The morning was taken in consolidating their hold on the keep and cleaning
up the last pockets of resistance.
The guards were good to their word and many, foolishly to Nicks mind, came
over to the rebel cause. Some even volunteered for the watch posted at the
gate to warn of any attempt from outside to retake the keep, although as
news spread of the rebels taking the fortress, most of the other soldiers
fled. A few had barricaded themselves in their various guard posts, where
they were now under constant siege by mobs of city folk.
Before midday stories came back of rough justice and retributions being
taken by mobs in the outlaying countryside. It worried Nicholas of how the
Marshal would react to these acts, once he regained power again; the thought
made him shudder.
For him the midday meal was a sombre affair, not at all the celebration
it should have been, even after receiving news from further out in the district
of successful uprisings against depleted and weakened local garrisons, his
spirits remained low.
The reversal of rule seemed complete, what they had not been able to
take by attack they had achieved by right of possession of the main prize.
Of course not all had gone their way, they knew now that the marshal had,
had knowledge of their plans for some time, and because of it many had died.
Nicholas wondered if word of the Drakken was spreading outside the keep.
It was below the wall so would not be seen from the city. He doubted any
who had not seen for themselves would believe such a thing existed, but
to avoid panic he kept the gates shut.
As for those in the fortress, no one ventured out into the courtyard. The
threatening presence hanging over it was more than even the most confident
could take.
During the day smoke had been seen rising over the city and word circulated
that some official buildings had been set ablaze. The loss of records would
be seen as a bonus, but anarchy would benefit no one, so Nicholas sent Antour
and Simeon to tour the city and discourage further destruction if they could,
besides offer escort to the keeps cells for any guard who wished to avoid
the mobs vengeance.
While they were gone Nicholas visited the wounded in the dormitory,
which had become a makeshift hospital to see for himself that all that could
be done, was done for them.
Next he the visited the stables, part of these had been cleaned up and were
being used as a mortuary where the bodies of guard lay next to rebel, in
death as they had never been in life.
Passing the horses he heard a whinny, and turning he saw Prince. He
walked quickly across and clasped the animals cheek to him
" How glad I am to see you, " he said as for the one and only
time he forgot about the future.
Alexi had spent the few hours since the massacre looking about the keep.
He saw a lot of jesting and horseplay but it was on the surface only. Men
and women spoke defiantly but morale was low with the saucer's ominous presence
hanging over them. He knew that in their minds they had given up hope, and
only passed time till the dawn's ultimatum.
He was in a terrible position. He had listened as the council chairman
had demanded that Ellis direct "Reigel' to stay out of the affairs
of the planet. He knew he should, and was prepared to, but this was not
how things were meant to have happened.
There had been conflict and war on Earth since man stood on two legs, and
probably long before that. Things were no different now, that was common
sense; but before the planets population had to be allowed to settle disagreements
among themselves. And Nicholas, though he liked the boy as a brother, if
not as a son, he too had to forge his own future alone, whether he had rightful
claim to leadership of these people or not. It was nothing he, Alexi or
Reigel should interfere in.
But there was the stone; his mind kept coming back to the stone. That
changed it all, at least now, since Ellis had told him that Nicholas should
hold the ring until another claimed it from him.
Nicholas's family had been a chosen guardian of the stone, unlike Tandor
on Mars, who had taken it from the true holder. Though in this convoluted
world, who was to say that didn't give him the right to be a holder.
Of the knife, all Ellis knew was that it had been passed down through
the family Day; how it came to their possession the passing of time had
caused them forget, like the value of what they held. Now it had become
nothing more than a family heirloom passed from eldest son to eldest son.
Nicholas was or could be just another warlord's descendant, if he had not
been the one to join the two threads. The knife and the claim to rule through
the ring.
Alexi knew he should just get the stones and not interfere in what was about
to pass, but what would unfold if he did not.
He wandered out into the courtyard. It was deserted; most of the rebel
band had been sent home to make peace with and say goodbye to their families;
the few who were left would not venture out into the sight of the saucer.
He tried to imagine their feelings. It didn't scare him, well not in the
same way, he knew its capabilities, but he also knew its failings. At the
bottom line it was still a machine and people no better than him controlled
it.
He heard some shouting from a window above. It was another of the quarrels
had broken out between the weary rebels. To some the tension and fear was
hard to handle. They had expected to die in battle, and still would prefer
it that way.
Just then he saw Nicholas returning to the stable, he had been out riding
on Prince.
The horse was sweating and Alexi guessed he had taken the horse down through
the city and out into the fields. He pictured the scene, Prince breathing
fresh air and browsing on sweet young grass with Nick on his back for the
last time. It was a sad thought.
It was late in the afternoon that a messenger found Nicholas, and told
him a visitor waited in the Marshal's apartments, but dusk was falling by
the time that he stepped over the remains of the smashed door.
The room was almost in darkness and empty of life; the window to the
garden was still wide open.
Nicholas wandered out onto the terrace and still seeing no one was beginning
to think that his visitor had gone, when he saw a movement in the shadow
under one of the fruit trees.
" I'm sorry " he said " I didn't see you there "
There was no answer
" I should not have kept you waiting, but I had things to do ".
At last there was a reply " Too often men do not see what is there
to see " Said the stranger standing and showing himself.
" Riegel ". Nicholas suddenly felt as relieved as he had all
day " It is good to see you, though you put yourself in danger being
here ".
" That is why I came ". He wore the red tunic that Nicholas
remembered from the dream. " There is unfinished business between us
",
" There is? " said Nicholas in curiosity.
" Yes, more so now that you have shown yourself capable of responsibility
".
" I sought, nor want responsibility ".
" No " Alexi said softly. " I above all know that none
of this should have come to pass, but it has, and there is no going back,
only forwards and you must travel that way ".
" That way? " said Nicholas harshly looking towards the Drakken.
" You expect me to fight that with a bow or sword? ".
Alexi did not respond to the remark " Circumstances dictate events
and in turn the actions that must be taken ".
Nicholas's severity eased. " You talk in riddles again dear friend.
All that I… we have done, I could not have without your help. But to
prove my fitness against such I need more than your council ".
" It seems a long time ago now, but when I came here I doubted
you were any fitter man than any other, but the last days have shown you
to be the one that the time needs. No ". Alexi said, abruptly raising,
and facing his open palms to Nicholas. " Don't speak until I have finished,
for from this point on I will ask you to believe things so strange and wondrous
that you may consider that I am of unsound mind ".
Nicholas smiled and reached out to grip Riegel around the shoulders.
" Come lets go inside ". They walked back to the apartments as
Nicholas talked
" I remember the last time you spoke to me of wondrous things, in fact
am I not an example of that itself. You made me a man again; not just in
giving me my life back, you gave purpose to it. And though that time is
measured in weeks I have lived a life that has been full of every emotion
that man dares in his lifetime to experience. I have cried and loved. I
have fought and failed. I have found friendship and a sense of worth ".
Nicholas looked deep into his eyes.
" Everything that you have given me has been wondrous, but the time
for new horizons and adventure is past, we have done all we can; the keep
is ours as is most of the city. Within a few days most if not all of the
district would have been ",
Nicholas went over to the drink cabinet and poured a glass for himself and
Riegel
" Here. The Marshal has excellent taste ".
Alexi walked over to him and took the glass but did not drink "
What do you intend to do? ".
" To do? You phrase the question as if I had a choice ".
" You can slip out under dark and regroup in the mountains again
".
" Yes we could ".
" Will you? ".
Nicholas appeared to change the subject " You know that some of
the guard have sworn allegiance to our cause ".
" No, they rally to you ".
Nicholas seemed embarrassed by Alexis answer and ignored it. "
I have their word that they will not do anything until the moment arrives.
They will then take us prisoner for their own sakes ".
" So no blood shall be spilt other than your own ".
" In some ways we have achieved everything we set out to. The rebellion
struck a crippling blow to the Marshal; it will take many seasons for him
to rebuild his power. Maybe even his friends will see that he has failed
".
He threw the drink to the back of his throat and poured another.
" The people know that they can strike back. In time another band of
adventurous soles will take our place. So you see I have no need of strange
and wondrous things, for us there is just tomorrow ".
Riegel let Nicholas finish the second drink and refill his glass a third
time
" When we last spoke I told you nothing of the past did I? ".
" No. Neither did you say why you had helped me, other than it
was a kind act ".
" It was not ".
" No matter. ". Nicholas tossed back the third drink. "
They say I am related by birth to the old kings, is that true? ".
" I know that your's is an ancient and honoured lineage ".
" The captain who caused me so much grief told me this. I was not
sure if he lied to cause me more pain, so forgive me if I still seem doubtful
"
Nicholas staggered a bit and laughed
" You know Riegel this sound's strange. See now I am telling you strange
things too ".
He went to pour another drink " As I am about to die I should very
much like to see a painting or likeness of these dead kings and queens ".
Riegel came to his side and closed the cabinet. " I don't know
of any, especially not together, for at the time their fondness for each
other was not widely known ".
Nicholas laughed even louder " Then they were not partners. then
I am a bastard? ".
Riegel pulled him over to the couch and sat him down.
" Nicholas there is more to tell, than we have time to become maudlin.
Sit and listen for you will not believe what I have to say ".
" I will do as you ask old friend but not here, where we look at
that thing for it makes me sick in my heart ".
" No Nicholas " Alexi said firmly " Problems do not disappear
if out of sight. We will sit by the window, for my eyes do not see what
yours do. I see the sun setting on the marshal and your defeat can yet be
your victory ".
" Do not toy with me Riegel for I could not bear to have hope
where there is none ".
Riegel patted the couch at his side.
The men sat and looked at the saucer. Nicholas shaking his head, with a
smile on his face.
" Riegel I am truly glad to spend my last eve with y…… ".
If Alexi heard he did not reply but started his own conversation.
" I have never told you where I come from ".
" You mean appear and disappear? Yes… yes that does confuse
me ".
" No. Not coming and going that's just a simple transporter, I
mean where is my home? ".
" You said a village, like mine. I think my mind is a little cloudy
".
" Did I? Oh well maybe my ancestors did, but I was born there ".
Alexi pointed to the sky,
Nicholas thought towards the little moon. He looked back at Riegel his
head wobbling disconcertingly.
" Don't look so puzzled, I am not mad. I am human like you and
my age is within five seasons of your own ".
Nick looked deep into his eyes with suspicion.
" That I look and act like an old man is twofold, firstly because
people allow the old to be a little strange without question, and besides
that your gravity is far greater than I am used to"
Nicholas looked at him confused.
" I am what you could call an off-worlder. The planet you call
Earth; you're home, is not mine. I live on the moon that crosses your sky
each night ".
Nichols's attention perked up. " There are people and cities up
there? ".
" People yes, cities like Quone? Well not quite but it will suffice
to say yes at this time ".
" Now what do you know of the ancients? ". Riegel asked.
Nicholas looked a little stunned at the sudden change of subject. "
Our ancients? ".
" Yes " said Alexi patiently.
" Little. Other than what I have seen with my eyes of the structures
they left to crumble. Some stories tell that the Gods wiped them out for
the living of evil ways with fire and disease ".
" Well ", Muttered Alexi. " I suppose in a nutshell that
is what happened, but the truth of the matter takes a while longer to tell.
A long time ago, in the time that the people you call the ancients lived,
this world was a place such that you could not imagine. Man's achievements
seemed unlimited. He had conquered all he saw except for the most distant
of stars, and his sights were set even on them. At that time men from this
planet had colonies on and above most planets and moons throughout the solar
system ".
"Nicholas pointed down into the courtyard. " It is unbelievable
that my ancestors had machines like that? ".
" Yes, Some so huge that they would have stretched from the mountains
to the sea ".
Nicholas had begun to laugh in a giggling sort of way. " To be
true Reigel I never know if what you tell me is fact or fiction ".
Alexis patience was beginning to wear thin " At night you would
have seen some of these and thought of them as stars, but they were made,
well begun initially, by your ancestors labour ".
He stopped for a moment as if in thought.
".....as I was saying, men lived, and still live on or above the planets.
Nine others there are beside this and even amongst a ring of floating rocks
that circle far out from the Sun. Man has registered his presence throughout
your solar system ".
As Reigel had apparently not seen the amusement as he had Nicholas tried
to regain his composure. " It seems each moment with you my word is
turned over. So I have lived in ignorance of these things throughout my
life ".
" You and all your kind have not known what is happening within
your sight, but this is not your fault, it was decided by others that your
race must earn its place once again. It is their decree that your planet
develop in it's own time, and when it has reached a maturity of civilisation,
then it can retake it's place on the council ".
" Earn its place once again? But what did my ancestors do to deserve
such conditions, or such punishments as were inflicted upon them ".
" There were no punishments, in fact on the face of it everything
that happened to this planet was of your own making. The reality was that
those in power at the time were manipulated ".
Alexi stood and walked out onto the terrace
" There were differences of ideology, people like them encouraged it
until a war between brothers began. The globe was engulfed; hardly a place
on the face of Earth was a safe haven. Crops failed, forests withered, seas
died and both man and beast starved, conditions that led to a biological
death as disease and Plague, laid waste to what survived ".
Alexi looked back at Nicholas. He was staring at him silently.
" The one saving grace, if there was one, was that with the speed the
war had run its course the colonies, even those aboard the orbiting space
station were spared of involvement.
They like the others could only stand and watch. Civilisation as they knew
it evaporated before their eyes ".
Riegel stood and went to the cabinet and poured some water from a carafe
into a small cup. He drank slowly watching Nicholas as he sat silent in
thought.
" But the story does not end with the destruction of Earth. A significant
number of the craft used to journey to and from different colonies were
pressed into battle and destroyed, only the few off the planet at the time
survived, and these were within a brief time chronically short of fuel,
replacement parts or the skills needed to rebuild, or build others to replace
them.
It became plainly obvious that although the colonies were organised to govern
themselves they relied too greatly on the resources of the main planet.
Now that was gone and all had to start from the beginning ".
Riegel stopped and drank again.
" And during that time this planet lived in darkness. It was a grim
time for them. Order and civilisation as it had been known was gone, and
with it all hope. The lands were ravaged by years of perpetual winter, by
disease, by radiation. The eventual return was to seasons more extreme than
ever known before. Life, what there was life left was utterly changed. Uncountable
species of plant and animal disappeared; others were altered beyond recognition.
The Veldt were once men like you. Even now their lands breath a poison that
cannot be seen, yet stunts and mutates them.
As time passed roaming mobs of scavengers became organised into a feudal
system of sorts ".
" And these colonies. They offered no help? ".
" No, but it helps to understand the thinking at the time. At first
no one helped because they couldn't, then they were fearful of disease,
besides, at least for the colonies they had little means of travel, even
between themselves. By the time that both these had been solved or come
to terms with, they could not for another reason ".
Alexi returned to the couch
" In their own isolation they had all developed different philosophies
and beliefs. Some colonies wanted a free and open Earth, others a segregated
and split one. One claimed this, another that. It was clear that human kind
or its derivatives had not learnt any lessons. The council of planets, as
the grouping of representatives became to be known made a decision, mainly
because it could make no real decision, to quarantine Earth. The culture
was to remain undisturbed until a developing civilisation became world wide,
and then that civilisation itself would return to the fold. That edict has
already stood for over three hundred years ".
" Then what has changed? Why now do craft from these colonies come
to kill men on earth? ". Said Nicholas
" The story goes further, as I have said each had developed their
own philosophy. Some led down very different paths, so first I must explain
the situation within the colonies themself.
As it stands, the ideology is all-important. As I spoke of firstly the two
main colonies were Mars and the Moon. Those on the Moon colony believe in
the right of the individual as paramount and have done so for countless
generations.
On the other hand Mars took the opinion that the individual is but part
of the whole. Now these two stands are not all that far apart if both are
governed with wisdom and compassion, and if outside influences do not alter.
Which is what they did ".
Alexi took a deep breath " when I said I was from a village I may have
implied it was here on you planet ".
" I don't know if you implied that, " said Nicholas "
but that is what I took it to mean ".
" The fact is that my…. home was on a planet like this but
halfway across the galaxy ".
Nicholas could hardly understand what he was hearing, never mind actually
believe the things that he had heard. His imagination was stretched to its
limits.
" It was my race, and our foe that intervened in your ancestors
war. We did not start it, but we encouraged it, and we benefited by it ".
" For what purpose? ".
Alexi was without an answer. " Sometimes there is no reason why
we expect others to live as we do, but we do. The belief is that ours is
the superior way and you must follow it ".
" Even if you have to destroy it before it does? ".
" It is the history of humanity. We preach tolerance and diversity,
yet act intolerantly of others beliefs and insist that they conform ".
" There is so much that I never knew…… ".
" And much more than you will ever have time to learn ".
" Yes " sighed Nicholas dejectedly.
" No " added Alexi quickly " That's not what I meant.
I was speaking of how much, there is to learn ".
" Either way time is almost gone "
Alexi stared at the youth, knowing that until the entire story was told,
he would not realise why he could not be allowed to die. " There is
more that you should know, and things that I must discover ". He said
as he began again. " Since before the time of your fathers or his fathers,
father others have been searching for the stone of the Massala "
" This is one of the things I have yet to learn? ". Asked
Nicholas with such a mischievous smile that Alexi wondered if it was done
to provoke him.
" Yes ". He answered slowly accepting that by reason of the
alcohol or by amusement Nicholas was going to continue to interrupt whatever
he may say " Eventually…. There is a legend that tells of a fabled
rock .. ".
" Rock, stone, are we talking about the same thing? ".
" No a stone as I said, pure and simple. It was the property of
a man who died thousands of years ago. Well I say property apparently no
one owns it, the chosen ones just have the right to keep it ". Alexi
realised Nicholas's interruptions were making him digress " Anyway
as he died it was torn from his finger, broken and cast to the ends of the
earth ".
" I know of the story " Nicholas broke in again " On
the journey we were befriended by a hermit he had a book. 'The book of stone'
".
" Yes. The book writes the story of the stone. In it is told of
those who wish to fit the pieces back together once more, and return to
it the power that is lost, and of others who wish the power it commands
for their own ". Alexi went quiet for a moment.
" Each piece on it's own is powerless but they who restore it to one,
will control even time itself ".
The significance was lost on the youth. " I read as much but I
still do not see my place in this story, " said Nicholas
" Your place is obvious. You have two pieces of the stone ".
Nicholas was unable to speak his mouth opened but uttered no sound
" When I told you to return to your home I bid you collect two
things, " continued Riegel. " Your mother's ring and your knife,
you do still have them both? "
" Yes. Well actually, no "
" What? ".
" The ring. I gave it to a….. girl ". Nicholas felt a
surge of grief at the thought of Harriet. " For her to take to the
grave as my devotion ".
" You did what? ". Said Alexi sagging back and gazing up to
the roof.
" She… she saved my life at the cost of her own…...
I would have given all that I could ever possess for you to have been there
at my side then " he said sadly " If you could have prevented
her death as you did mine ".
Alexi shook his head " The foolishness of youth, the blindness
of love. Not only is it part of the Massala, that ring could have proved
your birth ".
" I know what it could claim, Mathew told me, but its value to
me was as my only possession of the woman I knew as my mother. I passed
it to one who I would not have wanted dead "
" But it was not just your mothers ".
" I did not now the ring has powers not understood, though I assumed
it had been passed down through my family, it was part of the reason I gave
it away ".
Nicholas looked sadly at Alexi. " Riegel. There is little to think
about, and I do not regret that the ring lies beneath the ground hidden
from all men. It is my gift to her for a greater courage than I have shown
". He replied in more hurt at the memory of Harriet than he had realised.
" Okay ", sighed Alexi " Where and when did you give
it to her? ".
" Less than a day before I arrived in the City, at our safe house
in Lakesend. Where they have…… placed her… I don't know ".
Reigel nodded in a contented, but resigned kind of way.
" If it is gone then so be it….. Then your knife? Please do not
tell me you have given that away also? "
" No. I have that here ... " Nicholas reached his hand into
his shirt. " Wait…. It is gone ".
Riegel stood irritably " Why are you so careless with things? ".
He almost snapped.
" These last days what was once precious to me is no lo……No.
I remember…, there in the wall ". He stood and looked behind the
bench. " Yes. It's still in the wall where I threw it at the marshal
as he escaped. It went through his body. If only I had had a moment mores
time to aim, he would be dead ".
" Then be thankful that you did not throw that second earlier,
or the marshal would have carried that it away to his death and his master
". Alexi pulled the blade from the panel and looked intently at it.
" …and that would have given him two ".
" Given him two? " Nicholas said puzzled
" The three pieces of the stone. Tandor already has one ".
He looked at Nicholas reproachfully. " The second is still…….
missing, and the third…" Alexi held the knife in the air by its
blade.
Nicholas looked at it with new eyes. Set mid way along the handle where
his palm gripped over, was a small sand coloured insert. It was something
he was so familiar with, that he never saw.
Alexi held the knife to Nicholas as he spoke " …..Is here
", he said.
Nicholas handled it with a care and reverence he had not shown before.
" This is THE stone? ". He said in awe.
" Part of it ".
For long moments he looked closely into the stone.
" Did my mother……., did they know? ".
" I cannot say… Maybe they did, maybe one day they would have
told you? " Alexi left Nicholas with his own thoughts for a few moments
before he spoke again " What has passed has passed, we still have your
present problem to contend with ".
He gestured out to the Drakken.
" Problem? Yes, then what shall I do ".
" I have not finished the tale I started, come ". He said,
" This room is unfamiliar to me and it could be that we are overheard
".
Riegel moved towards the door waiting only to ensure that Nicholas was following.
They walked down the corridor and into one of the alcoves. Again Riegel
sat back on the couch and patted the seat against him. " During the
civil war both factions were aided by people from…. my time. It was
all secret, at least it was intended to be, for most collaborations were
discovered and stopped. But some weren't, one was the project of a group
of aeronautical scientists and engineers. They were supposed to be working
on a revolutionary plan that could have become the turning point in the
war. I know it's a common claim, and in every war there are always rumours
of weapons that can change the balance; most are propaganda, but this one
wasn't. The one thing that stopped it was timing. There was a leak, or maybe
it was just bad luck but almost as they were ready the plague that marked
the end of the war began. They were left with their prototype but no way
of building more. Around them the civilisation they knew collapsed so with
nowhere to go they stayed in they labs. Time passed and they died or dispersed,
and the Basilisk project was absorbed into the realms of myth ".
" The Basilisk project " muttered Nicholas " Then it
was well named, for I know of a legend of a Basilisk, a look from its eyes
could kill, and its breath would turn a victim to stone? ".
Alexis raised his eyebrows in approval. " I'm impressed, not everyone
knows of such a creature ".
" I didn't, but my mother spoke several times of a Basilisk, I
wish now I had paid more attention, but I do remember the longing or regret
that she showed when she spoke of it ".
He shrugged " at the time all I thought it was a ploy or threat to
keep me in order ".
" Maybe it was " said Alexi unconvincingly.
" And maybe she wanted to tell me something that she dared not?
". Nicholas replied sadly
" We will never know. What I do know " Alexi said changing
the subject a little " …is that the time was late in the annihilation
war, and they were been deep underground, though that considering blast
and biological weapons that is fairly obvious. But that was where our knowledge
ended, until a person recalled a series of numbers they had, had passed
onto them. The combination gave a location close to a tunnel that drove
through a mountain from ones side to the other ".
Nicholas instantly realised what he was talking about. "The rebel
base? ".
Alexi nodded slowly. " But it was used by your friends, and yet
they hadn't found any secret laboratory; and neither could I, so I couldn't
see how it could be the right place. But then there were the pieces of the
Massala, the desperate activity in your district to locate the heir. It
may have been just a big coincidence, but for some reason everything was
happening in the one district. It was too big grate a risk to leave for
the marshal to work out ".
" What I found out, was that the work they had been doing was well
advanced, but no one from that time fully realised just what they had developed.
And as the war had climaxed, and all that was left to fight for was devastation,
the urgency went out of their work. For several years they lived on, all
the while the pace of the work slowed until as the people lost heart and
purpose it finally stopped.
The supplies ran out and they were forced to re-enter the outside world.
Apparently close by at first, and then further a field.
From the few detail then on it seems that one-day brought the plague back,
and that is all I can find
Nicholas sounded disappointed as he spoke. " Then it cannot be
the base, as Antour told me the animals had been there for generations,
if that is so then some must have survived to tend to them? ".
" Who knows if they survived or not? A more relevant point is that
if they did they had little interest in the work that had been done there,
for not a scrap of evidence exists to tell more of it ".
" So that's it, it still is to be found? ".
" Well actually no " Alexi said with a smile. " As I
said it was too dangerous to let the marshal find the laboratory, and the
odds were too great that he too was looking so I kept on looking ".
Nicholas could sense what Alexi was lead up to. " Well " he
said almost impatiently " did you find it? ".
" Yes ". He said triumphantly.
Nicholas gave a resigned sigh " The we could have had a weapon
…... " Nicholas looked curiously at Alexi. " what kind of
weapon is it? ".
" You mean can it fight the Drakken? It has never been tested in
battle, but there is no reason why it can not ".
" If it was here, not in that faraway place many lives could have
been saved ".
" Not only lives, the future of Earth depends on the victor. Mars
is poised to rewrite the past to its own suiting, and plunge this planet
into new dark age; the colonies will waver and fall into the grip of totalitarianism;
all this and more, can and will happen if you fear the Drakken ".
" You can't be serious Riegel, " said Nicholas " Yes.
I would have tried, but surely if the marshal wins here and now, that's
the end of it, surely ".
" Nicholas do you think every war, every conflict begins with a
major battle. They don't, every time it is a single, apparently insignificant
act that tips the balance. Neither of us has the benefit of hindsight to
pinpoint how what we do will change what we know, and once any act is done
other options that may have been, no longer effect us. But please believe
me, we, and it is not just my opinion, we know that this place in time will
affect the future without parallel ".
" I hear what you say good friend, but let me ask you this. With
your knowledge of the marshal or whomever he pays service to, do you believe
that he will not carry out his threat? ".
" Alexi looked into his eyes. " He will do as he says ".
" Then in all reality I and my friends have no future. Now I must
fight with every means I have, for if I chose to take another option how
could I face myself every morning knowing at what price it had cost? ".
" You couldn't ".
Nicholas looked at him " I owe you much good friend, not least
of all the strength to choose the hard path. I hope that at the dawn I can
still walk it with pride ".
Alexi looked up, his face wrinkled with indecision. " I once told
you that I had broken many rules for you Nicholas ".
" I remember, and I am grateful ".
" I don't seek your gratitude, I broke the rules because I wanted
you to live. I want you to live Nicholas, because I want you to fight Mars
for me ".
Nicholas laughed out loud " is that all? ", he said once he
had stopped. " And heres me thinking you were only interested in me
because of the stone and my heritage? ".
" I am. No… You know what I mean ". Alexi's admiration
for the youth increased as he saw how he faced death. Everything, the stone,
the lineage they are all intertwined with stopping Mars's expansionism.
As a catalyst you have the perfect credentials to begin that on Earth ".
Alexi tried to make his words sound a little sarcastic. " If you had
not, then I would have spent the hours with my conscience in turmoil that
I have ". Then he became serious " For what I propose will make
me as much of an outlaw to my people as you have been to the marshal ".
" Then we shall be good company ".
Alexi shrugged his shoulders. " Even though it will likely end
with you still dying, and me banished ".
" But both of us with meet that judgement knowing we fought for
the principles we believed in ".
" Good " said Alexi standing. " Then Nicholas, did I
ever tell you about transporters? ".
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