“Shoot,” said Tynan, pointing at the soldier, “Him!”

  “I’m not going to –”

  Tynan leapt out of the captain’s chair, pulled the pistol from my hand, turned it towards the solider and pulled the trigger. The gunshot echoed around the bridge as the soldier collapsed to the ground, a bullet hole dead centre of his forehead. Tynan shoved the gun into my hands and returned to his seat.

  “You son of a bitch!” I yelled, pointing the pistol at Tynan. “You just don’t care, do you? Their lives are meaningless!”

  Tynan stared at me confidently. “If that’s how you feel, maybe you should do something about it!”

  I pulled the trigger.

  Click.

  I looked at the gun. Was the safety on? Nope, it didn’t seem to have a safety. I pointed it at Tynan again. Click. Click.

  “Did I mention the Empire proudly supports workplace health and safety? We biometrically encoded all weapons so only the issued weapons holder, their commanding officer, and I can use them. It’s cut down on a lot of misfires. And before you ask, we’re not the same – I had a little extra added in to ensure you couldn’t impersonate me.”

  Fuck. That’s why he was so unconcerned about me having the rifle … and the pistol. It was just a power play … a mindfuck. He was never in any danger.

  I threw the weapons to the ground in disgust, and turned back towards the window, towards the wreckage. The Firecracker was a terrifying piece of weaponry, however it worked. I made a mental note to ask Zavis about it, if I ever got the chance to speak with him again, as there was a good chance he’d know about these weapons.

  Behind me, I could hear the soldier’s body being moved, and a new soldier taking up position behind me. But I focused on more pressing thoughts – like why the fleet was here in the first place. There’d been at least three cruisers and a dozen frigates, by no means a small fleet. Surely it wasn’t because of the disappearance of the Stardove? Sure, it’s sudden absence would prompt a search and rescue, but a fleet of fifteen or so vessels? What else could’ve drawn them out here?

  “Why were they here?”

  “Why was who, where, what?” Tynan replied.

  I turned to look at him, and he glanced away, and again, I caught his eye twitching. After a moment, he faced me again, seeming to have collected himself.

  “Why was the Republic fleet here?” I asked again.

  “I haven’t the slightest idea.”

  “So, what … you just saw the fleet on your tracking systems and thought, yeah, that’ll do, I’ll just go blow up that fleet?”

  Tynan nodded. “Yeah, basically.”

  “Aren’t you curious as to why the fleet was here?”

  Tynan considered this for a moment. “I mean … I guess a little?”

  “Okay, great. Do any of your systems or crew have any insight about why they were here?”

  Each of the crew turned to Tynan and confirmed that they didn’t know why the fleet had been travelling where it was.

  “Oh well,” said Tynan. “I guess it will just be one of life’s little mysteries. Hang on, you!”

  The soldier that’d taken up the role of standing behind me turned towards Tynan. “Yes, Your Grace?”

  “Didn’t you hear the orders I gave the previous chap?”

  “I did, Your Grace.”

  “Then why aren’t you fucking hitting him when he speaks without first being spoken to?”

  “I have no excuse, Your Grace. I ask for your forgiveness!”

  “Don’t grovel! Just hit the fucker when he talks and isn’t supposed to!”

  Ignoring Tynan’s arseholery and the soldiers reply, I wondered if any of the crew knew anything about the fleet’s presence. For that matter, did I? Something that might’ve happened? Something I might’ve missed? A memory bubbled forth from my subconscious.

  “I’m unsure what the connection is, but we got an emergency broadcast from Akka. A large unidentified object – perhaps a ship – is approaching the colony. It destroyed a scout vessel sent to meet it, so they urgently requested Republic forces.”

  “There was an emergency broadcast! When your loyalists took the Stardove. It was from Akka.”

  The solider slammed his rifle into the small of my back, and I collapsed back onto the ground.

  “Check the records. See if you can find anything,” Tynan commanded.

  The crew members tapped away at their consoles for a few minutes. “Yes, I think I’ve got something, Your Grace.”

  “Play it on the speakers.”

  The crew member tapped a few more controls, and then a recording played.

  “This is an emergency broadcast for the Republic Council from the colony Akka. An unidentified … thing. We don’t know what it is, possibly a vessel. Whatever it is, it’s a huge orb – we estimate it's half an astronomical unit in diameter. It just appeared a few months ago – a few light years away – we think it dropped out of warp. We tried to establish a communication channel, but it didn’t respond to any attempt, regardless of the frequency. We sent a scouting vessel out to it in case we could establish physical contact instead … but it destroyed the shuttle. At its current speed, it is moving on a course that will intersect with Akka in about two years. We, the colony, are requesting immediate assistance from Republic forces.”

  The speakers, and the bridge, fell silent as everyone processed what they’d just heard.

  “Were there any other transmissions? Replies from the Republic or subsequent transmissions from Akka?” I asked.

  The previous crew member who’d found the emergency broadcast looked at Tynan, who gave a nod of approval. The crew member turned back to their console and tapped away once more. “There was one response from the Republic that passed by here about a year later, Your Grace.”

  “Play it.”

  “Akka, this is Commander Romans of the second defensive fleet. We’re being dispatched from Earth as we speak to render assistance to your colony. It is currently July 17th, 2158, so our estimated arrival time at Akka will be late December 2159. By your estimate, we should arrive before this vessel reaches your colony. Please send any additional information you have, and we will be with you as soon as possible, fate willing.”

  As soon as the second recording finished, the crew member spoke up. “There was one additional broadcast originating from Akka again. Playing it now.”

  “This is the colony, Akka. Commander Romans, we’ve recently received your transmission; its January 19th, 2159. Our situation has grown most dire; our orbit has elongated, effected more and more the closer the vessel gets. We don’t have any additional information to provide. We’ve tried scanning the vessel, but we can’t detect much. They confirm the vessel’s presence, trajectory, and speed, but that’s about it. All I can say is that our trepidation grows with each passing day. This thing looms in the sky, day and night, and it has awakened a sense of horror and fear in all of us. I fear your aid will arrive too late to help us.”

  The recording ended, and the room was silent once more.

  “What year and month is it?”

  “It’s roughly September or October 2159,” said Tynan as the soldier struck me again.

  “Okay … we’ve got time to get to Akka before that thing does.”

  Tynan laughed, holding up his hands to stop another strike. “Why on earth would we go to Akka?”

  “Because we just destroyed the fleet that was on its way to help the colony! There’s no one else close enough to help them!”

  “I still cannot see how this involves us?”

  Damn this man!

  Every action had to suit his interests, or it wasn’t worth giving time to. What could I say to appeal to his selfish nature?

  “You’re trying to re-establish the Empire, right?”

  “Obviously. If you’re still needing to clarify that after all our adventures together so far, you’re stupider than I thought.”

  “That’s not – don’t worry. Listen, if that thing that’s approaching Akka is hostile, which it sounds like it might be, if it destroys Akka, there’ll be nothing for you to re-establish an Empire over.”

  “There are more colonies and worlds than just Akka.”

  “Yes, but what if when this thing is done with Akka, it moves onto our other worlds? What if it moves through them, one by one? What will you rule over then? Amidst the rubble, what will you have dominion over?”

  Tynan went to speak as if automatically compelled to deliver a retort but caught himself – had one of my sentiments gotten a foothold in his thoughts?

  “Admittedly, there is some logic to that argument.” Tynan shifted in his chair, leaning forward. “So, unfortunately, I think this maggot is correct. We must either fight now or accept that this thing may finish and leave us with nothing to rule over, assuming it’s hostile. Plot a course for Akka.”

  “Great! Then we need to –”

  Tynan cut me off. “Your argument may have merit, but don’t overstep your mark, Raith. You have a place. Best remember it.” Tynan turned towards the soldier. “You can hit him again now – and make it a hard one!”

  I heard a sharp intake of air as the soldier drew back his rifle. Odds were in favour of this strike knocking me out. But my pain was worth it – I’d convinced a powerful, selfish man to act in the interest of others.

  Hold on Akka, help is on its way.

  The air rushing past my ears told me the impact was imminent.

  Crack!

  Chapter 5

  A Good Offence

  2159, Common Era – Planet Akka, Frontier Space, the Republic of Humanity

  The events that led to this situation solidified in my mind as I stared at my reflection in the pool of cryofluid I’d just vomited up. Tynan’s soldier had knocked me unconscious, and when I’d awoken, cryonic technicians were placing me inside a cryopod. I presumed we had arrived at our destination, as I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the puddle below. Tynan’s decision to spare me from three more months of solitary confinement was a relief, but I couldn’t help but notice that I was still stuck in a filthy and neglected state. My hair hung in unkempt, matted strands, and my beard was a wild, bushy mess. Beneath all the hair, I looked pale and emaciated. I tried not to gag as I noticed the putrid stench emanating from my clothes and skin, a mixture of dried blood, excrement, and food remnants. It dawned on me that this was the first time I’d seen myself in months.

  I’m like a living corpse … fuck!

  Seeing my reflection also made me realise how much I’d been missing my morning routine: Bitsy’s cheerful good morning chirp, the sound of the children playing outside, Amorina and Father cooking breakfast for everyone, and, of course, my morning recital.

  My choices affect others, so choose how those choices affect them.

  I’d missed that daily period of introspection. Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, I knew this was an excellent opportunity to squeeze in a session. I’d felt so blind over the last few months, lost in endless introspection without the business of life to temper the silence. All those days spent hoping that Emma, Amorina, and Zavis were in cyrosleep, and hoping that Ichirō was doing okay too. Despite his missteps, I hoped he would find his way back to us.

  I discarded my doubts with a shake of my head and broadened my perspective to take in the bigger picture. My mind felt overwhelmed as I cycled through all the events in motion: the Republic, unaware of how outmatched they were against the rising threat of the Empire; the colony Akka and the approaching danger that loomed over them; and of course, the Empire itself and Tynan’s return along with it. I felt obligated to resolve all these issues somehow – if I even could, given my state – but I hadn’t figured out how to do it yet.

  “Raith?”

  I glanced left and saw Amorina, with Emma and Zavis behind her, all kneeling in their expelled cryofluid as I was. A wave of relief rolled through me. They had been in cryo, they’d been safe and spared from the suffering I’d gone through.

  “Amorina!”

  Tears streamed down my wife’s face, and her body shook as she reached out to me. I crawled towards her as quickly as my weakened body would allow and embraced her. She held me, and I felt her run her hands up and down my body, feeling my bones jutting from beneath my skin.

  “I almost didn’t recognise you! You’re so thin and shaggy,” she whispered in my ear. “What have they done to you?”

  “I’m okay,” I said as tears ran down my face. “A little worse for wear, but okay.”

  I heard Amorina inhale and then gag.

  “And you reek!” she hissed.

  “Sorry … I haven’t had … any opportunities to clean myself up.”

  “Daddy?”

  Amorina and I separated, and I gazed at my daughter's sweet face.

  “Come here, sweetie pie!” I said as I stretched out my arms.

  Emma ran forward, and I felt her tiny arms wrap around my neck as I scooped her against me. Amorina joined the embrace, and we all hugged; our family reunited at last.

  “You are stinky, Daddy!”

  “I know, sweetie, I know. Daddy is sorry about that.”

  “That’s okay! I’m stinky too sometimes. We just need a bath!”

  Amorina and I chuckled – there was something about a child’s naiveté that could bring accidental levity to a situation.

  “I’ve missed you guys so much.”

  “But we were all asleep, Daddy? We don’t dream in the sleepy machines, so how’d you miss us?” Emma asked innocently.

  “Daddy had a different sleep to you guys … so I dreamt about you and missed you both so much!”

  “Oh … okay,” Emma said with a shrug, accepting my explanation with the ease and complete trust of the young.

  I looked over Amorina’s shoulder at Zavis and raised a questioning eyebrow. Zavis nodded, and I smiled because now I knew he was okay, too.

  “All right, break it up!”

  I felt the warmth of my family’s embrace ripped away from me as hands forced us apart.

  “Hey!” I snapped at the soldiers.

  “Hey yourself, traitor! Huggin’ time’s over!”

  Each of us had a soldier who pulled our arms behind our backs and lifted us to our feet.

  “Walk!” they commanded as they pushed us out of the cryo room.

  “What’s happening?” Amorina asked.

  The soldiers remained silent as they continued to march us forward.

  “We’ve arrived at Akka,” I replied.

  Amorina tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. “We’ve gone to Akka?”

  “Yes, we have – long story short, Tynan destroyed a Republic fleet that was going to Akka’s aid, which they’d requested because there’s an extra-terrestrial vessel approaching the colony. I convinced Tynan to aid Akka in place of the Republic fleet.”

  Amorina’s expression changed to shock and disbelief; her eyes widened as she processed my sentence. Admittedly, it’d been a doozy. Still, it’d been the most succinct way to catch her up.

  “Holy fuck! How long was I out for?”

  I took a few moments to think back, counting the months I’d spent in isolation and cryosleep. “Almost a year, I think.”

  “A year? Fuck me!”

  We rounded a corner, and the soldiers steered Emma, Amorina, and Zavis down one hallway and me down another.

  “Hey! Why are we going to different places?”

  “Shut up, traitor!”

  “Raith!” I heard Amorina call out from the other passage.

  “I’ll find you!” I shouted back.

  The soldier pushing me gave me a harder shove. “Quit chattering and keep walking!”

  They led me to an elevator, and after going up a few floors, I found myself on the bridge. The ship was still moving at warp speed, the blue light cone glimmering ahead of it. I quickly scanned the room and saw that the advisors and Tynan were there.

  “Hello again, Raith,” came the slow, familiar drawl.

  I cautiously nodded back an acknowledgement, remembering the trigger-happy soldiers from the last time.

  “Oh, don’t worry, I will not have you hit this time.”

  “You won’t?”

  “No. You proved … surprisingly resistant to the pain I’m sure those rifle butts were inflicting, so this time, I’ve devised a different form of motivation to keep you in line,” Tynan said as he pointed to a monitor.

  I glanced up and saw Emma, Amorina, and Zavis standing in what appeared to be an observation lounge. A soldier stood behind each one of them, rifle in hand.

  “If you speak before you’re spoken to, or if you address me the wrong way, this time I’ll have them struck in the head, and depending on your behaviour, it’ll either be one at a time or all together. Understood?”

  Fuck, I hate this arsehole.

  “Yes, Your Grace. I understand,” I answered begrudgingly.

  “Excellent.”

  The bridge filled with a brilliant blue light as the starship decelerated from warp speed; the light shifted from sapphire to azure before it dissipated. Seconds later, the colour returned as a deep purple, moving into a dark violet, and then to electric blue, and then the ship moved out of warp and showed the universe once again. But instead of being greeted with a view of Akka, a vast emptiness, dark and devoid of anything, met us.

  “Where is it?” Tynan demanded.

  “I don’t know, Your Grace. Scanning for Akka now.”

  We were supposed to be in front of Akka, but it was nowhere to be found.

  “We’ve located it, Your Grace. Its orbit is … far more elliptical than it should be. Setting us on an intercept course now.”

  The view stayed the same for a while, and then a dot appeared to the left. I watched as the dot became centred and then began to enlarge as the vessel moved towards it. In Akka’s second emergency broadcast, they’d noted that their orbit was elongating, affected by the gravity of the approaching vessel. Speaking of the vessel, we would’ve seen it by now if it was of the size reported. I noticed a queasy feeling in my stomach – something was definitely amiss here.

  “A question, if I may, Your Grace.”