Event Horizon, page 13
Half an hour ago, he had been sitting in the common area, watching the news with everyone else. Daedalus' victory earlier that week was marked as the turning point. Dissenter victories now outnumbered the losses. The cards, however, were not in Lethe's favor.
The Novateran anchorwoman addressed the audience. "The situation on Lethe had been turned around, much in the Republic's favor. We are told that the authorities here on Lethe have decided not to leave the Republic, ending a year's worth of conflict. We go now to the capital city of Lethe."
The image switched to the Lethian president. His face was ashen and marked with deep frown lines around his eyes and mouth. His gray hair had numerous white streaks. Dakota had an impression of the president with black and gray hair. Amazing how much a person could change in one year.
"The decision," he said, "to stay in the Republic was not an easy one. Many people have altered their lives in pursuit of this cause, leaving behind families, jobs, and even their home districts. Countless lives had been lost, and many cities lie in ruin." The Lethe president lowered his head, taking several deep breaths. When he faced the cameras again, his eyes were red. "Some would say that this was foolishness, and I am inclined to agree. We, the people of Lethe, wish to forget this past year and take back our rightful place within the Republic."
"Turn it off," Eli said, hardly more than a whisper.
Margo muted the screen. "What's on your mind?"
Eli stared at the smooth, wood-grain surface of the table. He worked his mouth, trying to translate his emotions into words. "Why do they want to forget? Does the rebellion mean nothing to them? It makes no sense."
"The war has cost them a lot," replied Margo. "It might be too painful for them to think about it now, but in time, they'll come to terms with it.”
"That's the same man," Eli said, jabbing his index finger at the screen, anger rising in his voice, "who wanted to dissent. Katia went on and on about how great he was for saying that. What the hell is wrong with him? Doesn't he care anymore?"
"Maybe wars do that to people," said Dakota. He had focused on the Lethian president, on his thoughts and emotions rather than his words. The once confident leader had been shattered. Images of destroyed cities and broken lives haunted him, made him regret every word. He simply wanted things to go back to the way they were, to be better. Not just for himself, but for everyone on the planet.
"Did you read his mind?" Eli retorted.
Dakota shook his head. His face grew warm, and his hands began to sweat. Two weeks had passed since he had admitted to being a mind reader, and Eli had not said a word. Hell, Donovan and Cass knew he was a seer. They hadn't said anything. Why did Eli have to mention that now? Dakota, forcing himself to maintain an outward calm, shifted his gaze to Margo.
"Didn't expect you to be telling jokes," Hugo said. Eli, glaring at his brother, stormed away from the table. Hugo quickly added, "But you might be able to contact Katia now. The communication waves are open since the fighting's over, right?"
The younger Carnaki brother paused at the doorway. He stared into the empty corridor, saying nothing. He sighed through his teeth and continued walking towards his room. The sound of the door slamming shut echoed throughout the craft.
"Nate, can we talk in private?" asked Margo.
The hairs on the back of Dakota's neck stood on end. Of all the people for Eli to mention mind reading around, it had to be Margo. And she would not buy a sarcasm angle. That was more Hugo's go-to reaction.
"Can it wait until after the news?" he asked, hoping to buy himself some time. Margo's mental wall was twice as large as when Dakota first tried to read her mind. He had no way of knowing her true intentions.
"There's a screen in my quarters. We can talk and watch at the same time." Margo stood and headed out of the room.
Dakota looked at Cass and mouthed 'what does she want'. Cass shrugged. She did not seem too concerned. Might be a good sign.
"Coming?" Margo called to him. Dakota complied and followed her down the windowless corridor. The craft felt so much smaller because of that fact. She closed the door behind them and instructed him to sit. Dakota took a seat near the desk. Margo turned on the desktop screen, placing the volume on low. The news had switched to events on Novatera. Margo occupied the seat next to him.
"Nate, why did Eli ask if you read President Alesci's mind?" Margo asked in a low and steady voice.
Dakota fidgeted and failed to look Margo in the eye. He focused on Uriel who stood directly behind her, leaning against the wall. The guardian motioned for him to speak. "He probably said it out of anger. He always seemed passionate about Lethe, and hearing that they've stopped fighting hurt him."
"Interesting. But Eli tends to be more direct. Sarcastic remarks aren't his style." Margo watched the screen, waiting for Dakota's response. The reporters were discussing the upcoming Peace Summit and which worlds would and would not be attending. When Dakota did not speak, Margo continued, "Do you remember the job on Zeta II? Right before we landed, Eli told me that you read his body language, as a challenge. But then you seemed to read his mind. At least, that's what Eli told me. I've been meaning to ask for your side of the story."
Dakota would give anything to go back and fix that stupid mistake. To tell Eli thanks but no thanks. He had nothing to prove.
"It's the same as Eli said." His throat felt like sandpaper. "Except, I only inferred what he was thinking based on his body language."
"So, it was a simple misunderstanding?"
"Yes, exactly."
Margo drummed her fingers on the desk. "Then why doesn't Eli see it as a simple misunderstanding?"
"Well—"
"Let me finish." Margo held up her index finger. "Right after the Zeta II job, Eli starts seeing this pale man. He follows Eli around the craft, and Eli is the only one who can see him. Do you follow?"
"Not entirely."
"Then listen to my theory. You really did read Eli's mind, and then to cover your tracks, or discredit him, you plant an image in his mind. Now, I'll admit that I have no clue how mind reading is possible, but I've traveled damn near everywhere. I've heard a lot of rumors, seen a lot of strange things. I'll believe anything given enough evidence. So, how much of my theory is true?"
Sweat trickled down the side of Dakota's face. How could Margo have gotten so close to the truth? And Dakota thought he was being careful. What a fool he had been. He looked Margo in the eye and said, "None of it."
"Zero percent?"
"Yes."
Margo leaned forward. "We land on Novatera in three days. If I find out that you're lying to me, I'll leave you there."
"What if I expose you?"
"You're on thin ice, Dakota," Uriel warned.
Margo smiled and said, "You wouldn't want to put your friends in jeopardy, would you? Be a shame if Cassiopeia and Donovan are charged with espionage. Are you sure you're telling me the truth?"
Dakota caught a flash in the corner of his eye. An overpowering sense of familiarity. His heart leaped into his throat as he faced the screen. "Turn on the sound."
"Excuse me?"
"The screen. Turn on the sound."
Raising an eyebrow, Margo complied. The news report had switched to the growing conflict on Dionysus.
"The planet," said the reporter, "appears to be in a strange limbo as Empress Lydya Graiko asserts that Dionysus will remain in the Republic while her husband, Emperor Rowland VI, openly disrespects High Lord Quintillius. The emergency senate meeting casts the Dionysian royalty in a poor light as Emperor Rowland chose to leave the Senate rather than speak with High Lord Quintillius.
"Representatives claim the emperor was distracted and did not mean to cause the offense. But many do not believe the thin excuse. Tensions on Dionysus also rise over what many think is a sighting of the emperor's brother, Lord Myrddin Graiko, on Novatera."
"Oh, God, no," Dakota groaned, burying his face in his hands. All this time and effort spent running away from Myrddin, only to be heading right for him. An entire year of hiding wasted.
Why did I get on this damn craft?
"Who are these people?" Margo asked Dakota. Images of Emperor Rowland, Empress Lydya, and Lord Myrddin appeared on the screen. Recognition dawned in Margo's eyes. Of course, she saw the ethnic similarities. Bronze skin, black hair, and dark blue eyes. They were unmistakable. "Do you have family there? On Dionysus?"
Dakota failed to look her in the eyes. He drew in ragged breaths. His voice refused to work.
"Were you really born on Aurora?"
Dakota shook his head. No! Nate Kennet. He was born on Aurora, idiot! Dakota nodded. But she was not buying it.
Margo grabbed Dakota's wrist and twisted it painfully. Any further and it would snap. Her voice remained calm as she said, "You are going to tell me the truth right now. Do you know these people?" She nodded her head towards the screen.
"Yes," Dakota cried. Pain shot up his arm as muscles twisted in a direction they should not bend.
"Were you born on Dionysus?"
"No, just stayed there awhile."
"Did you read Eli's mind?"
Dakota glared at her. The pain radiating from his wrist coursed from his fingers to his elbow. He felt something rip inside him. What happened if he told Margo the truth? Would she treat him the same way, or would she be another Myrddin Graiko, exploiting him until he lost his usefulness? "Just break it. I don't care."
Margo released his wrist.
The sharp pain eased into an aching throb as Dakota massaged his wrist. He moved his fingers one by one. Those still functioned but turning his wrist... Something was definitely broken in there. Dark bruises formed on the tender flesh.
"It would have been easier for you to say yes." Margo stood and opened the door. "I understand that you have secrets. Everyone does. But if those secrets jeopardize the safety of my crew, I won't tolerate them. Got it?"
Dakota, cradling his wrist, stood and looked her in the eye. The mental wall finally had a crack. One image leaked through.
"Is that why you don't contact your daughter? Because people would hurt Jorja as a way to manipulate you?"
Margo smiled, her eyes as hard as steel. "That's exactly right."
Dakota paled, the pain in his wrist forgotten. An obvious trap, and he walked right into it. The second time. More than anything, he wanted Seth. Someone to talk to, to help and guide him. Someone he could trust completely, who would never trick him. Uriel stood at the door, his shoulders slumped in disappointment. Dakota felt alone.
"Tell you what," said Margo. "You read the minds of everyone you can on Novatera, and I'll forget this ever happened. Deal?"
He agreed. Not like he had a choice. Leaving Margo's room, he went into the empty storage area, wanting to be away from everybody. Uriel had obliged to make himself invisible.
Dakota had made mistake after mistake on this damn craft. And if he had not read Eli's mind, who knows? He would probably have found another way to mess things up. He always did.
He looked around the area and thought of Novatera. A mere handful of days before they landed in the Republic's capital. Myrddin would likely be there and find him. Even if Dakota could evade him, Margo was inches away from knowing his true abilities. How much would a seer go for on the black market? Possibly millions, considering the war.
Light footsteps descended the stairway. Cass walked over to him, her dark eyes filled with concern. "What happened back there?"
Dakota sighed. "Nothing good.”
"Oh my God, what happened to your wrist?" Cass exclaimed, seeing the bruising. "Did Margo do that?"
"Who else?"
"But why?" she asked, dumbfounded. Did she really think that highly of her boss?
Dakota wanted to tell Cass the truth. All of it. But that would lead to more questions. He looked down at his hands. His right wrist continued to throb. The left palm had a faint scar diagonally across it. He remembered slicing it open to remove the police tracker, and Rodya fixing it for him. Rodya had said Dakota would be lucky not to have permanent nerve damage. At least he had been lucky once. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"It's not your fault."
"I can talk to her."
"Don't!" Cass intervening might make things worse. "Please, don't. Forget this happened."
Cass frowned. "Do you want to talk?"
"I want to be alone," he whispered. Cass went back up the steps. Dakota looked around the storage area with no place to escape. He had to stay on Event Horizon even after they landed on Novatera. He had no desire to stay on that planet any longer than necessary. He didn't want to stay here, either. He was stuck with nowhere to run.
21
Novatera
"Please remain in your craft until inspection is complete," announced the voice over Event Horizon's communications system. The craft had successfully landed in Polaris, Novatera, after a lengthy wait period in-orbit. The Border Authority spent an hour authorizing their credentials. Then, they had to wait an additional half hour for the Polaris Airspace Security to give them the okay to land. They only needed to pass the safety inspection before the crew could exit.
Five spaceport officials dressed in black uniforms with the compass rose emblem of Novatera on their shoulders entered the craft. Dakota and the rest of the crew were instructed to remain in the storage area under the careful watch of two officials. Each carried stun weapons. The other three searched the craft for any weapons or signs of Dissenters. The two in the storage area scanned everyone's IDs.
"Where are you from?" one official asked Dakota, holding up the ID. He was not much older than Dakota, and he was very thin with pale skin. The spaceport must expect him to use the stun weapon more than physical force.
"Aurora," Dakota replied.
"And how do you spell your last name?"
"S-I-L-V-A."
"Scanners show the IDs are genuine," said the other official. He had a muscular build with the same pale complexion as his coworker and appeared to be in his mid-thirties. "No need to ask further questions."
The younger official gave his coworker a puzzled look. "Yeah, then you can explain how Dissenters with genuine looking fakes got on-world. Not that we don't trust you specifically," he said to Dakota.
"There's a war going on. Caution is necessary," Dakota replied.
"I wish everyone was that reasonable," the official smiled. "Just the other day some archduke got pissed because I asked for his ID. Like I'm supposed to have the nobility of every planet memorized! Well?" he asked the other officials as they descended the stairway.
"Everything checks out. They're legit," said the lead official. Her stun weapon was securely strapped in her holster. Dakota breathed a little easier.
The young official handed the ID back to Dakota.
The Event Horizon crew followed the officials out of the craft and into the spaceport’s central hub. Polaris Spaceport covered fifty square kilometers, large enough to manage thousands of crafts every day. Towering buildings surrounded the port, monitoring incoming and outgoing traffic. Hundreds of workers, mostly in the security and transport businesses, flooded the central hub, an octagonal building made of reinforced glass and steel, wanting to know their assignments.
Dakota wondered how many people were attending the Peace Summit. And how many of these people actually work for the Dissenters? he thought as he scanned the crowd.
The line for the front desk stretched outside the building. Dakota pulled his jacket tighter. The sunlight was warm, but the wind was bordering on frigid. Half an hour passed before Dakota reached the front. He tried speaking with Cass a few times, but she was not in a talkative mood. Hugo and Donovan exchanged a brief conversation before lapsing into silence. Eli stared at his feet. Margo studied the port, taking in every detail. Was she supposed to tell the Dissenters about the port as well?
"Name?" the receptionist asked Dakota. He guessed she must have asked that question hundreds of times today.
"Nathan Silva."
The receptionist typed in the name and said, "Lyceum Embassy. Follow these directions," she handed him a small piece of paper, "and wait in the main lobby for further instructions."
Dakota, along with Cass, Hugo, and three other people, two women and one man, walked towards the embassy four blocks away. People crowded the sidewalks. Cars, both on the ground and in the air, rushed by.
"At least some of us are together," Dakota said to Cass, hoping to start up a conversation. Cass's eyes darted from building to building, observing one common detail.
"You see how many cameras there are?" she asked him. "This was a terrible idea."
"Afraid we'll get caught?" he asked, looking up at a signpost. Four cameras were positioned on it to face four different directions. The building in front of them had a similar configuration: three cameras on each corner of a mid-tier balcony. The building's true height was obscured by the clouds.
Cass frowned. "Is there anything else to fear?"
Myrddin Graiko cornering Dakota in the Dionysian palace came to his mind. Promising him riches for overthrowing a good man. And Myrddin was right here. Waiting. "I guess not."
They entered the Lyceum Embassy, the fifth through seventh floors of a towering skyscraper. The six of them went up the elevator and waited in the main lobby. The lobby had been decorated in red and gold, with carpets and chairs a deep crimson. Alternating gold and pale yellow stripes covered the walls. Several paintings of serene oceans which clearly did not represent Lyceum's true appearance adorned the walls.
The embassy manager, a man with graying hair and dressed in a red uniform, stood at the front of the lobby and called for everyone's attention.
"Listen carefully," the manager said. "I will only say this once. These people will remain in the lobby for further instructions. Cassiopeia Galloway, Vera Nattix, and Nathan Silva. These people will head into the next room and receive instructions there. Hugo Cauthon, Harrison Maru, and Liniya Mirchin. Please go to your assigned areas."
"Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone," Hugo smirked as he exited the lobby.
