“Who is it you don’t trust?” I asked.
“Everyone,” he said, his giraffelike face looking very serious. “I know I can count on you children, and Captain Qwlessl’s loyalty is beyond question, but otherwise, I am not inclined to be trusting. We are discussing the most dangerous and volatile technology in the known galaxy.”
“And why do you want to discuss that with me?” I asked, trying to sound like I had no idea, probably coming across as guilty.
“Zeke, only you were able to reactivate your Former abilities,” he said. “I’d like you to brief me on what I don’t know so I can decide how best to protect you and, possibly, all life within the galaxy.”
“Why do you need to know suddenly?”
“If we had been poised to try to rescue the prisoners ourselves, you may feel quite confident that I would have asked you during a pre-mission briefing. Now there are larger, more political issues that I must contend with. I need to know precisely what happened.”
His point was, beyond doubt, valid. Getting rid of Junup and shutting down the empress’s ability to expand were great things, but if they only meant a brief delay while the Phands perfected the Former military technology, we’d have gained nothing.
I walked Dr. Roop through the major events following Villainic’s jettison of the escape pod. I had already told him about the renegade Phands and their plan to destroy Confederation Central, but now I told them how they planned to do it. I was in the middle of describing one of the briefings when he stopped me.
“This Convex Icosahedron, who is he?”
“He seems to be their leader, but I don’t know anything about his species. He was weird, though. I don’t mean in personality, though that is definitely true. I mean I couldn’t tell if he was alive or artificial. His head was a big geometric shape—with no face.” I avoided likening him to a twenty-sided die because I was hoping to avoid that subject for as long as possible.
“He was one of the Geometric Upstarts,” Dr. Roop said as if talking to himself.
This surprised me. “You’ve heard of them? What can you tell me about them?”
“They’re not something you need to be concerned with,” he assured me. “Please continue.”
And I might have done so without giving the matter another thought if I hadn’t felt that gentle buzz. Convex Icosahedron’s lie detector had kicked in. Besides my parents, Dr. Roop was the adult I trusted most in the galaxy, and he had just lied to me.
• • •
I was grown up enough to know that this didn’t need to be a big deal. After all, I’d just withheld information from Dr. Roop about the twenty-sided die, and that didn’t make me evil—I hoped. Still, I was supposed to be able to trust him. I understood that maybe there were things he thought I shouldn’t know about, but I wasn’t some innocent bystander. I was pretty deeply involved in everything, I didn’t like being boxed out.
“I kind of feel like you’re holding something back,” I said.
Dr. Roop rubbed his horns, as he did when he was anxious. “I don’t know that we need to get into this now, Zeke. It’s not pressing, and honestly, it’s not my story to tell. Ask your father when this is all over.”
No buzz from the Lasso of Truth, but that now seemed beside the point. “My father? What does this have to do with him?”
“I’ll give you the short version,” he said, “but that’s it, because he needs to decide how much of this story to share. But in return, you tell me everything you are holding back.”
I nodded. “Deal.”
“You know that you were led to believe your father died in a vehicle accident, but of course you later learned that, in reality, he left Earth. Have you never wondered how he came to be on Confederation Central, and how, once there, he managed to rise to a position of such prominence?”
My father had promised to tell me all about it at some point, but since we’d been reunited, our conversations had tended to be brief and of the I’m glad you’re out of prison and Don’t get killed doing what you’re about to do variety. The heart-to-heart had not yet happened.
“What do you know about it?” I asked.
“The car accident was real,” said Dr. Roop. “Your father was critically injured, and for reasons we don’t understand, he was rescued by one of the Geometric Upstarts, who happened to be on Earth at that time. I do not know why, but he was there, and he took an interest in your father. The Geometric Upstart duplicated your father’s genetic material so that it would appear he died in the accident. He then took your father to Confederation Central. There the Geometric Upstart provided him with a new appearance and identity and put him on a course to advance in the world of politics.”
“But why? Who was he, and why would he pick my father, of all the people on Earth, to take to the Confederation?”
“I don’t know,” Dr. Roop said. “I never got the full story. I’m not sure your father knows either, but I always believed he knew more than he told me.”
“But you have a guess about what it all means.”
“I have some unproved theories,” Dr. Roop said. “Nothing more. Now, tell me about the Former tech.”
I sighed. It was less information than I wanted, but Dr. Roop was right that it wasn’t vital to the current crisis. Besides, my lie detector hadn’t piped up, so I figured whatever else he knew, he would tell me when things settled down.
I went back to my story, and I told him about the scientist on Planet Pleasant, the powder, and the die.
“So you risked your life to fight Ardov.”
“It was either risk my life or be certain of getting killed,” I said. “It seemed like a reasonable decision at the time.
“I understand,” Dr. Roop said. “Do you still have this die?”
I reached into my pocket and handed it to him.
He turned it over and looked at it from different angles. “Do you know what this shape is called?”
I nodded. “It’s a convex icosahedron.”
“Interesting, isn’t it?”
“What are you saying?” I asked. “That this Geometric Upstart sent me to Planet Pleasant just so I would find an object that had his name? That makes no sense.”
“There is a lot here that makes no sense,” Dr. Roop said. He handed the die back to me. “When Junup is out of power and the Phands are once more contained, I hope you will let me run some tests on the die and the powder.”
“Sure,” I said. “Maybe you could figure out how to reactivate the Former tech.”
“Possibly,” he said, “but right now I don’t think that’s a good idea. There is a reason, I suspect, that the tech tree was lost for so many millennia. It is too dangerous, and hacking it creates beings of almost unimaginable power. I’m glad the technology is unstable, and I hope no one figures out how to repair it. In the meantime, the information about the powder and the die must be kept secret.”
“Are you worried about something?”
“I am worried about almost everything,” he said, “and I worry all the time. However, I don’t see any reason that we need to worry about any of this until after we return Ghli Wixxix to her rightful place. Once we have restored the government of the Confederation, we can depend upon our best minds finding answers to all these questions.”
• • •
We finished talking in time for Dr. Roop to turn off the antisurveillance tech and unlock the door, so we just looked like early arrivals when the others showed up. Even Villainic, who was rubbing his eyes like he’d just woken up from a nap, showed up for the meeting. Captain Qwlessl and Urch looked a little harried, but were very friendly when they came in. Urch slapped my shoulder and the captain gave me a hug even though she’d just seen me the day before.
“I’ve been very busy getting this ship in order,” she told me, “so I’m sorry if you feel neglected, but it is wonderful to have you on board. All of you.”
“I know what you planned to do for me,” said Ghli Wixxix, “and for the Confederat
ion, and I am very grateful.” I hadn’t seen her since her rescue, and I was glad that she was looking healthy. At least she was as far as I could tell. I’d never seen any other beings of her species. The Confederation director was small and blue and eyeless, though that didn’t stop her from getting around. I presumed she navigated by way of sound, through her big batlike ears. Or possibly through scent, or some other sense, picked up by her nasal slits or the many small waving tendrils just below her forehead.
I felt an almost uncontrollable gratitude toward her. Yes, I would not have experienced all the danger of the past week if Ghli Wixxix hadn’t come to Earth, looking to recruit me for her mission to the Hidden Fortress. On the other hand, she’d risked a lot to trust me, and she’d paid for that risk with the loss of her ship and the time she’d spent in a Phandic prison. If she hadn’t trusted me and wanted my help, Tamret would still be stuck on Rarel, engaged to Villainic. I would have been stuck on Earth. None of us would have had another chance at joining the Confederation.
She stuck out one of her small blue hands for me to shake, Earth-style. “The Confederation owes you a debt, once again.”
“Well, we didn’t actually do anything,” I said. “I mean, I would have done my best to rescue you, but we never had the chance. My mom would say we were a day late and a dollar short.”
Steve cast me a knowing look. “Mainly because we were stood up on our way to the party, yeah?”
“I apologize for that,” Captain Qwlessl said. “You have to understand that while we were willing to accept your help if we had no choice, we were uncomfortable asking a group of children—no matter how powerful—to attempt a prison break such as you had planned. We have been building our own contacts and insiders for years. While we were waiting for you, an opportunity to effect the rescue presented itself, and we took it. We left a coded communications beacon for you, but apparently you had your own troubles when you entered the system, and you never found it.”
“Captain Qwlessl struck first,” Urch said, “but I understand it was your plan, which Dr. Roop relayed to her. I consider us to be in your debt. I was going crazy in there. They kept the director separate from the rest of us, so I had no idea what was going on with her, and I feared the worst.”
“It is true,” Nayana said. “He kept breaking things out of frustration.”
I knew Urch to be extremely loyal and equally determined. If he had been worried about the highest official in his civilization, he must have been difficult to be around.
“I was separated from the others, but not poorly treated,” Ghli Wixxix said. “Though I appreciate the concern and all that you have done.”
“So, what’s the plan now?” I asked as we all took our seats. Tamret was next to me, but she didn’t look over at me.
“The plan is your plan, Zeke,” Captain Qwlessl said. “We arrive on Confederation Central unannounced, and we broadcast a message from Director Ghli Wixxix. Junup will be disgraced, and either he will be arrested, or he will flee. In either case, he and his followers will be out of power, since the actual elected director will now be back in Confederation territory.”
“At that point,” Dr. Roop said, “the director will exercise her authority to mobilize the Confederation military. Our forces will drive the Phands from Earth and any other territories they may have taken since my capture. Your world should be free within three or four standard days.”
I nodded in thanks. Once Junup was out of power, the Phands would have more important things to care about than our families, whom they were holding prisoner, but the sooner Earth was liberated, the happier I’d be.
“We wanted to brief you because there are inevitably going to be hearings,” Captain Qwlessl said. “The charges against Junup are serious, and in order for the Confederation to move forward, there will have to be hearings that expose precisely what happened and how. It is our intention that we learn from our mistakes so we do not repeat them. Your voices, your experiences, are important to that process. That means it may be some days, possibly even weeks, until you can return to your home planets.”
“What!” Alice half rose out of her chair before controlling herself and sitting back down.
“No way,” Mi Sun said. “I’ve been away long enough, and I’m worried about my mom and dad.” She glowered at me.
“We would like to cooperate,” Charles said, more diplomatically, “but you must recall that our planet is in a terrible state. Mi Sun and Alice are not alone in their concerns for those back home.”
“That is, in large part, what I wanted to discuss with you. We understand you are worried, and we want to do everything we can to help.” The captain gestured at Ghli Wixxix.
“Once we have overseen a safe and peaceful removal of Phandic forces from your world,” she said, “we will help in detaining their collaborators, who will be handed over to your own judicial bodies. We would like to invite your families to send communication beacons back to the capital. You will have to provide us with contact information, of course, but it should be relatively easy to track down any names you give us. It may be longer than you would like before you can see them again, but we will enable the sending and receiving of messages from them. Finally, in appreciation for all you have done for the Confederation, I will recommend that all your planets be allowed to bypass the initial step of providing candidates for the application process. I intend to argue that Earth, Rarel, and Ish-hi be granted preliminary Confederation membership.”
Mi Sun looked skeptical at best. I knew she wanted to see her family, but maybe knowing they were okay would be enough. The rest of the humans looked considerably happier. We had been promised another chance to apply for Confederation membership, and while I believed Earth would have every chance of succeeding, this was even better. Skipping the year of evaluation meant a fast track to advanced technology and medicine, things that would make a huge difference, especially in the aftermath of the invasion.
Even so, there were things here I did not like at all.
“That sounds great,” I said, “it really does, but I guess I worry it won’t be so easy. I mean, Junup is just one guy, but there are a lot of members of his Movement for Peace, and he has followers throughout the government.”
“I know you haven’t always had reason to be impressed with Confederation justice,” said Captain Qwlessl. “Neither have I, but you’ve seen only our worst side. I think now you will see us at our best.”
“I’m glad you are optimistic about this,” I told her, my voice icier than I intended, “but I’d like to hear Director Ghli Wixxix’s assurances.”
“Here we go,” said Mi Sun, and she smacked her palm against her forehead. It sounded like a whip crack. “There’s no need to turn everyone against you. Just take the win and move on.”
The other humans were staring at me, looking anxious or embarrassed or angry. Even Steve was gazing at me with curiosity, his tongue flicking into the air as he tried to figure out what I was up to. Tamret turned to look at me, her ears back and her eyes slits of suspicion.
“Zeke,” Dr. Roop said quietly, “your tone is a little forceful when speaking with the director.”
“It is fine,” said Ghli Wixxix, her tendrils waving vigorously at me. “As Captain Qwlessl observed, we have perhaps not earned Zeke’s trust as well as we might have, but we certainly owe him, and his associates, our gratitude. I don’t mind explaining. Yes, Junup has managed to build up a large faction, and they have been loyal, but popular opinion will turn against them when they are exposed. I have been through enough political cycles to know that those who were loyal out of expedience will change allegiances. Those who are true believers will flee. None who supported him will retain their positions following the next election. There will be no bloody revolution, but there will be a sweeping away of Junup’s supporters.”
“And what about Junup himself?” I asked.
“He has done more than support a political position,” she assured me. “He has engaged in
criminal activities, including murder, attempted murder, and sabotage of a Confederation vessel. He will face criminal charges. That is one of the reasons you must remain with us for a little while—so we can take your statements for his trial.”
“And you’re okay with this,” I pressed. “I remember you telling me that the two of you were friends once.”
I have learned, sometimes the hard way, that you can’t read too much into alien body language, but her ears shot up and became broad, and her nasal slits were flaring. She didn’t like these questions.
“That was a long time ago,” Ghli Wixxix assured me. “He has changed. I feel nothing but disdain and pity for both him and his foolish ambitions.”
“And you won’t make any kind of alliance with the Phands?”
“Zeke,” Dr. Roop snapped. “That is quite enough.”
I understood why he reacted that way. It seemed like I was being rude. Maybe I was being rude, but I had to ask.
“I would like to hear the answer,” Villainic said sleepily. He then covered his mouth so he could yawn. “We have a right to know.”
I could do with less help from that quarter, but I supposed I should be glad someone was backing me up.
“Perhaps you could tell us why you are asking all this?” Captain Qwlessl said gently. “Is there some specific reason you want to press these points?”
“I just want to make sure things are going to be different this time,”
“Very well,” said Ghli Wixxix. “If it makes you feel better to hear it, I promise you I have no intention of making any sort of alliance with the Phands. My goal has always been to stop their expansion and, ultimately, liberate the worlds they hold. This latter part will be a slower process than I would like, but I intend to dedicate the remainder of my time in office overseeing what I hope will be the beginning of the end of the Phandic Empire. As for Junup, I feel no loyalty to him whatsoever, and I intend to work to make certain he is captured and punished.”