not eavesdropping.”

  “There aren’t many words. Mostly sounds.” Moon stopped in his tracks. “It sounds like you’re in the middle of …”

  Moon’s cheeks turned red.

  “Well, you know what I mean.”

  Royal felt unfamiliar pangs of embarrassment.

  “Shit, Moon. Seems like something I’d remember. What d’ya say we don’t go there?”

  “Good idea. So, about this Rider. Could it be an alien that occupies two bodies at once? Or is it really two beings?”

  “Aliens? Great. So, we’re possessed? That would probably mean we’re not in control. You feel like something’s got you around the old brain stem?”

  “No. I’m thinking clearly. I’m the same man I’ve always been. There’s nothing else inside me.”

  “Unless there is.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Moon, one thing has always bothered me. You shouldn’t have been able to tether with me from Hokkaido. I went for broke that day. I plastered your blood on the Splinter, but it was a wing and a prayer. It was a billion-to-one shot.”

  Moon whirled about-face.

  “You never told me that. Why?”

  “I couldn’t believe it worked. I thought maybe somebody here would explain it. Gingerbread? Fat fucking chance. Now I’m thinking maybe this Rider asshole has the answer. Gingerbread said we were the two most important beings in nine universes. We can’t measure up to that crazy standard unless there’s more to us than we figure.”

  “We’ll know if we pass the test.”

  The river’s roar dominated the scene when they emerged from the woods. It’s muddy water smacked rocks and rushed in torrential currents. Smooth stones caked the shore, extending thirty meters from the water’s edge.

  “Would you look at that?”

  Royal pointed to a pair of open wooden chests waiting where the stone field transitioned to a wide clearing of sparse wild grasses. They raced to the chests. Standing over them, Royal laughed.

  “I think somebody wants us to be prepared.”

  One chest contained an assortment of blades, from kitchen knives to swords to a scythe. The other featured an array of energy weapons, from a snub nose Royal once nicknamed Goodboy to high-end, military-grade blast rifles. He saw no Force Drums. Mixed among the sleek, light laser pistols were heavier black handguns he didn’t recognize. Holsters sat atop boxes labelled ‘bullets.’

  “All this for us, Royal? What does it mean?”

  “Couple things. For one, it means they’re listening. We didn’t stumble on these chests out of dumb luck. They knew where we were headed. Means the Destroyers can’t be far away. For two, I think whatever we choose will determine how the fight plays out.”

  “You mean, if we go with pistols and knives, the Destroyers will come with the same?”

  “Hey, we can’t be expected to pass a test unless it’s fair. Glad you chose to leave us exposed?”

  “They’ll be too, Royal. We should choose weapons that suit our situation. Being exposed, I mean.”

  “Yeah, I got that. Since you don’t know squat, how about I select our private arsenal?”

  “Sure, Royal. If we have time, will you train me?”

  “No.” Royal grinned. “I think I’ll use you as bait. After they tear you to shreds, they’ll have to face the real deal.”

  “What? Why would …?”

  “Moon. Seriously. Lighten up. Yeah, of course I’ll run you through the paces, if we have time. Shut up and let me choose. I got a newb for a partner. This has to be just right. Keep a lookout.”

  “Sure, Royal.”

  “Both sides of the river.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I know. I’m not stupid.”

  “Yeah, you are. Me too. You picked this place, and I went along with it.”

  Royal calculated strategic possibilities, but he lacked one critical bit of intelligence. How many Destroyers would they face? Did they need weapons capable of wide dispersal? Even a rookie with lousy aim might take down a target or two through sheer luck – if the enemy arrived in a cluster.

  What if fair meant smaller teams? Or even paired enemies? Should he consider the blades instead? It would draw them in, force close-quarters combat. Moon wouldn’t last long.

  I’m making this shit too complicated. Or maybe that’s what I’m supposed to be doing. Wait! If this is a test, I need to be creative. That’s what those assholes are looking for. OK, then.

  Royal grabbed a laser pistol, made sure the energy cartridge was charged, and called to Moon, who scanned the opposite riverbank.

  “Sorry about this,” Royal said then shot Moon twice in the chest.

  The Hokki collapsed with a disbelieving stare and smacked the side of his head against the stone bed. Royal stood over the body and counted in his head.

  Twenty-five seconds later, Moon blinked twice and rolled over. He stared at Royal in disgust.

  “Why?”

  “Gingerbread was right. They made you a shitload better than me. Get your ass up, Moon. I got an idea.”

  7

  United Earth Cruiser Aston James

  Tranteum star system

  5000 kilometers from the Nexus point

  F IFTEEN DECKS. EIGHT LANDING BAYS. Eleven hundred state rooms. A dozen restaurants. Nine swimming pools. Five nightclubs. Four gyms. Two arenas. One arboretum. Six hundred crewpersons. The UEC Aston James did not measure up to an Ark Carrier, but its grandeur left Kara speechless.

  From the formal greeting by the ship’s officers to individual tours conducted by Earthers in humble green/white suits to private Recon tubes in each state room to floral bouquets everywhere she walked, Kara knew she’d entered a new world. Vessels like this were no longer reserved for the Chancellory. The Earth crew approached her fellow Hokkis with disarming personalities; their smiles seemed genuine, as if they hoped today marked the first of many visits.

  Earth, she often heard, wanted to return to the stars and do business with the other worlds. Not as rulers but as partners. She never heard an Earther refer to ‘the colonies.’ No doubt the crew was well-trained to avoid potential miscues and offensive terms, but Kara got no sense of insincerity. These people wanted to be here. On occasion, she recognized the Chancellor-born based on the polish in their step and the lilt in their accent. They also tended to rise a few inches above their Solomon-born crewmates. The Solomons, previously the worker undercaste to the Chancellory, tended to be more talkative and had faster wits.

  “I could live like this for a few weeks,” she told Cando as they unpacked. “They’ve thought of everything.”

  “This will be a nice retreat after a frustrating day.”

  “Which will be many, I’m sure.”

  Kara hung up her suits and took stock of the room’s grandeur. It was twice the size of their quarters on Scylla. And the smell? What was it? Lilac? The perfumed air was sweet but subtle.

  Cando opened a white wine from among several selections and filled long fluted glasses.

  “Have you heard of this place on the label? Normandy?”

  “I don’t know much about Earth. In school, we were taught the history and might of the Chancellory, but very little of Earth itself. Father once said the Chancellors weren’t keen on tourists, so they downplayed their private paradise. What about your Earth?”

  He handed her a glass filled with a light golden nectar.

  “Next to nothing. Earth was home to the Holy Risen Church. Any Turk eager to learn about Earth was called a Swarm-lover. A quick way to lose friends.”

  “When you were a cargo pilot, you never had any business dealings with Earth traders?”

  “The free worlds offered enough opportunities. From time to time, the Swarm compromised trade routes, so I had to be flexible.” They clinked glasses. “Never imagined one day I’d be drinking wine on a luxury starship, swooning over the love of my life, preparing to build a galactic armada. I rose above my station.”

  “I could say the same.”

  They sipped the wine, which was a little dry for Kara’s taste. Then again, the wines of The Lagos were known for their sweetness. Cando swirled it around his mouth with satisfaction.

  “Hon,” he said, “you were groomed for this world.”

  “My parents groomed me to be a showpiece and a baby maker to enhance their legacy. I wasn’t supposed to be an engineer, and certainly not an Ambassador.”

  “What was it you said to Jen Won when he offered you the job? ‘I’m twenty-six and the flavor of the month.’”

  “Both are true.”

  “You’re my flavor every day. Who cares what the rest think?”

  “I will when they start hurling insults and epithets.”

  Cando finished his wine and wrapped her in a bear hug.

  “No worries. I’m sure there will be a few days’ grace period before the nasty business kicks in.”

  The first of Kara’s formal duties took place an hour later, when she led the Hokki delegation into the arboretum on the upper deck. The thirty members of Earth’s delegation greeted them in a phalanx of smiling faces, casual suits, and floral saris, a far cry from the uniformed and bejeweled spectacle of the old Chancellory. An Earth woman stepped forward, and Kara did the same.

  “Ambassador Aleksanyan, and all those who represent Hokkaido’s interests, welcome. My name is Mikaela Slovis, Lead Ambassador. I hail from Finlandia Province. I am senior counsel to United Earth Premier Hugh Warner. He is unable to attend the conference, but he asked me to pass along his condolences for your recent losses and offer his full support to create a strong defense against the Swarm menace.”

  “Ambassador Slovis,” Kara said. “On behalf of my people, my husband, and the crew of Scylla, thank you for making this conference possible. The Aston James is a magnificent ship. I hope we can build a great future together while we’re here. The human race has never done anything like this before. I think we’re overdue.”

  Kara spent hours fine-tuning those words. She took pride in saying them without a hiccup.

  “Thank you, Ambassador,” Slovis said. “At this time, I’d like to introduce the official representative of the UE Administration.”

  She pointed to the delegation. A man Cando’s age but smaller and unassuming stepped forward. Kara thought he resembled a mousy accountant in tiny glasses and a slender beard.

  “May I introduce UE Vice-Premier Rikard Bryznewieski.”

  Kara read the dossiers of the highest-ranking delegates, and none fascinated her more than this man. A Solomon-born leader of an insurgent movement, hero of the victorious Warner Alliance during the Earth Civil War, and friend to Michael and Samantha Cooper. Oh, the questions she had for him.

  “I hope you’re excited, Ambassador,” the Vice-Premier said while shaking Kara’s hand. “I am so ready for this conference.”

  “It’s living history, Vice-Premier Bryznewieski.”

  He replied with a silly laugh.

  “Awkward, isn’t it? But apparently we must follow protocols. How about VP Rikard? Or VP, if you prefer.” He said it loud enough for all to hear. “It’s simple, and there’s no fuss with my last name.”

  “I like Vice-Premier. We should wear our titles with pride, even if we’re still getting used to them.”

  “I like you already, Ambassador.”

  The Vice-Premier broke protocol by exchanging enthusiastic handshakes with each member of the Hokki delegation. As he did so, he invited everyone to mingle.

  The mingling turned into wine and appetizers, followed by walks through beautiful gardens. In time, many settled in at tables decorated with gorgeous centerpieces of exotic flowers, only a few of which Kara recognized. She joined her husband, Jen Won, and VP Rikard at a table.

  Kara scanned the other groups, who were mixed. She had expected to see delegates retreat to their own people after a few pleasantries. She offered a toast, to which everyone raised a glass.

  “To goosebumps.” They played along like gentlemen, but she saw their confusion. “May there be many more like what I feel now.”

  “To goosebumps,” they replied.

  “It’s incredible.” She asked them to look around. “When was the last time anything like this happened?”

  “That,” VP Rikard said, “is like asking when was the last time the Chancellory wasn’t in charge.”

  Jen Won massaged his beard.

  “I seem to recall stories about diplomatic cooperation in the early years of colonization.”

  “Interesting,” Rikard replied. “When I was a child, we were taught the Chancellors alone saved humanity through colonization. They did all the heavy lifting. It was a nice fairy tale.” He chuckled. “Speaking as a Solomon, I can guarantee there was much more to the story.”

  “Regardless,” Kara said, “I think we can agree this sort of thing hasn’t happened in a very long time.”

  “Here, here,” Won added.

  “By the end of tomorrow, there will be thirty-nine other delegations doing the same thing. I can't imagine.”

  “The crazy thing about dreams,” Rikard said, “is they usually don’t come true. I never thought mine would. Now I have dreams I never knew I wanted. I’m sitting with two Hokkis and a Turk from another universe. Didn’t see that in my future.”

  Cando finished his wine and handed off the glass to a server in a green and white tunic. He started on the second.

  “I can relate, Vice-Premier. I spent a decade wearing battle armor. Wine, flowers, a beautiful woman, a full heart? Hell, the only thing I ever dreamed about was the occasional hot shower.”

  Rikard reached across the table and tapped Cando’s glass.

  “War is an all-consuming terror.” His ebullient style took a somber tone. “I dream we never go down that road again.”

  “That’s why we’re here.”

  “I have to ask,” Kara said. “How are things going on Earth? I’ve only heard a few stories.”

  “Day to day. We douse one brushfire and move on to the next.”

  “But the peace is holding?”

  He rapped his knuckles on the table.

  “We’re approaching the fourth anniversary, which is three more than we expected. The economy is years from being healed. We’re still dealing with fallout from the nuked cities. Repatriation is a nightmare. We have a quarter billion Chancellor-born who are learning job skills for the first time in their lives. But yes, the peace holds. For now.”

  “That sounds overwhelming.”

  “It is.” He shaded his eyes. “There are days I’d rather stay in bed. But we push on because we have no choice. We brought it on ourselves. We have to dig out of this hole.”

  “Honestly, it makes our problems insignificant.”

  “I almost didn’t attend, but Premier Warner insisted. He wants to make sure I tell our story to the galaxy. We don’t want pity or sympathy. There are many who think we had it coming. No, we want to be a cautionary tale of what happens when a world is decimated by war. We lost ninety-two million people. From the reports we’ve read, a Swarm invasion will be worse.”

  Cando nodded.

  “They won’t nuke cities, but they’ll make up for it in pure human slaughter. I’m curious. With everything you’re facing back home, how did you find the resources to pull this off?”

  Cando pointed out their surroundings. Rikard winced.

  “We’re using credits we don’t have. Our currency is worthless, and inflation is outrageous. But our administration committed to invest in commerce with the other planets. We see this conference as a crucial step in establishing lifelines and perhaps open the door to new trade. We decommissioned most of the Ark Carriers. We’re converting them into smaller, more efficient vessels. One Carrier provides the structural materials for twenty ships like the Aston James. We’ve hired ten million people in the past year. Small cities are forming around the shipyards.”

  “Brilliant vision,” Jen Won said. “I can only speak for Hokkis, but seeing those Carriers in orbit would not have earned many friends.”