Rebel's Quest (41 page)

“But I can’t stay away and let the Gantharian population think that the rebels are holding me captive or, worse, that they’ve killed me.”

“Wait a minute…we need to think about this.” Roshan rubbed her temples, and Andreia could almost see her mind whirl, turning the dilemma around, inspecting it from all angles. “If you return, the Onotharian propaganda machine will concoct a huge lie, saying you were held captive, but managed to escape a fate worse than death, or something similar. If you stay with us, they’ll say you’re dead and turn you into a martyr, which won’t be difficult since you’re so popular. Any suggestions?”

Andreia folded her arms in front of her. She could think of several ideas, and none of them appealed to her. Roshan was right. No matter what, it came down to the two versions she’d just described.

Placing one hand on Roshan’s chest, Andreia pulled her closer with the other. “I don’t think we have a choice,” she said, her voice husky and deep with emotion. “I have to go back.”

Andreia adjusted her clothes and made sure she looked just as wrinkled and dusty as someone who’d been hiking. She’d changed clothes at the base camp where she’d arrived only hours ago, among the returning rebels. She was amazed at how efficiently the SC marines had moved them with the transporter shuttles, which managed a couple of thousand at a time.

The vast majority of the rebels had ended up in the mountain camps, which had the largest camouflaged structures. The rest were dispersed at smaller, safe locations all over the northern hemisphere, where most of the rebels resided. It would take some time to return them to their loved ones, but Andreia knew that was Roshan’s top priority, coupled with aiding the SC in their advance toward Onotharian territory.

It had been so hard to say good-bye to Roshan, not knowing when, or if, she’d ever see her again. They had stood inside the airlock, people passing by behind them, which made it impossible to exchange anything but pained looks and fake smiles.

“Is there any way I can talk you out of this?” Roshan had asked.

“No,
henshes
, there isn’t. I have to return and make sure they don’t use my absence to their advantage. We can’t let any shadows fall on the rebels. Our situation is already vulnerable.”

“Be careful among those people,” Roshan said, squeezing Andreia’s hand. “They may know more about you than you realize. Use your instincts. If you suspect anything—”

“I know. I’ll get out of there.”

“I wish there was another way.”

“So do I.”
I don’t want to leave you. Ever.
Andreia looked down, studying her boots when Roshan’s smoldering eyes became too painful to gaze into. “I…I haven’t had a chance to tell you everything. I mean, about how…I feel.” She stuttered and was aware of shuffling feet behind her where their fellow rebels were entering the large transporter.”

“I know. Me either.” Roshan’s short words spoke volumes, and Andreia had to look at her again.

“
Henshes
,” she breathed. “Tell me we’ll see each other again soon.”

The brief delay before Roshan spoke told Andreia of her fear. “Of course we will, love.” The term of endearment came over Roshan’s lips in a rush, but Andreia knew she’d cherish the moment forever.

*

“Ma’am? Your security badge, please?” A young Onotharian guard in the Onotharian headquarters smiled politely at her and startled her out of her reverie. He wasn’t familiar and didn’t recognize her, obviously. Andreia knew she looked different from her official image, hair a curly mess and no makeup.

“Oh, right. Yes.” Andreia pulled the card up and slid it through the reader. The detector read her biosignature and pinged approval. The whole process with the detector brought back the feeling of dread that had momentarily spread through her when she entered the Vaksses asteroid prison. Andreia held her breath for a while as she began walking toward her parents’ offices.

Her steps were heavy, but she forced herself to act casual when she stepped out of the elevator. The door to her father’s office was half-open, and even from the elevator, Andreia could hear the raised voices. People were running down the corridor, seemingly in a frenzy. Armed guards stood next to the exits, the elevator included, their plasma-pulse weapons raised across their chests.

Andreia almost made it all the way to her father’s office without any special attention from the guards. She turned a corner and suddenly found herself staring into the metal-plated chest of a tall Onotharian guard.

“Ms. M’Aldovar,” he said. “Come with me.” He pointed toward her father’s office.

“No need for the muscles.” Andreia sighed, but wasn’t surprised when the guard escorted her conscientiously all the way to the door.

Peering inside, she saw her mother standing by the window, arms folded in a defensive posture.

“I don’t care what you say, Valax. We can’t leave the border unprotected. To bring back a large part of our fleet for this unfortunate event—”

“Unfortunate event? You’re absolutely, unbelievably ignorant when you talk like that! We’re losing control of the situation here. Vaksses and Kovos, our best and safest places to put those damn rebels, are empty. Even the prisoners on death row are gone! This unexpected guerilla warfare is highly disturbing, not to mention dangerous.” Andreia’s father rose and rounded the desk. He stood in front of his wife, hands on his hips as he challenged her. “We have to get more space vessels here to deter this surge of military activity.”

“Where the hell did they come from?” Le’Tinia asked. “I’ve heard rumors of thousands of SC soldiers flooding the tunnels of Kovos, which is impossible, of course. More unbelievable yet, some say that the Protector has been sighted.”

“Oh, Gods, that’s all we need. If she’s here and everyone finds out, the situation will stampede totally out of control.”

Andreia decided it was time to go in. “I see that I’m just in time to find out what the hell’s been going on as soon as I turn my back for a vacation.” She strode into the office, casually dropping her bag onto the low couch.

“Andreia!” her parents gasped in unison and stared at her.

“What? Is something wrong?” Feigning innocence was easy after the years of lying through her teeth when it came to her parents. “You look like you’re staring at an underworld spirit.”

“We thought you were…Oh, dear child!” Le’Tinia rushed over to Andreia and embraced her. “We thought the rebels had taken you, or worse. How could you go away without your bodyguards?” Her eyes seemed honest enough, and Andreia realized that her mother had actually been worried.

“I had a great time with Roshan O’Landha. We hiked all over the Cortasero Mountains.” The mountains were located not far from Ganath, but on the opposite side, compared to the base camp. “I just realized today, when I got back, that we’ve had an incident. I came right away, as I’m sure you can see, before changing.”

“We appreciate that,
henshes
, since it’s far more than an incident,” Valax emphasized. “The rebels raided Vaksses and Kovos, with the aid of covert SC military assistance. We were sure, when you never checked in with us, that you’d been accidentally caught up in it and taken prisoner.”

“We thought we’d get a ransom demand, or ultimatums from the rebels, but when we didn’t hear anything from them either…we began to be afraid you were dead.” As Le’Tinia stroked her forehead, for the first time Andreia saw her mother’s true age. “I couldn’t bear to lose another child to these people.”

“You didn’t.” Andreia placed an awkward hand on her mother’s shoulder. They’d never been inclined to hug or kiss, but the pain in Le’Tinia’s voice resonated in Andreia. No matter what, these were still her parents, and the fact that they were on opposite sides of this struggle hurt Andreia more than ever. “I’m here now. Why not brief me on what’s going on?”

Her father, who seemed more able to handle the situation as a professional, recapped the events. He spoke in a low tone where he stood next to his wife, by the window. “And so you see, we have to strike hard against the rebels, Andreia. If we don’t ask for assistance from our homeworld, demand that they bring the cruisers and destroyers back from the SC border, we’re going to be stuck here with outdated vessels which the SC ships can easily destroy.”

“No ships available from Onotharat?” Andreia held her breath while she waited for the reply.

“No, they’re betting everything on this upcoming battle with the SC. The entire balance of power is in jeopardy, and the chairmen aren’t going to risk it. I tried to tell them about what’s happening here, several times, but we’ve been so proficient at keeping the rebels at bay before, they’re expecting us to merely round them up again and destroy them.”

“That will be nearly impossible,” Le’Tinia huffed. Waving a dismissive hand in the air, she seemed both tired and angry. “The rebels aren’t fools. They won’t allow themselves to be captured in the same way again. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that they’ll regroup, start new cells with new strategies, and we won’t be able to find them, unless we begin incarcerating people randomly.”

“What?” Taken aback at her mother’s words, Andreia said, “Surely that won’t be efficient enough?”
Oh, Gods, no. Don’t panic and lash out like that, Mother!

“I know. It’s not an option. Yet.” Le’Tinia sat down on the chair closest to the window. “But we have to do
something.
”

“Now that you’re back, we could use a bit of goodwill.” Valax laced his fingers and leaned against the desk. “You’re popular, and people have been just as concerned about you as we have.”

Because you used me in your damn propaganda.
“Just tell me what to do. An official broadcast, perhaps?”

“Yes, that…and also something with more impact.” Le’Tinia cocked her head, and Andreia knew from experience that her mother was hatching yet another of her chilling plans. “I know.” Le’Tinia rose and let her finger slide down Andreia’s cheek. “You have a small scratch here. We can extend it, make it worse.”

“What are you talking about?” Andreia knew she should have used a derma fuser before she came back, but she’d run out of time.

“Just trust me. You’re going to look the part, and
play
the part, of a woman who escaped the rebels’ claws just in time before they tortured her to death.” Le’Tinia moved Andreia’s head back and forth, examining it. “You already look pale and uncomfortable. Excellent.”

“But Mother, I don’t think it will help the situation to pull off such a stunt—”

Le’Tinia’s dark eyes became small slits of contempt. “This is how we’ll do it. Unless you decide to let them gain territory because all you can think of is that woman you allied yourself with? She’s taking you away from your duties far too much. It’s not acceptable for her to have any power over you. No matter what she demands, you need to focus on the situation at hand.”

Only a few days ago you were thrilled to hear Roshan was interested in me. How quickly you change your mind when it suits you, Mother.
“I will. I am Onotharian first and foremost,” Andreia lied, and felt a stake drill into her heart as she spoke. “What do you have in mind?”

“We give you a proper makeover and broadcast the news of the rebels’ actions toward the planet’s most known and beloved woman.”

“When?” Andreia’s mouth was so dry she could hardly speak.

Le’Tinia raised inquisitive eyebrows at her husband, who shrugged, obviously content to leave the decision to his wife. “Tonight,” Le’Tinia said triumphantly. “I like the idea more and more. The rebels will lose some of their so-called halo and thus the support of many of their own people. Tonight we’ll discredit them in the Gantharian public’s eyes and reveal them as the lying, self-righteous bastards they are.”

*

Roshan stood in the communications room with Jubinor, Kellen, and Jacelon. They had reviewed the discussions among the different resistance cell leaders around the northern hemisphere. The Onotharians had captured two of the leaders, and their neighboring cells now planned how to liberate them.

The Protector stood next to Jacelon, her shoulders rigid. “We’ll help as much as we can,” she said. “We need to collaborate with the rebels in the cells geographically closest to them. We should set up a command center that deals with this immediately and—”

The sudden noise in Roshan’s left ear made her flinch, and it took her a few seconds to realize it was her earpiece, the first one that she and Andreia had used. She had plugged it back in when she returned to earth with the faint hope that Andreia might find a way to communicate. When she hadn’t heard anything for more than twelve hours, she assumed Andreia hadn’t thought of it, or had been unable to get to her equipment.

“Boyoda to Paladin. Can you hear me?” It was almost physically painful to hear the beloved voice and know she was so far away.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” Roshan told the others. “I need to take care of something.” She walked out of the room and continued outside. Everywhere she looked, she saw people. A city of tents lined the entire grass field that the low buildings surrounded. Roshan snuck in between the structure she just left and the one serving as the food center. It was almost dark, and she felt her way along the wall until she was sure she was out of earshot. “Andreia. I’m here.”