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Maybe. Seeher never let sympathy divert her from the pursuit of our cause—tearing down the existing social structure to usher in a new era of equity and justice for all alien species. No more social strata. No more unfair “merit-based” reward systems forcing people to work for what rightfully should be theirs by virtue of having been born.
Of course, equity and justice for all naturally excluded everyone with the LOP, governors of the member planets, and those who refused to pledge allegiance to the GJW. For the benefit of the faithful, those people would be executed. We all needed to be of like mind and move in lockstep toward the goal.
My inaction had hindered our success. When Nadir had landed on Aurelia, I should have executed him immediately. Instead, I’d hesitated, which had afforded him a chance to escape. That had led to my capture as well as the apprehension of many of our soldiers.
I cannot fail this time. I should not have taken the human. Seeher is right. The human is a complication who will distract me from the mission. I acted on impulse. She got me out of the palace, but once she’d outlived her usefulness, I should have eliminated her.
I could still do it. I could slit her throat with my claws. It would please Seeher and further our cause.
My chest seized up, and I couldn’t breathe. Pain slammed into my head, threatening to split my skull right between my horns. Backing away, I managed to drag in some air, trying to hide my physical distress.
“What happened to you in the banquet hall? Why did you turn so suddenly?”
I averted my gaze from her pleading eyes.
“Was everything you said to me a lie? What happened to you? To us?” she cried. She acted betrayed, which made no sense. One could only be betrayed by someone one trusted. She and I were enemies. No one trusted an enemy.
“There is no us.” I exited the cabin and sealed the door so she couldn’t get out. Leaning against the wall, I waited for my breathing to normalize, for the pain to subside.
Why does she think there is an “us”? I have never said anything to her to give her that impression.
I think.
Why would I?
In truth, my recall of past actions had become hazy. There were disturbing…gaps. But some events I remembered with perfect clarity, such as meeting Seeher at the Star Planet resort where I’d gone for a respite from a tour of the galaxy I’d been sent on. Seated at the bar, we’d spoken at length, and she’d shared her philosophies. As I listened with rapt interest, the problems in the galaxy started to make sense. I could trace them with direct-line clarity to the LOP and its protection of the trafficking cartels, its oppression of various alien species, and its historically inequitable galactic policing. They cracked down on criminal activity in some sectors while ignoring it and allowing it to flourish in others. The problems were systemic, unfixable. The league had to be completely dismantled. We needed a fresh start.
After Star Planet, I’d returned to the tour and my royal duties, but memories were foggy until I’d awakened on Aurelia, preparing to lead a platoon of GJW foot soldiers to storm the capital city during a summit on alien species trafficking.
Unexpectedly, Nadir and his female had arrived. I should have killed him, but I didn’t.
From there, my recollections jumped to the palace with wispy dreams of spending time with the human, although I couldn’t fathom why I would have done that. I recalled meeting with Seeher, although I couldn’t remember what we talked about.
Then came the banquet with my royal relatives, all of whom were in cahoots with the LOP. I’d taken the human as a hostage and fled for the ship to rendezvous with Seeher.
Why were some memories so sharp but others fuzzy? Why were there gaps in time? I shook my head. Later. I can figure it out later. I can’t keep Seeher waiting.
I shoved off from the wall and headed for the bridge.
Chapter Ten
Sandria Seeher
Security protocols were so ridiculously inadequate, a child could have broken them. Well, a child who was half Mnemonian. While most everyone in the galaxy knew of our mind-control ability, few were aware of our mastery over computer systems and artificial intelligence. I doubted even the elders, who preferred the old ways, realized the shift our youth had taken.
Mnemonia prohibited using our mental powers on sentients without their consent. But why have power if one couldn’t use it? It was like telling a bird not to fly, a fish not to swim, a flower not to reach for the sun. Since no laws barred us from bending AI to our will, Mnemonian youth had found an outlet for their mental expression by hacking computer systems and artificial intelligence units.
Hacking did not satisfy me.
Influencing a mathematical, logical, unemotional AI unit posed little contest.
Motivating a sentient with deep-rooted feelings required much more skill and finesse.
I enjoyed a challenge.
I disliked being thwarted.
Within a minute, I had the ship’s AI responding to my commands. The ship launched, and, in short order, cleared the Arasetan atmosphere. I relaxed into my seat, relieved to leave the planet behind. The execution of this next phase had to be flawless. I had utmost confidence in my abilities, but one could not always control the variables.
