The Worker Prince (16 page)

Zylo even seemed to feel sorry for Rhii. Bordox wanted to laugh when Zylo expressed sympathy for the little rat.
Pathetic loser.
Such softness would never get in Bordox’s way. He made his way to the conference room where Zylo was already waiting for him.
Sigh.

“We’ve generated a bunch of new leads for you,” Zylo said, tossing a memory card across the table at him.

“I hope they’re better than the previous garbage you guys sent me,” Bordox said.

Zylo didn’t bother to hide his annoyance. “Intelligence gathering is not an exact science, especially when it comes to workers. They have no reason to cooperate with us. We do our best to fill in as many of the pieces as we can before we send the data to you. Your tactics haven’t helped the results.”

Bordox stared at him, hiding his contempt.
Not more of this bleeding heart softie crap!
“We’re trained to use whatever it takes to complete our mission,” Bordox said.

“No wonder the citizens call you Death Squads instead of LSP,” Zylo said.

Bordox fought to control his anger. That was a moniker used to cut down and disrespect men who served a higher cause in Borali society. Bordox hated that moniker. His anger won and he exploded: “If you don’t want to work with me, feel free to request reassignment! I’m sure Lord Xalivar will be very sympathetic!”

“Watch your tone! I’m your superior officer!”

Not for long!
“Are we done yet? I have work to attend to.” Bordox stood and moved to the window, looking out across the city at the great view. Someday maybe he’d be in charge of an entire planet, an assignment far worthier of his talents. He knew he deserved more than cowing down to idiots like this.

“Xalivar gave us the names of two officers he wants us to monitor,” Zylo slid a photo pod across the table.

Bordox grabbed it and looked at the pictures.
Farien and Yao!
He hated them, too. “Nothing but low-talent hangers on who followed Xander Rhii like puppies at the Academy.”

“One of them is an instructor at Presimion Academy,” Zylo noted as Bordox turned back to the window. “I assigned top operatives to keep watch on the one stationed on Vertullis. The Legallis office will handle Presimion.”

Bordox made a silent note of the fact that Farien was still around.
I think I’d better go pay him a visit myself.
He didn’t trust anyone else. None of them had the talent he had. Better to make sure what needed to be done got done right. “Shouldn’t we question them?”

“The High Lord Councilor already did. He wants their activities monitored in case the subject makes contact,” Zylo said. “I assigned our best operatives.”

I’m your best operative, you fool! It’s why the High Lord Councilor assigned me to find his nephew not sit on some inconsequential wannabes like them.
How could Bordox continue to tolerate even weasels like Zylo failing to recognize his true abilities?

“He wants you to coordinate monitoring of all passenger traffic at the starport. Everyone who comes and goes from this planet is to be monitored, their records checked thoroughly. Someone’s hiding him, and we need to find out whom.”

This guy ought to be a worker, with a brain like that!
“I’ll take care of it. I’d also like to pay another visit to some of the workers we already interviewed. There’s a woman and a girl who know more than they told me.”

“You can do what you want with whatever time you have left after the starport’s in order,” Zylo said, standing. The meeting was over.

Thank the gods! Such a waste of time being here with this idiot! I have my destiny to fulfill!
They both headed off in opposite directions.

O O O

The trio met Miri in the back room of a little-known restaurant on the outskirts of the city. Arriving separately to avoid drawing attention to themselves, each used separate entrances to ensure they wouldn’t be seen together.

Restaurant staff escorted them to a private room in the back, where Miri sat waiting for them. They gathered around a long table, waiting for her to explain. Instead of the usual white robes they wore to official meetings, each wore comfortable cotton slacks and shirts. Miri had never seen Lord Hachim, who took particular pride in his official role, dressed like a civilian. He looked awkward. Tarkanius and Kray appeared more relaxed. All of them knew her, but Lord Kray, one of the few females on the Council, was Miri’s childhood friend.

As waiters took their orders, Miri passed around memory cards. After the waiters had served their beverages, the door closed, and Miri stood, smiling.

“Thank you all for coming. I called you here because we’re all loyal to the Alliance, and I have important information about recent events which should cause you concern.”

“Why are we meeting all the way out here and not at the government center or in the Palace?” Lord Tarkanius asked.

“Because this involves highly confidential matters, and I ask you to keep it that way, until we’ve determined a course of action,” Miri said.

They all exchanged looks wondering what she was about to say.

“You’ve all known my character and loyalty to my family. So you’ll understand what I am about to say comes out of deep concern for both my family and the Alliance.”

“Of course, Miri,” Lord Kray said. “What’s going on?” She sipped from her Talis, a warm beverage brewed from beans grown on Vertullis—somewhat like the old Earth beverage coffee.

“I don’t know how aware you are of the situation on Vertullis,” Miri said, “but events have taken place which, I believe, have created a crisis there. These events have occurred with the full support and consent of the High Lord Councilor and have resulted in treatment of the workers which I believe is unacceptable. These memory cards contain evidence I wish you to review relating to these events.”

“Are you saying there has been mistreatment of workers?” Lord Hachim asked.

“Mistreatment, subhuman conditions, and abuses of power,” Miri said, nodding.
Please gods let them believe me.

The three Lords exchanged looks of both surprise and concern. “The workers are not like us. We all know the history of their attacks against our people,” Lord Tarkanius said.

“Yet the Borali Alliance has always stood for fair treatment of those under our rule,” Miri said. “We set certain standards, which are not being upheld now under my brother.”

“How much does your bringing this to our attention have to do with the murder charges your brother asked us to reinstate against your own son?” Lord Hachim asked, leaning back in his chair and watching her for a reaction.

Xalivar asked them to charge Davi?
It hit her hard hearing it, though she tried not to let it show. “My son was charged because he questioned the Borali Alliance’s treatment of workers. He documented a long line of abuses, bringing the evidence to Xalivar, who was not receptive. Anyone who questions my brother is at risk. He refuses to respond to inquiries. He believes the workers are subhuman, lower than animals, unworthy of trust or respect.”
And most other people, too.

“Many in the Alliance would agree with him,” Lord Tarkanius said, sipping his Talis.

“Then how can we blame the workers for calling us tyrannical?” Lord Kray asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

“Xalivar is consolidating his own power, taking on more and more responsibilities himself and relying less and less on your counsel,” Miri said, hoping they’d noticed.

“He appears before the Council to make regular reports,” Lord Hachim said.

“The Council began meeting every two months instead of monthly at whose request?” Miri asked.

The three Lords exchanged a look. “The High Lord Councilor requested it, due to increased obligations,” Lord Kray answered for them.

Miri nodded. “I believe Xalivar wants to make the High Lord Councilor more like a kingship and less dependent on the Council. He has become more and more powerful and makes more and more decisions alone. If the Council doesn’t take action soon, it will be too late.”

“He has done nothing the Council doesn’t approve of,” Lord Tarkanius said, leaning forward in his chair.

“You’ll change your opinion after you’ve viewed these memory cards,” Miri said with anticipation.

“What are you proposing?” Lord Hachim asked.

“I believe it may be time for a change of leadership … for the High Lord Councilor’s office to be returned to someone who respects both its powers and its limits,” Miri said.

As expected they looked shocked to hear this from her. Stiffening and locking their eyes on hers, they examined her as if trying to determine how serious she was, but Miri made sure her expression never wavered.

“We will, of course, consider the evidence on these memory cards with great care,” Lord Tarkanius said, leaning back in his seat again after taking a final sip of his Talis.

Miri smiled. “Thank you. Please keep this meeting confidential until we’ve had a chance to discuss your reactions.”

They nodded. “Of course we will,” Lord Kray said. “Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Miri.”

“I love the Alliance and respect the Council,” Miri said. “It is my duty.”

“The Council has always appreciated your faithfulness,” Lord Hachim said as they stood, placing the memory cards in their pockets.

Miri watched as they departed one at a time, leaving her alone. She knew the risks of revealing this to the Council, but she had grown increasingly concerned about Xalivar’s activities after learning what Davi had uncovered on Vertullis. Xalivar’s refusal to be questioned about it by her or anyone else had convinced her that someone had to step up and call him to account. She was in the best position to do so.

She’d chosen the members of the Council to which she gave the evidence with great care. She knew their influence on the Council would help her case. She would wait for their response, and continue gathering evidence. In the meantime, she had a plan that would bring the abuses to the attention of the public.

Xalivar had asked the Council to charge Davi with murder! My gods, how could he do that?
His betrayal was the last straw. Any second thoughts she had, faded away. Fine. If Xalivar had no loyalty to her or his family, so be it. She would not feel it necessary to be loyal to him. The Borali Alliance itself was more important, and she knew in her heart even their father would disapprove of Xalivar’s excesses.

Chapter Seven

Xalivar had always had a soft place in his heart for his sister, but these days she was driving him mad—going on and on about Davi this, Davi that. Xalivar had a lot of responsibilities besides babying his worrywart sister.

The nightmares had come again. A kind he hadn’t had in twenty years—ones that continued to haunt him, even in daylight. Now, Miri had stormed into his private chamber like a charging bull, heading straight toward him. He sighed loudly, but she paid no attention.

“You asked the Council to reinstate murder charges against your own nephew? I knew you could sink low, Xalivar, but—”

“Where did you hear that?” He asked, cutting her off.

“I have friends on the Council like you do,” Miri said.

“Your son is determined to create problems for me where none existed. I did my best to reason with him, but he won’t leave it alone!” Xalivar was not in the mood for her angry tone. He had responsibilities she would never understand.

“He’s your nephew! You could have tried harder.”

“He’s an officer in the army, sworn to serve me. He refuses to serve. He’s also a subject of the Borali Alliance,” Xalivar said. “He’s always shied away from special treatment, so I’m treating him like anyone else.”

“Don’t give me more lies, Xalivar. I’m your sister. I’ve known you all my life,” Miri said. “You’re singling him out because he defied you.” She turned away, close to tears, staring out the window at the stars.

“He needs to know his place,” Xalivar said, unmoved by her tears.
Always so dramatic.

“You need to know yours!” She whirled around, pointing her finger in his face.

Xalivar had never wanted to hit Miri before, but he had to restrain himself this time. “You’d prefer I let him create a huge public scandal and bring the wrath of the entire Alliance down on him? I’m bringing him in, so we can keep this situation from getting out of control.”

“You’re so sure everyone in the Alliance would agree with you, aren’t you?” Miri said. “I know for a fact many do not!”

“General public opinion is not my concern. I answer to the Council,” Xalivar said.
And I don’t really care what you or they think either, sister.

“And answer you shall if you turn your back on your family,” Miri said. “You sent his archrival to hunt him down like some kind of outlaw! Do you care nothing about his reputation? His safety?”

Since when did Miri grow claws? Did she really have the nerve?
“Don’t threaten me!”

“Don’t threaten my son!” Miri turned around and marched back to the door. After a moment, it slid shut behind her.

Xalivar cursed whoever had betrayed him. He wasn’t sure who’d told Miri, but he would find out. He would not tolerate people playing politics with his family. Perhaps it had been a matter of time, but he didn’t need her enflamed emotions leading her to interfere in his business. He had enough to worry about.
They will learn what it means to cross Xalivar.

The nightmares had reminded him of something he’d written off as inconsequential. He was starting to worry. He wanted Davi back under his nose where he could keep an eye on him. He would instruct Zylo and Bordox to retrace their steps. The search was taking too long. They needed to find Davi—and now.

O O O

A week after their argument in the corridor, Davi found Tela sitting at the controls of her shuttle, reading through maintenance charts. He took care to make noise as he entered the cockpit so as not to sneak up on her. She turned her head and frowned when she saw him.

“We seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot,” Davi said, sitting down beside her in the copilot’s seat. “I’ve been trying to figure out how it happened.”

“Maybe your charms won’t work on me,” Tela said, not bothering to look up as she continued her work. “I’m pretty good at seeing through people. Especially men.”

“Well, that’s just it. You seem to have taken some of the things I’ve said the wrong way,” Davi said, hoping she’d reconsider.

“Like what?” Her eyes remained on the charts.

“I didn’t bring up your name in class to isolate you from the other trainees,” Davi said. “I was trying to pay you a compliment. I’m impressed with the way you flew the shuttle.”

“Well, thank you,” she said, still avoiding eye contact, focused on her charts. “But the last thing I need is people thinking you’re showing me special treatment. I’m there to learn the same as them.”

“And I’m there to teach you,” Davi said, “but someone with your flight experience is an asset for the entire class. You can help me to help them learn what they need to know.”

“I didn’t sign on to be a tutor,” Tela said.

“I won’t ask you to be, if you don’t want to,” Davi said. “All I’m asking is if they don’t understand something I’m trying to explain, maybe you can jump in and help me clarify it.”

“See?” She said, looking up for a moment. “You’re asking me to teach. No thanks.”

Her eyes turned back to the charts as Davi wondered why he always seemed to choose the wrong words when he talked to her. A familiar buzz filled his stomach as heat rose within. And why was he always so attracted to her when she was mad at him? “Whatever you feel comfortable with,” Davi said. “The last thing I need is someone getting killed because they didn’t understand.”

“I wouldn’t let that happen,” Tela said.

“Good. I can use all the help I can get,” Davi said. “I’ve never been an instructor before. And I’ve never been a worker either. It’s all new to me. I pretty much have to relearn who I am.”
I wish someone would teach me how to talk to you!

“You’re doing fine. You explain things well,” Tela said, her blue eyes meeting his for a moment.

“Was that a compliment?” Davi melted inside like icicles in a desert. He smiled. “I might have to write that down. It might be ages before I ever get another compliment from you.”

She laughed, rolling her eyes. “Don’t get too cocky, okay? There’s always room for improvement.”

“Okay, so don’t get mad at me when I suggest areas you can improve,” Davi said. “It’s my job as your teacher.”

“You can’t improve on perfection,” she said, smiling slyly as she went back to her charts again. Was she joking?

“Now who’s cocky?” He teased and this time she laughed.

He added, “Some of the cadets seem to resent me because of my past. They don’t seem to realize, I’m on your side.”

“Can you really blame them? You’re the Prince.”

Davi sighed, disappointed. “No, I suppose not.”

She slid back in the chair and her face softened a bit as their eyes met again. “Give them time. They’ll come around.”

“I don’t suppose you could put in a good word for me?”

Tela’s face crinkled. “First I have to convince myself.”

“But you saw me at the rallies! Do you really believe—”

He stopped as Tela broke into laughter. “You’re giving me trouble?”

She smiled and nodded. “I couldn’t resist.”

“Well, I’d better let you get back to your work here. I wouldn’t want anyone to know we actually had a civil conversation.”

She smiled at him and his heart fluttered. “You like making jokes, don’t you?”

“When it makes you smile like that,” Davi said.

Her eyes darted quickly back to her charts.

After a moment, he slid from the copilot’s seat. “Okay, well, thanks for letting me explain.”

She nodded. “See you in class, professor.” It sounded so formal. He contorted his face, and she laughed again, twirling strands of her hair around her index finger. “I’m trying to work here.”

He nodded and backed out of the cockpit. The conversation went better than he’d expected. She’d laughed and joked with him. It was a start. And she’d twirled her hair—was she flirting with him? Best not to make too much of it. For some reason, all the way back to the command center, he found himself whistling a happy song.

O O O

“Retrace my steps and see if I missed anything?” Bordox groused as he sat in the military shuttle next to Corsi and reviewed Xalivar’s orders for the tenth time. “I’m sick of that miscreant always making me look bad! Not this time!” He cursed Xander Rhii under his breath for the millionth time and growled.

They hadn’t even covered a third of the worker community. Plenty of places to hide remained, yet his mission had already been deemed a failure. He cursed inside. He’d been given a chance to best his old rival, and he was determined to come out ahead. Revisiting areas they’d already covered would just slow him down. But after Zylo’s inaccurate reporting of Bordox’s activities, it’s exactly what Xalivar had ordered him to do.

On their previous visit to one worker neighborhood, he’d found a photo of a man who looked very much like Xander Rhii in one of the houses. He had no idea why workers would have such a photo, but then again, he’d learned from interrogating the neighbors that a man who looked like Xander had been seen there a number of times. The woman had told him the picture was her husband, who’d disappeared twenty years before. In spite of his interrogation techniques, the woman and girl gave him nothing. Still, he’d never been able to shake the feeling they knew more than they’d told him.

When Bordox reviewed security tapes from the officers’ barracks, he’d spotted the woman and girl on it, chatting with Rhii. All three had a friendly demeanor throughout. This time Bordox wouldn’t let them off so easily. They knew where to find Rhii, and he would find out everything they knew.

“Why would a Royal be so friendly with workers?” he asked aloud, forgetting Corsi was sitting beside him. Bile rose in his throat at the thought and he swallowed hard, coughing after to clear the taste. “It makes no sense. Xalivar has always led the oppression of the workers. Of course that weak, overconfident Prince has never made sense. He’s totally unfit for military service. Too nice. Too sympathetic. Too independent.”

Ignoring Corsi’s nod, Bordox turned toward the window, lost in thought. Xander had been given opportunities which should have gone to Bordox. Now Bordox had the opportunity to put an end to the undeserved favoritism. And end it he would. No matter what it took. Proving once and for all that Rhii was the imposter and scum Bordox had always known him to be.

He arrived with a squad of five men at the courtyard outside the house in question. Everything looked the same as it had the last time he’d been there. He approached the door to the house and waited while his sergeant knocked.

“LSP, open!” Sergeant Corsi shouted.

A frightened woman opened the door, two wide-eyed young children hiding amidst the folds of her skirt. Bordox and his men pushed their way inside, looking around. No one else was in the house except the woman and children, who had not been there during his previous visit. The house had been arranged differently inside then—much of the furniture remained standard issue worker, but the pictures and personal knick-knacks had all changed—someone else lived there.

“Where are the people who lived here before?” Bordox demanded.

The woman shook with fear. Her children started crying. “I—I don’t know,” she said with great effort, so frightened she couldn’t speak.
Good. Be afraid of me!

Corsi and two soldiers returned from searching the back room. “No one’s here, sir. And everything is different than the last time.”

Bordox bared his teeth and uttered a guttural roar. He had to find these people—more certain now than ever that they had the answers he needed. Grabbing the woman’s arm so hard she cried out, he pulled her outside. “That’s it. I want all the neighbors in the square right now!”

He shoved the woman away from the house and then roughly carried her crying kids outside into the square as his men rushed to knock on the neighbors’ doors.

In a few moments, eight others stood trembling in the yard. Bordox walked among them as his men searched their houses. They all looked as frightened as the first woman. “Some of you I recognize. You remember me from before.” He glanced around at the fearful expressions.

A few found the strength to nod.

He sneered. “Good, then maybe you’ll tell me what I want to know!”

Corsi came back with reports from the men. “All clear, sir.”

Bordox grabbed an old man from the line and pointed his blaster at the man’s temple. “I want to know right now where the previous tenants of that house are!”

The workers looked at each other. From their faces, it appeared they didn’t know what to say. Bordox didn’t believe them. Someone had to know something. An older woman stepped forward. “They moved out right after you were here before. We don’t know where they are.”

“What do you know?” Bordox said, blaster still held to the man’s forehead. Fear had always been his favorite tactic.

“Please,” another man said, “we do our work. We make no problems for the Alliance.”

“You’re making a problem for the Alliance right now! Tell me what I want to know.” Bordox said.

“We don’t know anything!” The first woman said, as her two kids cried and continued clinging to her skirt. “Please, we have no reason not to tell you. I don’t even know those people.”

“You might not, but these people were here before. They were your neighbors,” Bordox said, ignoring the woman and looking at the others with no effort to hide his irritation.

“They never mentioned where they were going,” the older woman said. “All I know is the woman who lived there worked at Celedine Technology near the starport.”

Bordox released the old man, who collapsed to his knees. He walked up the line, stopping a few inches from each of them to stare into their eyes.
They really don’t know.
He cursed inside. Xalivar had warned him about excessive killings of workers. It would draw too much negative attention. He had to be discreet—the only reason these people still lived.

“If any of you see or hear anything, you will contact the LSP right away. Don’t make me have to come back here!” He met each one’s eyes in turn with a cold glare.

They all nodded, fear evident on their faces.

“Squad, move out!”

Bordox led his men back through the corridors of the worker district. They would go to Celedine Technology. He knew where it was. The more trouble it became locating Xander, the more determined he became to win. He would not have his career ruined by that incompetent fool ever again. He would bring him in, no matter what it took. Too bad Xalivar wanted him alive. Bordox would relish ending Xander Rhii’s miserable existence.