Chapter 4

After Shiloh had led Eric away to his quarters, no doubt muttering under his breath, Kurana also retired to her room. Pouring herself a drink, she thought on the utter improbability—no, the impossibility—of Eric Janis.

Well, Strechigar Lim Naziophit hadn’t been bluffing. He really had founded a world of nothing but highborns, and somehow hid their power so that they wouldn’t leap off the planet and destroy the Empire. There had to be a key to unlock their powers, but unfortunately most of Naziophit’s notes and memoirs were destroyed in the Slave’s Revolt nearly 1500 cycles ago. Besides, the notes and memoirs that remained would be on Valor, the heart of the Empire, and there was no way she could get close to that. Whatever the key was, she would have to discover it on her own. Or rather, with Eric’s help.

Eric was disturbing beyond the scope of his existence, as well. He was obviously very powerful, despite having no Essence rating whatsoever, yet the power had not changed him. He was a humble, modest man with an openness that Kurana had never experienced in a highborn. Of course. By the time a highborn is of his age in the Empire, he has been jaded by Court politics, intrigue, and occasionally weighted with the responsibility of leadership.

By far the most disturbing thing about him, however, was how attractive she found him. She had difficulty admitting even to herself how drawn to him she felt, but it was pointless to deny it. It was so frighteningly easy to picture herself sharing a bed with him, waking up next to—

Abruptly, she shook herself. No! That was the easiest way to lose focus. She must be professional at all times, in control of herself and the situation. She was not some silly teenage girl anymore, and her father was trusting her to do this right. She could not—she would not—let him down.

Abruptly she sighed. Maybe when this was all over, and the need for secrecy and speed were not so urgent, there might be a time and place for that in her life. But not until...

Tossing back her drink, she removed her clothes and crawled into her bed. Her last conscious thought as she drifted into the comfortable void of sleep was of a blond man with green eyes.

The sleep had helped. Eric woke refreshed, with his mind clear. Events had unfolded in his dreams, unveiling a path through shadows and fog where Earth would survive, and ultimately accomplish what Kurana wanted as well. Convincing her of that promised to be an ordeal in itself, however.

“Sleep well, milord?” Shiloh asked from his desk. He was still a little sour at having to share his quarters, but they were the most comfortable besides Kurana’s own, and he couldn’t very well stick a highborn in to bunk with one of the crewmembers—he’d have a mutiny on his hands faster than he could blink.

“Yes. Thank you, Captain. I appreciate your hospitality. Don’t worry; I won’t impose upon you again.”

“Oh, it’s no opp—” Shiloh began, but Eric cut him off.

“Captain. Are you forgetting that I know your thoughts?” Eric raised his eyebrow at the suddenly nonplussed ship commander. “I know you’re not fond of ... highborns. And I know I’m cramping your style. And I’m telling you, I’ll make new arrangements today.”

“Uh, yes, milord.”

Eric made his way to the airlock and quietly let himself off the ship. He had much to think on. There was this issue of an armada about to bear down on his home planet, as well as this rebellion thing to consider. Eric knew that ultimately, his world’s fate would rest on his decisions—they had to be the right ones, regardless of his personal feelings.

His personal feelings. He started walking down the road as he considered. There was no doubt that Kurana was physically attractive. Her personal discipline and devotion to her father were equally impressive. The fact that he could not read her thoughts made her intriguing, like no one had in a long time.

It was puzzling that he did not feel uncomfortable not knowing her thoughts, after so long having nobody able to defend against that insidious weapon. Perhaps it was because of her obvious consternation in his behavior. The more she had talked to him the previous night the more terse her answers had become. Have I rubbed her the wrong way? Or does she simply resent the fact that I have more control over this situation than she does? Not that I have all that much control myself...

It was too bad she didn’t seem to care for him that much. She would make a hell of a girlfriend. As long as she didn’t kill me, that is. Still, regardless of what he thought of her personally, her position and mission were much more important.

A Battle Group. Obviously a fleet of powerful war vessels, with one purpose—to subdue, and in failing that, to destroy resistance. Knowing his fellow Terrans, there was no doubt the resistance would be bitter, and the end result must eventually be war. A war that, as circumstances are right now, we have no chance of winning.

He could go with her, to her father’s camp. She would have succeeded in her mission to bring back help. But that left his people to deal with an enemy they were not equipped to handle anyway, and he would have done nothing to save them. That could not happen. Besides, there’d be no telling if he would even be useful to them, as they couldn’t read any Essence in him anyway.

He could reject her, and embrace the Battle Group, bargaining for his people’s lives. But that would betray her, and possibly his own people as well, if half of the stories about the Empire that ran through the crewmembers’ heads were true. He would have effectively sold them into slavery, and the rebellion’s hope for a new order would be crushed absolutely.

There was only one thing to really do. He had to discover the secret of this Essence, with her help, and then find some way of kindling the power in everyone. Then, and only then, would Earth have a chance against an interstellar empire. He had dreamed it, last night. He could actually see the world aglow with power, and the Empire crumbling to dust before the might of the Terran Confederation...

Eric wasn’t sure that was the right answer, either. Replacing one empire with another seemed rather inane, but he knew the moment of that possibility was a good long way off. There were bound to be other options presenting themselves as it grew closer. The important thing was to make sure he started to move towards something.

Eric turned around and started heading back toward the ship. Somehow he knew that Kurana would be awake when he got back, and then he would explain his decision.

“You want me to what!”

“Stay on Earth. With your ship.” Eric repeated. “We research a way to start up the Essence, fight off the Battle Group, and win the rebellion.”

“You’re insane. The Battle Group will be here in less than one of your years. What can you possibly hope to accomplish that will make you even significant in the eyes of Admiral Brennij? We only came to recruit a few good people for the rebellion, not settle down and start teaching your people how to wage interstellar war. Assuming you even survive the first encounter, which is extremely unlikely to begin with.” Kurana started pacing agitatedly across the deck of the bridge. “What you ask is impossible.”

“Is it? The way I see it, you don’t have any other option.” Kurana looked sharply at him. The crew, manning their stations, tried to be as unobtrusive as possible while this discussion was taking place, all the while listening as closely as they could.

“And how do you come to that conclusion?” Kurana asked in a deceptively mild tone.

“Simple. If you leave now, you leave without me—or anyone else. I will not allow you to take anyone from this world for the purposes of furthering your own interests—namely, your father’s rebellion. Thus, you will have failed your mission. Also, when the Battle Group comes, Earth will have no option but to surrender. Then the Empire gets its hands on a whole world of highborns, and your rebellion is obliterated within a generation’s time.

“Or, the Empire, recognizing us as a threat, will destroy the Earth. In which case, nobody wins. But your rebellion does not gain the support it needs, and ultimately, the Empire wins again.

“But if you stay and help, we wake the Essence in my people, your people show mine how to build space worthy craft, we can start preparing for the coming offensive, and we can win. The Empire can begin its destruction from here. Your father’s dream, and yours as well, is at the edge of realization. You only need to seize the opportunity while it’s dangling before you.”

“I could kill you now.” Kurana said after a short pause, seemingly to buy time to think.

Eric couldn’t help it. He laughed. “Kill me? And what would that accomplish? You might then get off the planet with a few people, but in truth, you still won’t be better off than you were before. Besides...” He focused his will...

Abruptly the bridge became alive. Tendrils of fluid metal whipped out from the floor, the rails, the furniture, instantly subduing a badly frightened bridge crew. Kurana herself gasped in horror as she found her feet secured to the floor and her hands pinned to her sides by an unseen force.

It took less than a second, but the air had become brittle with panic. Eric continued, “ ... I really don’t think you could kill me if you tried. And trying might in fact be fatal.” With that, he released his hold on the bridge crew and the bridge rapidly became as was before.

Kurana still gazed on him with horror. It was clear she had not realized the depth of his ability, or perhaps she was more out of sorts at staying on Earth for a great deal longer than she had anticipated. Finally, she gathered herself enough to utter, “Just what else are you capable of?”