Outliers of Tirano

  -5-

  Royal Council Chamber

  Arvor Castel

  Planet Tirano

  A deci later the Royal Council met. Admiral Kiptani spoke first. "Before the Queen arrives, let me tell what we have learned so far. At exactly 1.5 deci the Delta Quadrant of the Belts shut down even though the comprocessors displayed no outward signs of failure.. Five spiral missiles passed through Delta Quadrant and all struck Brehon Compound. Our satellite cameras show total obliteration of the Compound." He took a deep breath. "No survivors have been found, and none are expected."

  "Perimeter patrols on both sides of the Belts detected no hostile ships in the area. As we all know, however, the Tamok use spiral missiles."

  Count Rohfek fingers drummed the table. "What conclusions have you drawn?"

  "At this point, no conclusions, just questions," Kiptani replied. "How could the Belts go down with the comprocessors signaling a warning? How could the hostile ship know to target Brehon Compound? Why did our patrols fail to detect the hostile ship? Why did Delta Quadrant reactivate after the strike?

  "Thanks to Master Kuinsi's notification the Fleetman on duty scanned the comprocessor programs. All we know so far is that a virus somehow infected the comprocessor."

  Lydmila paced behind the Royal Council table. "Rubbish. Can there be any doubt?" she asked. "The coincidences are too many to ignore. Only the Royal Council was aware that Zhun'Mar and Mirae would be at Brehon Compound. A new Council member gained access to Belts Control for the first time. He insisted on inspecting the comprocessors the same day the virus activated. And we all know what devious things are possible with a Sibyl pendant. And does anyone really believe he received a message from Vision? I would laugh at his lunacy if the consequences were not so horrible."

  Rohfek stared at Lydmila. "Commandant," he said shaking his head. "How stupid do you think Kuinsi is? Even if he could somehow inserted a virus that shut down a quadrant of the Belts, why would he tell Admiral Kiptani about a malfunction? And most importantly, where would he obtain spiral missiles and how could he launch them?"

  Kiptani rubbed his chin as if he were actually considering the plausibility of Lydmila's theory. "I agree. If Kuinsi did all this, why would he contact me?"

  Lydmila's face reddened. "Am I the only one who sees obvious? The little Earther boy got scared. He was in cahoots with the Tamok and was afraid they would double cross him and bomb the Castel while the Belts were down. He became afraid he'd die. All he wanted to do was to save his little Earther ass."

  In addition to the fact there wasn't a shred of truth in anything Lydmila said, her unmitigated bigotry set me in a rage. I shoved my chair back and bolted to my feet. "You seem to have forgotten that it was my father, an Earther, that Tarnlot entrusted with the knowledge that permitted Zhun'Mar, Mirae, and Mother return. That he cut the shoots they brought back to reestablish the Vine. And without the bubo immunity and the wealth provided from the wine from those vines, the Belts could never have been seeded."

  I clenched my jaw and pointed a finger at Lydmila. "I could never, would never, permit the destruction of what my Earther father made possible. So, never, ever call me Earther boy in a derogatory manner again."

  Lydmila's eyes narrowed and the corner of her mouth curled. She parted her lips to speak when the Chamber door swung open. Two Vhirko entered, followed by Siniastra. Two more Vhirko guarded Siniastra's back. Sini's eyes were blood shot eyes and her cheeks red, but instead of sorrow in those deep blue eyes, I saw only fury. A fury that matched mine.

  Everyone at the table rose. Without acknowledging anyone, Siniastra pulled back the Golden Vine Throne and stood at the table. "I will make this brief. The Tamok must pay for the death of my parents. No quarter will be shown to them, or the traitor or traitors who helped them shut down the Belts for the launch of the spiral missiles.

  "Commandant Lydmila and Lord Chancellor Rohfek, you two are in charge of finding the traitor. Admiral, you have until sixth deci today to prepare a plan for a retaliatory strike against Tamok." She turned to me. Her lips quivered. "Kuinsi, please make arrangements for the return of my parents' bodies. You were close to Father and would know his wishes."

  "Your Highness," Kiptani said, an edge of concern in his tone. "We don't have enough -"

  Siniastra's glare cut him off. "You have your orders. We meet again in less than three deci." She turned and left the room as quickly as she had entered.

  Empathy raced through me. I could only imagine how I would feel if my mother had died in the attack. I too would have sought revenge, and I wouldn't deny Sini hers.

  Rohfek rose. "You heard the Queen. We all have work to do. Meeting adjourned until sixth deci."

  Rohfek and Kiptani scurried out the Chamber door. I finished his notes and stood. Lydmila blocked the door.

  "I will use every available resource to find any and all evidence that you're the Belt-sabotaging traitor. When I do, I will relish the moment when I personally jam your head on the traitor's pike and plant it in Arvor Square."

  I didn't like the way she was trying to intimidate me. With my heart pounding against my chest, I spoke. "I don't think you heard what the Queen said. You're to find the traitor or traitors, not indulge in your petty prejudice against me."

  Lydmila snarled and stepped forward. She pressed her finger in my chest. Pain pierced through me and I grimaced. A satisfied smile creased her face. She turned and walked down the hallway.

  I spent the next deci arranging for the return of Zhun'Mar and Mirae's remains. Zhun'Mar would not have wanted a formal cortege from Brehon Compound to the Castel, so a Vhirko honor guard would bring the remains directly to the Castel. After the condition of the bodies was ascertained, they would lie in state in either an open or unopened casket until the formal interment took place. I did not look forward to viewing the bodies and making that decision.

  After these initial arrangements were completed, I started for my quarters. I changed my mind. If Lydmila was going to be antagonistic, I wanted to cement Count Rohfek as an ally. I'd thank Rohfek for standing up for him and ask for more of his advice on how to deal with Lydmila.

  When I arrived at Rohfek's quarters, I reached to push the intercom screen. I pulled my hand back; the door was open a crack. Count Rohfek was notorious for screening all visitors. He always joked that he only permitted gourmands bearing bounty to pass through his portal. I couldn't imagine Rohfek ever leaving his door open so any one could enter unscreened, especially when a traitor might be roaming the Castel.

  My heart skipped a beat. The traitor had broken into the Count's room and was attacking the Count. If the traitor had taken down the Belts, he could easily break into the Count's room. There wasn't time to find someone to help. I had to do what I could. I doubted I could succeed with a direct confrontation, so I'd have to sneak up on the traitor. Hopefully, with the help of the Count, the two of us could subdue the traitor.

  I extended my hand, and as quietly as I could, pushed the door open enough for me to squeeze into the entry hall. I heard a harsh, raspy voice. "Tell me, Count. How did they become aware that the quadrant was down? You assured me that no one would detect the virus and ever discover what had happened. Now that they know it's there, they'll be able to remove it and we won't have a backdoor through the Belts."

  I pressed my body closer to the door and stopped. Only one voice sounded like that, Petrella's. How could she have gotten access to the Castel? Were she and Loik torturing the Count for information?

  "How was I to know that Kiptani would take that twirp Earther boy to the Control room just as the virus activated and that his Sibly pendant would sense the malfunction?" Count Rohfek replied with disgust. "Don't worry about the little twirp, though. He'll soon be out of the way. I'll plant enough evidence that Lydmila will be able to cut his head off in the Council Chamber. Then I'll convince Siniastra to send the Armada into your tra
p."

  My knees buckled. I leaned against the wall for support. Rohfek, traitor, my mind screamed in disbelief. I had to get out, tell everyone what was happening. Instead, fear numbed me and my legs wouldn't move.

  "Don't fail this time if you want to be my consort," Petrella sneered. "You only had a small taste of the ecstasy I can give you. Think of spending night after night in my bed."

  I heard the fizzle of the fading of a holo. Petrella and Loik weren't in the Count's room. They'd transmitted from somewhere close enough for a conversation with no time lag. That meant they hadn't transmitted from Tamok, and they had left Tirano on their ship. They had to still be on a ship, and it had to be within one jump of Tirano. But how could they have managed to get close enough for instant communication without being detected by the Armada's security patrols?

  Footsteps headed across a room and a door closed. I leaned against the wall for support and lurched out the door. I stumbled down the hallway, my mind in turmoil. As head of the investigation, Rohfek could plant enough evidence to convince the Council I was a traitor. I was doomed unless I could find someone who would believe me. Lydmila never would and I doubted Kiptani would. He and Rohfek had served together on the Royal Council for dekas and Kiptani had said many times how Rohfek had graciously stepped aside as interim Regent when Zhun'Mar returned from Earth.

  With my head down in thought, I turned the corner of the hallway and bumped into Lydmila. Her bulk knocked me back a step. A squad of Vhirko stood behind her. "Sneaking around, huh?" A cruel smile crossed her lips. "With a traitor loose in the Castel, I'm worried about you wandering through the hallways alone."

  She turned and faced the squad. "Corporal Oksana, accompany Master Kuinsi. Do not let him out of your sight until you're relieved of duty."

  A black haired Vhirko stepped forward. She lowered her gaze to look at me. "Yes, Commandant."

  I didn't know whether to be upset or thankful. A Vhirko guard would ensure that no harm came to me, but she'd also know everything I did. I decided I had no choice but to do what I would have done even if a Vhirko didn't shadow me. I'd tell Siniastra everything.