《Final War: Hetairoi [Progression, Hard Sci-Fi, Mecha Space Opera]》 B1 | Chapter 00: Blood and Steel
In the myth, God is Force. Until the creation of Eidolons, we did not understand those words. The discovery of Psions, the harnessing of Callandium, the forging of the first Eidolons; all of it brought us closer to the comprehension of the Myth. We believed ourselves masters of war, architects of our own ascension. But now, we have seen it with our own eyes¡ªmade manifest in one man. And so we must ask the question we fear most of all: was the knowledge worth the cost?
There had been thirty of them when the battle began. Thirty knights of Pendragon, piloting the most advanced war machines the Grand Imperium had ever wrought. Eidolons, each one an example built from the genius of the pinnacle of human society¡¯s engineering; each one a metaphor for the intersection of war and divinity. Each machine was the size of a multi-storeyed building, standing between twenty and twenty-five meters tall. They had come here to kill a traitor. They had come here to kill a mistake. They had come here to kill a man who should never have existed. And yet, they were the ones dying. The battlefield at the Plains of Hadrian had been a perfect choice. Flat and open ground, no terrain to use as cover, and nowhere for a lone enemy to hide or maneuver. It had been painstakingly scouted and observed, with careful attention given to any rogue elements or possible oversights in the planning. They had proceeded with supreme confidence, after confirming nothing existed that would impede their plan. Their foe would be cut off from reinforcements. He would be surrounded on all sides. There would be no escape. Even in the annals of Pendragon¡¯s centuries-old history, there had never been an instance where such an act¡ªdishonorable as it might be perceived¡ªwas not a strategic win. Eliminating political foes had been done in such a way before, and in many ways, the mere need for such stratagems was something of an unspoken acknowledgement of the target¡¯s talent. It was planned to be a massacre. And it was. Gods above and Devils below, it was. Just not the way they had expected. The machine that had awaited them was not the one they had expected. It lacked signifiers, it lacked motifs, it lacked anything to demonstrate who it belonged to or which faction it served. Its design seemed in keeping with the armored and stalwart style of Pendragon¡¯s Eidolons, but something about it was wrong. Then the violence had started, and everything had gone to the void. ¡°It¡¯s coming again!¡± a voice he recognized as Rael Lysander¡¯s shouted over the comms. ¡°How is it so fucking fast?!¡± Percival Marsh screamed. ¡°I can¡¯t track¡ªNo! NO! N¡ª!¡± Another link went dead, and the massacre continued. Galahad Velius¡¯ cockpit vibrated violently in the middle of the storm, his Eidolon¡¯s servos screaming as it struggled to compensate for the sheer force of its evasive maneuvers. His HUD flashed red with critical warnings while he drew in a pained breath and tried to ignore the cracked ribs he¡¯d suffered from the last impact to his hardlight barriers. His Battle Intelligence put his situation into grim perspective a moment later, its voice a feminine chime of worry and warning melded as one. ¡°Shields are at 9%, my lord, and your chassis has sustained critical damage. None of the kinetic energy or hardlight weapons are operational, and your monomolecular blade has been destroyed.¡± Ten seconds. He had engaged the enemy for ten seconds and incurred critical damage. It was like something out of a holovid. Galahad barked a bitter laugh. ¡°Tell me something I don¡¯t know!¡± ¡°You can still flee.¡± she said solemnly. ¡°In fact, I would strongly recommend it.¡± Galahad might have snarled at Corein for such words at any other moment. However, given what they were facing, he could not fault her for them. The black Eidolon was still coming. It moved like nothing Galahad had ever seen before. He had fought Aces before, in honor duels or small disputes between Core powers. They were a common thing, and the Imperator tolerated them so long as they did not harm the greater unity of the Grand Imperium. Galahad had seen knights wield their machines like extensions of their own bodies, like exoskeletal limbs moved at the behest of their natural counterparts. But this? This was different. This thing did not dodge gunfire¡ªit was just gone when the hyper-velocity rounds tore through the air it had occupied and obliterated stone and earth instead. Its movement was random and unpredictable to the point even their Battle Intelligences couldn¡¯t track it. There was no consistency, no predictability: the pattern didn¡¯t exist. That, more than anything, spoke of something wrong. That sort of movement wasn¡¯t human. The black Mecha did not counter attacks¡ªit was simply not there to be struck. It did not fight to survive. It fought to win. And the worst part, which truly made Galahad feel fear? It was thriving. Somewhere, within that black Eidolon, whoever¡ªor whatever¡ªpiloted it was not fighting for their life. They were enjoying this. "Regroup! We need to regroup¡ª!" Stolen novel; please report. Rael Lysander¡¯s voice snapped over the comms, but Galahad knew it was already too late. The words were as hollow as the available options of his armament. His Eidolon had been built to stand toe-to-toe with the finest the Core of the Humanosphere had to offer, and now it was little more than an extremely costly prosthetic. They were broken. Their faith, their pride, their hopes: all broken. All their formations, their carefully orchestrated assault patterns¡ªgone. Their perfect plan had been shattered the moment he engaged them. No plan survives first contact with the enemy, but theirs had been atomized. Galahad gritted his teeth, hands tight on the controls. His Eidolon was one of the finest war machines ever built. Its targeting systems were perfect, its predictive algorithms refined over generations of warfare. It should have been enough. And yet, despite all those advantages, despite overwhelming numbers, despite the power at his fingertips and those of his allies, it had meant nothing. The black Eidolon was still standing. ¡°Why?¡± he demanded with copper-stained lips. ¡°What makes you so special?!¡± He received his answer a moment later. A knight to his left¡ªSir Tristan of House Mael¡ªroared forward in a last-ditch charge, his towering white Eidolon, Durandal, brandishing its twin hardlight lances as the golden construct spears hummed with kinetic force. Tristan was one of their best duelists. He had won the laurel crown in Sol itself. He was a light of glory among their generation. Galahad did not dare to blink. Not that it mattered. Tristan never even had the chance to strike. The black Eidolon moved, and Tristan¡¯s machine was suddenly bisected, cleaved from shoulder to hip in a scream of metal and a detonation of its emergency-safed reactor that washed Galahad¡¯s vision in white fire. ¡°This isn¡¯t possible.¡± he breathed in bloodied disbelief. ¡°This can¡¯t be real.¡± But reality cared little for his entreaties to reassert a more conceivable truth. The battlefield around him shuddered beneath Galahad¡¯s ravaged machine as more knights fell, and combat frames designed for galactic conquest¡ªdesigned to bring entire human nations to heel¡ªwere reduced to burning wreckage and bloodied junk. All the while, like the Grim Reaper, the black Eidolon simply continued forward. ¡°FOCUS FIRE! ALL UNITS, FOCUS FIRE!¡± Galahad looked up at the sound of atmospheric engines screaming as they warped gravity to propel Eidolons forward in their bipedal assault phase, and snapped his eyes to their macabre obsidian foe as the affirmations were desperately given over the communication line. With no weapons of his own, he was powerless to do more than evade backward and watch. For the first time in the battle, a fact that was not lost on Galahad in how insane it was, every surviving knight was able to fire at once. Railguns, coilguns, hardlight spears, dark matter flechettes¡ªevery single weapon system converged upon a single target. It was a storm of death, a wave of destruction that would end even a Core power supercarrier if it impacted a single point. Not even the most powerful of distortion fields or hardlight projectors could withstand that much output. And Eidolons were far more fragile than Supercarriers. Galahad felt a spark of hope ignite within him. Could they¡ª? ¡°The enemy is still advancing.¡± Corein reported softly. Galahad felt the embers of hope gutter out in his soul. The black Eidolon would not be denied. Warp fields bled around its form, kinetic barriers flaring as hyper-velocity rounds curved away from it; bending under the impossible gravity distortions its machine generated. Hardlight spears shattered on impact, their energy dispersing against shields that should not have been able to react in time. Power diffusion radiated across its body in distinct lines of angry crimson, showing the insane speed at which each system was harnessed; like a conductor guiding a symphony of energy with a speed and precision that defied logic. The enemy advanced without hesitation. Fear chilled his veins once more. Galahad¡¯s fingers tightened around the neuralink control orbs of his machine. ¡°You aren¡¯t human.¡± he rasped toward the looming specter of death. ¡°You¡¯re a fucking monster!¡± His sensors screamed with a warning¡ªsomething unnatural, something wrong. ¡°Gravity Shock detected!¡± Corein cried out in warning. The black Eidolon disappeared. Not moved. Not dashed. It simply ceased to exist. A spatial compression wave detonated outward, the ground beneath it cracking as gravity momentarily distorted and warped. Earth, stone, and bedrock were torn asunder; destroyed Eidolons ripped to further pieces, and even Galahad¡¯s remaining shields were dropped by a full 1% just from the discharge wave alone. If it had occurred near a city, the force wake would have killed millions. ¡°What the hell happened? Is he fucking mad?!¡± A moment later Galahad had his answer when the black Eidolon reappeared. Directly behind Rael Lysander¡¯s machine. ¡°The Myth¡ª!¡± Galahad barely had time to process their leader¡¯s awed, terrified words. The black Eidolon¡¯s warblade flashed once. The Cyranthe, widely considered one of the greatest Eidolons ever made by House Lysander, fell apart. Not in chunks. Not in pieces. It was bisected with surgical precision. Rael Lysander never even had time to scream. ¡°Zero Shift confirmed.¡± Corein reported in a voice that showed even the battle intelligence was shaken, if that was possible. It was a technique known, but said to be impossible to harness by all but the most powerful of Psionics. To perform it, a pilot needed to compress localized space behind the point of their origin abutting their machine, hold that compression while simultaneously shaping it to avoid obliterating their own chassis, and then release it all at once to instantly traverse the battlefield at near-relativistic speeds to one of the positions from which the compressed space¡¯s furthest boundary originated. Any miscalculation¡ªeven the tiniest error¡ªwould cause instant brain death from the sheer feedback of the spatial distortion, not to mention the obliteration of the Eidolon being piloted. In most cases, nothing bigger than a finger could even be located after an unsuccessful attempt. Even high-ranking Aces across the Core wouldn¡¯t attempt it. Yet their enemy was using it effortlessly. He was using it like it was breathing. Galahad felt something twist in his chest. This wasn¡¯t just skill. This was something beyond skill. ¡°God is Force.¡± he whispered hoarsely, realizing Rael¡¯s final words. The black Eidolon turned toward him next. Galahad tried to run on instinct alone. His graviton drive ratcheted to maximum, his machine roaring backward, every single escape vector mapped out¡ªand then he stopped with a dull boom that echoed through his mind, down to the core of his soul. ¡°Gravity Shock detected!¡± He had already been caught. A screech of metal heralded the first strike of his enemy¡¯s blade, eviscerating the reinforced metal shielding his cockpit in his Eidolon¡¯s torso. Galahad hadn¡¯t even seen his enemy move. Hadn¡¯t even registered the approach. The black Eidolon had him. ¡°Drives offline. Shields offline. Reactor levels dropping rapidly.¡± Corein reported in a resigned voice. Something shifted, a powerful grip took hold of his machine, and suddenly Galahad¡¯s Eidolon was weightless. He was hoisted into the air like a broken puppet. Galahad''s vision blurred as his systems flashed red. Corein was imploring him to eject, to run, to save himself¡ªas was her duty. But he couldn¡¯t move. The black Eidolon¡¯s crimson eyes flashed as it stared at him through the sundered hole that had been meter-thick reinforced adamantium. ¡°In the Myth,¡± he uttered softly, ¡°God is Force.¡± A scream of metal announced the finishing thrust of his enemy¡¯s blade. Galahad Velius died in silence, crushed beneath the weight of his enemy¡¯s potential, and entombed in blood and steel. B1 | Chapter 01: Graecia
Graecia was the start of everything. If I had never gone there, if I had never followed my desires as single-mindedly as I had, would things have been different? I look out at the burning Humanosphere, and I question the wisdom in all that transpired to place me there. Which tragedies might have been averted? What lives might have been saved? Blood drenches me like a second skin, and I wonder¡­ How did it come to this?
The fast-packet merchant ship Enterprising Fortune dropped out of warped space with a flash of cherenkov radiation and a small eruption of displaced space. The moment it did, the eclectic bridge crew of the vessel¡ªarrayed as they were in a small horseshoe depression in front of the elevated captain¡¯s chair¡ªcalled out their reports with due diligence. ¡°Translation completed, skipper!¡± a young man called out cheerfully. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at Graecia¡¯s solward Calypso point.¡± ¡°Fuel levels are good, too!¡± called out a young woman on the opposite side of the horseshoe. ¡°The hyperlane from Korinth was pretty stable, actually. The A-Drive barely had to put in any work maintaining the warp bubble.¡± ¡°Good to hear,¡± Captain Davos Larriman, a heavy-set man with slavic features and an impressive black beard, responded with a nod of thanks. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving toward the checkpoint before the locals get antsy.¡± The casual ¡°aye aye¡± from the helmsman at the ¡®front¡¯ of the horseshoe¡ªthe exact middle of the curve¡ªkeyed in the rest of the crew to glance up at the projected ¡®viewscreen¡¯ superimposed in a full 360¡ã across the walls of the small interstellar courier¡¯s shielded bridge. Thanks to the technological advancements of the 31st Century, as reckoned by the central Solar Calendar of Terra, the ¡®view¡¯ of the outside was linked to multiple tachyon sensors that rendered a lagless three-dimensional image of space as it existed outside of the vessel. In simple terms, it was akin to being aboard an old-Terran wet navy ship¡¯s bridge, and looking out from within. The difference, of course, was the ability to zoom in up to the light-second mark¡ªexactly 299,792 kilometers¡ªon anything rendered by the sensors. Details beyond that were supposedly unavailable, largely because of how the sensors collated and arrayed the data for the display and the nature of preserving a lagless process. The science of it was far beyond the foundational education most humans received outside of very specialized Universities¡ªbut it was sufficient to simply say that everything within one light second or closer could be immediately seen and analyzed by the small seven-person bridge crew of the courier. While they busied themselves with the space around the vessel, the Captain finally turned to look at the blond man occupying one of the two observer¡¯s chairs above and to the left of the raised command platform. ¡°We¡¯ll be entering Graecia¡¯s heliosphere soon, Magellan.¡± The Captain said with an appraising glance for his tall passenger. ¡°Once the fleet clears us, we¡¯ll C-Drive to Hellas. You should be able to make those payment arrangements we discussed, now that we¡¯re within range of the Ascendancy¡¯s tachyon HoloNet.¡± Arthur Magellan looked up from the 2D holoscreen projected off the unassuming black band wrapped around his left wrist. The information he had been perusing on the Graecia system vanished instantly, and Arthur shifted the attention of his blue eyes to the grizzled man addressing him. ¡°I sent the order while reading up on Graecia the moment we left warp.¡± Arthur said with a smile. ¡°The Ascendancy¡¯s Central Bank will transfer the fifteen thousand drachma the moment I¡¯m station-side on Port Asfal¨ªs.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that, Magellan.¡± The Captain said without ire. ¡°I¡¯d expect nothing less.¡± Arthur said while standing up and moving to join the Captain. He left his jacket where it hung on the back of the observer¡¯s seat, and folded his arms¡ªthe long sleeves of his black shirt pulled up to below his elbows¡ªacross his chest. When he did, he fully took in the view on the holoscreen for the first time, and let out a low whistle of appreciation at the images magnified across it at different points. It was a Fleet. Not a small formation posing as one, but a genuine Fleet with full six-ship Squadrons and anchoring vessels for each Battle Group. In the thousand years since humans had first reached the stars, Carrier Doctrine still remained the core strategy of any successful interstellar military. Four Carrier Battle Groups each composed of two Destroyer Squadrons, a Heavy Cruiser Squadron, and the anchoring Carriers themselves were each spread across the 50,000 square kilometer Calypso point in inexact patrol patterns, roughly 10,000 kilometers apart and at different elevations across the stellar plane. At the core of the dispersed formations hung the fifth and final Battle Group that actualized the Fleet, which was anchored by two Battleships and a Supercarrier between them. Unless Graecia had vastly deviated from the normalcy of void warfare, the Destroyers would work as hunter-killer pairs to pursue and attack larger ships and support craft, while the Heavy Cruisers acted as line combat vessels to both screen for the carriers and exchange fire with a given enemy. The Carriers, meanwhile, would deploy swathes of Starfighters and other more specialized parasite craft. The Battleships and their Supercarrier charge would be the fulcrum around which the Heavy Cruisers and Destroyers maneuvered. The two inordinately powerful ships of the line would be used as the fleet¡¯s strong center-forwards, while the Supercarrier acted as the Command and Control vessel for the entire Fleet, and coordinated its smaller siblings. It was an order of battle that was predictable, but also inarguably effective. Each of the vessels had been built with adherence to the cultural nuances of the Ascendancy, with an elongated spearhead style to their construction and impressive amounts of forward-facing and broadside firepower. Most stellar warfare was conducted at distances of a few thousand kilometers, thanks to the speed and power of even the most basic human weapons systems. When combined with the absurd nature of the available electronic counter measures¡ªwhose prolific level of advancement rendered almost all computer-guided weaponry worthless¡ªrampant throughout human space, the logic to opt for high-powered alpha-strike weaponry and destructive broadsides had become something of a universal constant among most successfully powerful stellar nations. Given that he¡¯d heard Ascendancy warships also liked to make use of prows designed for plasma lance empowered ramming, he hadn¡¯t been too surprised by the aggressively forward-oriented ship design. ¡°It¡¯s impressive, isn¡¯t it?¡± The disadvantage of being 6¡¯5¡± was that Arthur had to look down to continue his conversation. ¡°The fleet? Yes. They really take their Calypso security seriously.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a lesser version of this at the last three jumps, too.¡± Larriman said quietly. The shorter man had only tilted his head as much as was absolutely necessary in order to meet Arthur¡¯s eyes, but the gesture was appreciated regardless. ¡°Oh. I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you spent the majority of it in a deep sleep pod.¡± Larriman snorted. ¡°I don¡¯t like long trips.¡± Arthur responded honestly. ¡°Better to wake up when they¡¯re nearly done, like I did in Korinth.¡± ¡°You did mention your dislike for extended voyages.¡± Larriman conceded with an appraising eye. ¡°Though it¡¯s surprising when said by a Freelancer. Isn¡¯t your entire trade plied in voidspace?¡± ¡°So-so.¡± Arthur said with a casual wiggle of his unadorned right hand. ¡°It really just comes down to the contract and the length of service. Most clients are just looking for someone to drive off pirates in the less heavily patrolled star systems.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve had our share of run-ins with pirates.¡± Larriman admitted. ¡°Though they peel off quickly enough once we transition to the C-Drive.¡± ¡°One hundred and twenty meters of pure acceleration!¡± The helmsman chimed in happily. ¡°Hey, shut up and fly.¡± Another of the crew said without heat. ¡°You can¡¯t boast about acceleration when we aren¡¯t even past the checkpoint yet.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not my fault the Ascendancy isn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Incoming message!¡± A voice called out sharply. ¡°Priority band, military IFF. It¡¯s Graecian.¡± ¡°On-screen.¡± Larriman said without preamble. The viewscreen¡¯s seamless imagery was populated at the center a moment later by a large, rectangular digital window into what looked to be the warm glow of a populated command bridge. A pretty woman with a Mediterranean tan and brown hair tied into a single long braid appeared before them, and signs of on-going activity in her background gave the impression of quite a busy posting. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Unknown vessel, this is Ypoploiarch¨®s Cadaya Seren¨®s of the Ascendancy Royal Navy Supercarrier Ulysses.¡± Arthur¡¯s eyes ran over the woman¡¯s striking red uniform while he observed, and he noted the tabs of rank declaring her the Ascendancy¡¯s equivalent of a First Lieutenant. He also made note of the fact that, for all that Graecia was a mid-Rim civilization, the clear use and pronunciation of the English that had become standard across the Humanosphere and their rapid act of voidspace interdiction spoke of a very well-trained military. ¡°You are currently within the sovereign territory of the Graecian Ascendancy, and this is a lawful challenge of your intentions. Please flash ident and declare your purpose.¡± ¡°Ulysses control, this is Captain Larriman of the merchant courier Enterprising Fortune, in-bound with mail and media from the Charlemagne Cluster. I am flashing ident¡­ now.¡± Arthur glanced down when Larriman accessed a 2D screen of his own via the black metal band on his left wrist, and then looked back to the viewscreen to see Cadaya¡¯s eyes shift to read something that had just arrived. ¡°We have a positive ident flash on your drive signature and hull, Enterprising Fortune, and have matched you to our records.¡± The Graecian woman said with far more warmth than had been in her initial greeting. ¡°On behalf of the Kings and Ascendancy, welcome back to Graecia.¡± ¡°Thank you, ah, Ypop¡ªYpoploi¡ª¡± The woman¡ªwho Arthur imagined couldn¡¯t have been more than forty given her youthful features¡ªcut off the Captain¡¯s struggles with a warm laugh. ¡°No need for that, Captain. First Lieutenant will suffice. We don¡¯t expect foreigners to have an operational comprehension of Greek!¡± ¡°I see the ARN is as understanding as I remember, First Lieutenant.¡± Larriman said with a grateful laugh. ¡°My thanks for your welcome, and it¡¯s a pleasure to be back. Are we clear to proceed through the Calypso point and enter C-Drive?¡± ¡°Authorization for entry to the System-proper is granted, Captain.¡± The First Lieutenant said with a smile. ¡°Proceed through the gravity shroud at your leisure, and activate C-Drive when ready. As a note, please remember to make your way straight to Port Asfal¨ªs at Hellas-L1 for refueling, docking, and customs.¡± ¡°I understand, Ulysses control. My thanks again for your warm welcome.¡± ¡°Our pleasure, Captain Larriman. Please enjoy your time in Graecia. Ulysses out.¡± The connection cut off a moment later, and Arthur turned to Larriman with a thoughtful look. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that.¡± He said honestly. ¡°Expect what?¡± Larriman asked with a look back up at him. ¡°How professional she was. The ARN could be any peer power from the Charlemagne Cluster in a different uniform. I¡¯d heard very different stories about the Rim nations.¡± ¡°Graecia is an exception to most of those stereotypes, though sadly many of them are true. Just be glad we didn¡¯t go to Liberty or, worse, Parthia.¡± ¡°Eugh.¡± One of the women on the bridge said. ¡°Parthians give me the creeps. They look at me like I¡¯m meat.¡± ¡°Lose some weight then.¡± Another of the crew cut in slyly. ¡°Hey, fuck you Albert! Brother or not, I swear to the stars I¡¯ll fucking shoot you!¡± Arthur snorted in amusement when the two siblings devolved into bickering and turned back to Larriman. ¡°Isn¡¯t Parthia the nation Graecia¡¯s at a standoff with?¡± ¡°Magellan,¡± Larriman said with a level look, ¡°Parthia is at a standoff with anyone that owns an Alcubierre drive.¡± The Alcubierre, or ¡®A-Drive¡¯, to which Larriman referred was named for the same scientist that, during the 20th century, theorized the idea of faster-than-light travel by stretching the fabric of space-time in a wave in front of a ship, while simultaneously causing it to expand behind. The ship then ¡®surfed¡¯ the bubble of re-expanding space. Like the universe¡¯s most Newtonian-defying rubber band. The breakthrough that Alcubierre¡¯s theory eventually provided became one of the most celebrated moments in human history. Using Alcubierre¡¯s math as a starting point, scientists had discovered that instead of creating warped space, Alcubierre drives could instead be used to access a dimension layered above and through ¡®Real Space¡¯ called ¡®Warp Space¡¯. For most vessels across the expansive width of the Humanosphere, Alcubierre Drives were the only feasible way to move between star systems. ¡°I thought that was the norm out here, honestly.¡± Arthur said with a sigh. ¡°I guess that¡¯s what I get for being a Fringe-born snob, or something.¡± ¡°It¡¯s almost like you look at the Rim the same way the Core looks at the Fringe.¡± Larriman pointed out shrewdly. ¡°You make a good point.¡± Arthur admitted wryly. ¡°I suppose I¡¯m still adjusting to the idea that the Rim isn¡¯t some stellar incarnation of a ¡®wild west¡¯ in space.¡± ¡°The fact that metaphor has survived over a thousand years of Human expansion still never ceases to amaze me.¡± Larriman said with a chuckle. ¡°And the Rim can be bad, but the real wild west is the Frontier. Which, come to think of it, makes that analogy very pertinent.¡± ¡°Hard to keep a classic down, I guess.¡± Arthur said with a laugh. Larriman shook his head. ¡°Or a good Freelancer, I¡¯d wager. I don¡¯t make it my business to pry, Magellan, but I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t curious as to what series of events forced you to travel nearly two hundred light years from the outer-Fringe to the mid-Rim.¡± ¡°I got involved with the wrong woman.¡± Arthur said with an honest shrug. Larriman stared at him and then burst out laughing. ¡°I knew those fancy genes of yours were trouble, Magellan. I just never thought they¡¯d be trouble for you!¡± Arthur smirked good-naturedly at the Captain¡¯s words. ¡°Hey now, I¡¯m more than a handsome face.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± One of the women on the bridge cut in. ¡°You¡¯re a handsome body, too!¡± A round of laughter filled the bridge again, and Larriman raised an eyebrow at Arthur. ¡°She may be jesting, but she has a point. You¡¯re much too purposefully gene-tailored, and far too charismatic to just be a random Freelancer, Magellan. I¡¯d pay good money to know your story.¡± Arthur buried the spike of tense readiness that flared up at the Captain¡¯s words and instead opted for an easy smile. ¡°I¡¯ll stick to being an interstellar man of mystery for now.¡± Larriman¡¯s expression faltered for a moment while looking at him, and the man simply nodded. ¡°Suit yourself, Magellan.¡± Arthur let out a low breath at the man¡¯s reaction, and focused on controlling his mood and thoughts. With the level of psion density he possessed, which was rare even in the Fringe, his reaction to Larriman¡¯s words had likely been enough to give the Captain a subtle sense of imminent lethal consequence. Not that Larriman would really recognize that, as much as he would simply have a gut feeling not unlike that of a prey animal when confronted by a predator: become small, or run. Arthur took firm control of his mood and turned back to the viewscreen, his eyes sweeping over the colossal castle-in-space Star Fortress built atop an engine-equipped asteroid. It hung unmoving above them, its design a mix between ancient Greek domes and more Norman towers and parapets¡ªall wrapped within a transparisteel dome that contained its own atmosphere. From their distance at the very edge of the Calypso point, it was only visible thanks to the magnification and visualization granted by the tachyon sensors. It was still immense, and with a naked eye on the image, Arthur estimated the dome to be about twelve kilometers at its highest point, and eight in diameter. The asteroid it was built on could probably have killed a planet on impact. The immense Star Fortress and the Fleet assigned to it were holding static vigil over the 50,000 square kilometers within which interstellar traffic might emerge, and Arthur considered how many thousands of people must have resided within it while the Enterprising Fortune moved into and through the invisible gravity well generated by the Warp Anchor within the fortress¡¯ hidden depths. Such anchors were a staple of any star nation¡¯s control of voidspace, and restricted access to higher forms of maneuvering like Compression Drives or¡ªin the case of Calypso Points¡ªAlcubierre Drives. The nature of a Warp Anchor was simple enough: build a gravity well generator, wrap it in a centimeter of neutronium alloy, and use a super-capital to tow it wherever it needed to go. Then build a star fortress around it. The reason it was called a ¡®Warp Anchor¡¯ and not a Gravity Anchor was, well, irrelevant. People named things as they wished. ¡°How long until we breach the gravity shroud?¡± Arthur asked politely. ¡°An hour at full acceleration,¡± Larriman responded in a moderately subdued voice, ¡°and from there, it¡¯ll be about four hours from the edge of the heliosphere to Port Asfal¨ªs at Hellas-L1.¡± Arthur nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go and make sure I have everything ready to disembark. Maybe stretch a little. I¡¯ve been asleep for¡­¡± He trailed off when he realized he had no actual idea. He hadn¡¯t bothered to check. ¡°Two months, according to the Solar calendar.¡± Larriman said with a voice that gained some genuine amusement when he answered. ¡°We shaved a month off the trip by not stopping at the Nioret Cluster and using the Euclidean route instead.¡± ¡°Up and over?¡± ¡°Up and over.¡± Larriman confirmed. ¡°I see.¡± Arthur said quietly. ¡°Thank you for that. I appreciate the brevity of the trip.¡± Larriman eyed him for a moment, and then inclined his head in silent acceptance of the unspoken olive branch. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Magellan. Now go see to your belongings. I don¡¯t want to spend longer than I need to in Asfal¨ªs because you forgot your night light!¡± Arthur snorted good-naturedly, shook his head, and left the bridge amid the quiet chuckles of the crew. B1 | Chapter 02: Port Asfalís
If you¡¯d asked me then why I made the offer to him, I¡¯d have told you it was simply the right thing to do. With time and distance, I realize that it was so much more than that¡ªand so much more terrifying than that as well. A man¡¯s mind is the one thing he should have control over, especially in an age where maladies of the brain are eliminated¡­ and yet in his presence, I was entirely outside my own good judgment. Throne of Terra, I still quail at the power he had even then¡ªbefore he truly Awakened, and everything went so horribly, horribly wrong.
Port Asfal¨ªs, to Arthur¡¯s eyes, resembled a gigantic metal umbrella. A colossal shaft of steel hundreds of feet long extended down from a circular top capped by a massive dome, and dozens of vessels¡ªmany far larger than the Enterprising Fortune¡ªsat docked in one of the endless number of carefully constructed drydock slips created to allow for rapid arrival, departure, and the loading and unloading of goods. He had returned to the bridge near the end of the Enterprising Fortune¡¯s journey through Graecia and had been present when they¡¯d dropped out of Compressed Space with a vacuum-muted eruption of displacement. He didn¡¯t want to imagine how long it might have taken them to move from the outside of the Heliosphere to the third planet in orbit of the system¡¯s A0V-type white star, Apollo, without the C-Drive. Being able to travel at up to 0.5c¡ª149,896 kilometers per second¡ªoutside of gravity wells or warp anchors was incredibly useful for crossing the billions of kilometers that a star system contained. It was also a steady drain on any ship¡¯s supply of hydrogen fuel, though his understanding of the Enterprising Fortune was that for what the fast-packet courier lacked in living space, the immense engines around which the one hundred and twenty meters of its length was built greatly made up for it in terms of output and acceleration. Then again, fuel needs were why Gas Giants were so incredibly valuable. Arthur¡¯s eyes drifted away from Port Asfal¨ªs and fell upon Hellas. The first thing he thought of was how stunning the Ascendancy¡¯s Throneworld was. The first colony and official Capital of the Graecia system, Hellas orbited comfortably within Apollo¡¯s liquid water zone. At almost twice the size of Terra, Hellas was a supercontinental world with three major land masses and two moons, both of which had been converted into colossal satellite fortresses. From Arthur¡¯s research, both had been named for the twin sons of Ares; Deimos and Phobos. Hellas alone appeared to have been named for a region of ancient Greece, while the remaining planets in the System had all received names from the classical Pantheon. Hades, which sat in the orbital position closest to Apollo, was a sickly green toxic world that Arthur understood to be completely uninhabitable outside of very specifically built bio-domes. Above Hades and hidden from Apollo by the toxic world¡¯s shadow was Tartarus, another artificial fortress built out from a large asteroid, equipped with engines, and set into a static position to watch over the tidally locked green planet which doubled as the system¡¯s supermax prison. If nothing else, Arthur couldn¡¯t fault Graecia¡¯s work at deterring criminals. Hades was a permanent warning against the folly of violating the Ascendancy¡¯s laws. Next out from Hades and between it and Hellas sat Poseidon; a storm-wracked massive ocean world that, based on Arthur¡¯s research, was purported to be home to leviathans large enough to be seen from orbit in the right circumstances¡ªand utterly antithetical to any form of human habitation thanks to the same fauna, despite its surprisingly hospitable atmosphere. Then came Hellas, at whose Lagrange-1 point hung the immense body of Port Asfal¨ªs. Demeter was the fourth planet out from Apollo after Hellas and was located at the outer edge of the liquid water zone, though still within its blanket. Demeter, which Arthur understood to be a dedicated Agri-World with one of the highest food productions in the entire Rim, was orbited by its single uninhabitable but mineral-rich moon Persephone. Beyond Demeter and fifth out from Apollo lay Ares, which Arthur understood to also be the site of the largest amount of dedicated military infrastructure within the system outside of Hellas¡¯ lagrange points. The entire planet had been largely converted to steel and industry, with a breathtaking orbital ring of shipyards encircling its equator. This ring was connected to four immense space elevators that anchored it in place and provided ready transport to and from the surface. A surface that had continent-sized facilities and troposphere-tall habitation spires visible from space. The small, habitable planetoid Aphrodite orbited Ares, its surface an eclectic blend of blue, purple, and green that had made it famous as a holiday destination throughout the Rim. In the sixth position of orbit around Apollo lay the super jovian Gas Giant Zeus¡ªtwice as large as Sol¡¯s Jupiter¡ªand its moons Hera, Artemis, Dionysus, and Athena. The massive harvesting ring orbiting Zeus served both as a primary fueling station for the Ascendancy¡¯s Navy, and one of the largest hydrogen extraction operations in the Rim; large enough to supply every ambition the Graecian Ascendancy might hold economically and militarily. The last and seventh planet in the System was Hephaestus, a molten world to which all visitation was forbidden, and whose moons Aurum and Argentum had been converted into excessively powerful defensive fortifications. The entire thing screamed military research and development to Arthur, but he had no intentions of prying. For reasons that Arthur had neither the education nor interest in understanding, Hellas had developed a superb habitation capacity; and was well-known as both a super-habitable world ideal for all forms of life, and a planet rich with a plethora of natural resources¡ªespecially metals¡ªthat had made Graecia the wealthiest star system in its home cluster. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± Larriman¡¯s words snapped Arthur out of his ruminations and he turned back to the heavy-set man with an apologetic look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± ¡°Hellas.¡± The captain said with a nod to the viewscreen. ¡°The Ascendancy was lucky that their colony ship was sent here, out of so many other options.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Arthur said with a look back to the viewscreen. ¡°Yeah. They were.¡± ¡°Port authority sends all clear, skipper.¡± One of the women manning a bridge console declared cheerfully before the pair could say more. ¡°We¡¯re being guided into slip Epsilon-Thirteen.¡± ¡°Already?¡± Arthur asked with genuine surprise while the cylindrical shape of the Enterprising Fortune made an immediate and careful approach toward one of the many docks of Port Asfal¨ªs. ¡°I expected a longer wait time.¡± ¡°You saw how efficient the Navy was at the Calypso point.¡± Larriman pointed out. ¡°Why would their primary starport be any different?¡± ¡°You make a fair point.¡± ¡°Besides, Graecia is one of the most popular refueling stops in this whole section of the Rim. You can reach most of the inner sectors on a pretty straight path from Graecia, if you allow for some Euclidean movement between layers of the Orion Arm.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think fuel would be much of a factor.¡± Arthur said with a thoughtful look at the viewscreen, though his eyes were more focused on Asfal¨ªs and its layout. He mapped it carefully while he spoke, just in case he needed to understand the external nature in future. ¡°Most inhabited Systems have at least one nearby, from my understanding. It¡¯s always part of the consideration for the Terran colonization authority, from what I¡¯d read.¡± ¡°That¡¯s usually true,¡± Larriman conceded, ¡°but there are always exceptions. This isn¡¯t the Fringe, Magellan. It¡¯s a much wilder section of space, for all that I said it wasn¡¯t the wild west. The wars are long and brutal, and any trader worth their license knows it¡¯s best to identify a reliable and affordable fueling stop on their first trip in.¡± ¡°Are the non-standard routes that inefficient?¡± ¡°It¡¯s rare to get stuck without hydrogen for the Alcubierre,¡± Larriman said conversationally, ¡°but not unheard of this far out. Especially with how unstable some of the hyperlanes are. The amount of fuel you need to burn to keep the warp bubble stable enough for travel can be exponential in some micro-clusters, and if you get stuck between fueling stops without enough hydrogen to make the next jump¡­¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Game over, unless someone finds you first.¡± Arthur said with a quiet sigh. ¡°I get it. You¡¯ve had to learn where to expect consistency.¡± ¡°In essence.¡± Larriman nodded. ¡°The Hyperion Cluster is better than many others for variety, though Graecia is the usual go-to for most people.¡± ¡°That¡¯s reassuring.¡± Arthur said with another easy smile. ¡°I¡¯m surprised at how much of a show of force they¡¯ve been giving off, though.¡± Larriman said with a grim glance at the viewscreen and the warships they could both see prowling the space around Asfal¨ªs. ¡°Things with Parthia must be worse than we¡¯d heard.¡± Arthur observed the screen while a formation of three cruisers and a light carrier sailed past and entered C-Drive with a blaze of their plasma engines, hyper-accelerating into specks of distant light almost instantaneously with a small discharge of force-wake. ¡°I thought it was just hyperlane control tensions and resource disputes, plus what you said about Parthia being the Cluster¡¯s bully.¡± ¡°So did I, but¡­¡± He nodded to where the task force had just vanished from. ¡°The ARN has the home fleet out in force across the entire System. The last time we were here, half of these ships were probably in drydock and uncrewed to save costs.¡± Arthur frowned at the screen thoughtfully while Larriman spoke. ¡°Something¡¯s ramping up, Magellan.¡± The Captain said with grim confidence. ¡°And for all that I enjoy Graecia, I¡¯ll be happy when I leave this Cluster. Rim wars are¡­ a different beast.¡± ¡°You said that before.¡± Arthur noted. ¡°What makes them so bloody?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done the research, I¡¯d hope.¡± ¡°Some.¡± Arthur affirmed. ¡°But you sound like you¡¯ve had experience.¡± ¡°Unfortunately.¡± Larriman said with a nod. ¡°And all I can really tell you is that it¡¯s a stellar bloodbath. The people out here fight hard to claw their way up toward the inner sector standards, and they¡¯re more willing to start shooting for it than anywhere else. Ambition creates aggression, and make no mistake, the Rim nations are the most ambitious. They were settled far later than the Fringe, and they¡¯re far enough away from Terra to feel as though adhering to the ¡®natural order¡¯ may not always be to their liking.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just inviting Censure from the Grand Imperium.¡± Arthur muttered. ¡°It¡¯s happened a few times. Most of them just don¡¯t care, though. They want to claw their way up to parity, and they¡¯ll go through anyone in their way. I¡¯ve seen inner-Rim nations go to war with outer-Verge powers, despite the insanity of the logistics involved, and nevermind the technology disparity.¡± The Captain said, and shook his head while he continued. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate the Rim sector, and don¡¯t underestimate the Hyperion cluster.¡± Larriman warned. ¡°You¡¯ll live longer if you respect their ambition for what it is.¡± ¡°I suppose it¡¯ll mean plenty of work for me,¡± Arthur murmured with a thoughtful look at the military vessels displayed on the screen. ¡°Assuming I can find an employer worth the time, anyway.¡± ¡°On that front, Magellan, I think you¡¯ll be fine.¡± Larriman said more evenly. ¡°Graecians are nothing if not broadly honorable. It¡¯s a cultural thing.¡± ¡°Sounds like a good place.¡± ¡°Better than many.¡± Larriman agreed. Minutes passed in silence after that while the Enterprising Fortune was settled into its assigned dock with a careful application of maneuvering thrusters. When the docking clamps took hold of the courier with a rumbling thud, Arthur stepped back and Larriman rose from his seat. ¡°Let¡¯s get you aboard Asfal¨ªs, Magellan.¡± The Captain said with a smile. ¡°And let¡¯s get me paid!¡± Arthur smiled wryly and turned to the rest of the crew. ¡°I didn¡¯t really get to know any of you, but best of luck! Stay safe out there.¡± ¡°Yeah, you too, tall, blond, and handsome!¡± The same woman from earlier shouted, and drew forth a laugh from the rest of the crew. ¡°If you ever need a tour guide, feel free to give me a call!¡± Arthur snorted and threw a wave at the crew, before turning to retrieve his jacket and backpack and pull both on one, after the other. From there, he followed the Captain out of the doors to the bridge without a second look back. ¡°We¡¯ll be in dock for two days, Magellan,¡± the Captain said while they moved through the linear, cramped corridor threading through the main body of the ship. ¡°If you decide you want to join us on the return trip, you have until then.¡± Arthur raised a surprised eyebrow at the bulk of the other man, though it went unseen, and responded with a guarded sense of wary surprise. ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I¡¯m not planning on it.¡± ¡°I thought as much, but the offer¡¯s there.¡± Larriman said over his shoulder. Arthur considered the shorter and heavy-set man thoughtfully, and then let his curiosity triumph. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d want me around, given I¡¯m ostensibly running from something.¡± ¡°I may not be overly fond of what manner of supposed ¡®woman trouble¡¯ would send a man as clearly capable as you are running, Magellan, but I also felt your psion density on the bridge. I left it alone, but I¡¯m not like the rest of the crew. I have insights in that sort of thing, and you¡¯re no ordinary Freelancer.¡± The Captain shrugged while he walked. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t pry too much on that front. I have a feeling it¡¯s better for my health if I don¡¯t.¡± Arthur frowned at the man¡¯s certainty while they walked, and assessed the swarthy Captain with a more critical eye. Was Larriman truly picking up on his psion density, or was there something else at play? He didn¡¯t want to accuse the merchant of anything incorrectly, but if there was something else going on¡­ He quietly started checking the corners of each area while they proceeded forward. The Captain seemed satisfied enough with what he¡¯d already said to continue their progress without further comment, and the pair proceeded in silence. It took Arthur and Larriman all of six minutes to move steadily from the bridge to the large, singular docking airlock connecting the courier¡¯s superstructure to any external vessel or station that sought entry. There were other access points, but those served a solely maintenance function and only opened one way. When they arrived at the large metal doors, the pair stopped together and Arthur turned to face the wider, but notably shorter merchant. ¡°Thank you for your hospitality and the safe trip,¡± he said without preamble. ¡°The drachma will be deposited into your accounts the moment I step foot onto the station.¡± He waved his left wrist and the omni-comp on it idly. ¡°It¡¯s already been set up, as I promised.¡± The Captain simply nodded at the reassurance, cast his dark gaze at the docking umbilical connected to the airlock, and then turned back to Arthur. ¡°Two days we¡¯ll be here for refueling and to take on mail and media.¡± He said simply. ¡°If you decide you want to return with us, send a message by HoloNet.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Arthur assured him firmly. ¡°Though I have to say I¡¯m surprised, again, that you bothered to remind me of that offer. Your insistence is a little suspicious, to be candid, given your assertion that I¡¯m ¡®no ordinary Freelancer¡¯ as you put it.¡± ¡°Sometimes you just need to trust your gut.¡± Larriman responded with a shrug of his shoulders. ¡°I know you¡¯re not just a Freelancer even if you won¡¯t say what you are, Magellan, because I¡¯m not just a fat merchant.¡± Instead of elaborating further, and with seemingly no reaction to the coiled tension that entered Arthur the moment the words were said; the Captain instead rolled up his right sleeve to show what appeared to be an intricate tattoo of metallic platinum wrapped around his forearm. Arthur, however, knew better. His eyes narrowed with immediate recognition. ¡°Callandium?¡± He asked rhetorically. ¡°That explains your confidence, at least.¡± ¡°To a point.¡± Larriman responded with a nod. ¡°I have enough compatibility for a few matrices, but bugger all for psions to fuel them. Your density makes mine look laughable.¡± He said with a shake of his head. ¡°I only opted for this one to gain some rudimentary capability as an empath to help with business deals, and even then, I¡¯m only Theta-ranked.¡± Arthur¡¯s expression slowly morphed from open wariness to a more subdued caution, but he nodded at Larriman¡¯s explanation. ¡°That would explain it.¡± He said carefully, though he didn¡¯t let his guard down. Larriman could be lying, after all. ¡°I take it you were tested for the Academia Psionica?¡± ¡°Deemed incapable, despite my compatibility.¡± Larriman said with a shrug. ¡°Low psions.¡± ¡°So they granted a license for a single matrix as consolation.¡± Arthur surmised. Larriman nodded and rolled down his sleeve. ¡°The Paladins took me for testing when I was fifteen, though I can¡¯t say it was too much of a surprise. I¡¯m no Coreblood.¡± The moment the Captain said the word, Arthur felt a sharp spike of irritation, though he couldn¡¯t have explained why. Other than his own biases against Coreworlders, there was no real reason for him to react to a slur meant for people from the innermost Sector of the Humanosphere. Despite those facts, the epithet had engendered a feeling of anger in him he couldn¡¯t quite quantify. Instead of addressing it, Arthur simply offered his hand out for Larriman to shake. ¡°I appreciate what you¡¯ve entrusted me with, Captain.¡± Arthur said politely. ¡°And I would like to say it¡¯s been a genuine pleasure to have been your cargo, inasmuch as I was also your passenger, but this is most definitely where we part ways. I wish you luck.¡± Larriman eyed him for a moment, but shook his hand regardless. ¡°You really are set on this, then?¡± ¡°Very much so.¡± Arthur confirmed. ¡°Graecia is where I need to be.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t suppose you¡¯ll tell me why?¡± The Captain asked when their handshake ended. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t.¡± Arthur said with an apologetic smile. ¡°I thought as much, but it never hurts to ask. You stay safe, Arthur Magellan, until next we meet.¡± ¡°Until then, Captain. Godspeed.¡± Arthur turned and started toward the docking tube and umbilical. Larriman didn¡¯t stop him and Arthur hitched his backpack firmly onto his shoulders. Without a glance back, he stepped from the true steel of the Enterprising Fortune and onto the flexible plastisteel of the docking umbilical. Port Asfal¨ªs lay ahead, and Arthur knew in his core it was where he had to be. He also hadn¡¯t lied to Captain Larriman. He truly couldn¡¯t tell the other man why he had to be in Graecia. It was not a conspiracy nor some great secret opportunity that drew Arthur onward toward the immense star port. No family awaited him, and no clandestine forces for him to command or guide lay lurking around a corner. The simple truth was that Arthur had a compulsion that urged him onward to Graecia, a compulsion that encouraged, the demanded he comply. It was a compulsion whose source he couldn¡¯t identify. In Graecia, he hoped to find answers. No matter the cost. B1 | Chapter 03: Vasilikós Kidemónes
Had we known then who it was that had arrived among us, we might have acted differently. Chosen differently. I cannot say for certain if the decisions we made were truly what was in the best interest of Hellas or humanity as a whole, but I am glad we made them. I am glad we chose faith over hostility. I shudder to think what the consequences might have been, had we chosen wrong. We had received the living embodiment of Pandora¡¯s box, and I thank all the gods that we handled it with proper care.
Arthur strode along docking umbilical with a silent assessment of the area he could see beyond. The immediate station was seemingly abandoned, with the occasional holographic infomercial decorating the plain white walls, and filling the area with the subdued sounds of consumer advertising. From perfumes and sprays to weapons, armor, and even the occasional marketing campaign for a new type of commercial starship dominated the various appeals to new arrivals. The interior was quite conservative, and seemed entirely built purely to house passengers, crew, or other such personnel for a single ship or transport. The small white seats, cramped area, and tell-tale domes of hidden automated turrets set into the ceiling told Arthur all he needed to know. His booted feet transitioned from plastisteel to true metal and he stepped out into the receiving area. The moment he did and his vision was no longer obscured by the narrow docking umbilical¡¯s walls, he found a lone young woman in attendance. She was attired in the abiding red of the ARN, had short blonde hair, brown eyes, and based on her single upward-facing chevron and lack of medals or pins, was one of the Navy¡¯s enlisted. His eyes met hers at the same time as hers met his, and Arthur smiled while she blinked at him in momentary surprise, and then recovered. ¡°Welcome to Port Asfal¨ªs, sir! I am Naftis Kiara Larsen. Do you require any guidance?¡± Naftis. An equivalent to an Aurelian ¡®Spacer First Class¡¯. Bottom of the ladder. ¡°Nice to meet you, Kiara.¡± Arthur said with a casual confidence that he knew instinctively would make her more comfortable. He wasn¡¯t entirely sure what manner of knowledge fed him that awareness, but neither would he question its veracity. It felt right. ¡°My name¡¯s Arthur. Arthur Magellan.¡± he continued with a warm smile. ¡°It¡¯s my first time in Graecia, and I¡¯m trying to figure out what happens next.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Kiara said while staring at him with what Arthur classified as a deer-in-headlights look. ¡°A newcomer? That¡¯s¡ªthat¡¯s awesome! I mean, that¡¯s wonderful! Ah¡­¡± she patted down her pockets, paused, and then seemed to realize what she was doing. A moment of blatant embarrassment followed, and she instead took a moment to center herself with a quick breath in and out. ¡°Everything okay, Kiara?¡± Arthur probed gently. ¡°I¡ªuh¡ªyes. Sorry, sir. I wasn¡¯t actually paying attention to the fact anyone docked, and¡­ I¡­¡± she trailed off at the exact moment that Arthur saw her eyes widen with realization of her admission of not paying attention, and her face turned red. ¡°Um. I don¡¯t know why I said that. Sorry? Wait. I¡ªI mean¡ª¡± ¡°Naftis.¡± Arthur said with confidence and an injection of authority he knew she¡¯d respond to positively. ¡°I just need to know what my next steps are. Perhaps you could tell me where I should go from here to find passage down to Hellas?¡± The very young enlisted, which Arthur decided was the most plausible explanation for her flustered state, looked mortified when she nodded, and answered with only a mild stammer. ¡°Y¡ªyes sir! Um. Out? Out! Yes. That way. Uh. Customs. Customsisthatway!¡± she finally blurted out, while pointing to the only real door within the small boarding and disembarkation area. It lay directly opposite the one he¡¯d stepped through from the umbilical behind him. ¡°Thank you, Kiara.¡± Arthur said with a suppressed twinge of annoyance. He didn¡¯t blame her, necessarily, for her lack of togetherness¡ªbut there was definitely a degree of impatience for her lack of decorum that bothered him. He had expected better from the ARN after what he¡¯d seen in space. Kiara, despite all convention, saluted at his thanks. She looked frozen with shock after she did, and her eyes focused determinedly on a spot somewhere over his shoulder. ¡°E¡ªenjoy your stay in Graecia, sir!¡± ¡°Thank you, Naftis.¡± he said with a bemused smile. ¡°And take care of yourself.¡± Arthur left before he could be engaged in further awkward discourse, and moved quickly across the boarding area to pass through the pair of blue-marked double doors, and into the Port-proper beyond. Immediately when he did, he noticed that security in the area¡ªwhich was still mostly devoid of passengers or traffic¡ªwas far more extensive. The first indication of that was the pair of power-armored guards standing with professional vigil outside of the doors leading to the embarkation lounge of the Enterprising Fortune¡¯s docking bay, their hands devoid of any obvious weapons. Even a quick glance told him that they likely wouldn¡¯t need weapons to handle him. Arthur¡¯s loose study on Graecia and the Ascendancy which ruled it allowed him to identify both men as members of the Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes. In English, it quite literally meant ¡®Royal Guardians¡¯. They were identifiable not merely by the rich blue cloaks that covered their shoulders and necks and fell to trail a few inches across the ground, but by the immaculate silver paint that covered their armor. Their kit was clearly modeled off of Ancient Greek Hoplites, though the metal was painted silver where historically it had been distinctive bronze, and where their armor might have once had necessary gaps; tightly woven nano-threaded mesh strong enough to withstand limited direct fire from most ballistic and energy-based weapons covered what might have otherwise been exposed skin. Their helmets were made in the Corinthian style of their Hoplite forebears, with a metal ¡®plume¡¯ in place of the horsehair one they may have had in a more classical time. Where the helmets would normally have T or Y shaped gaps for the eyes, nose, and mouth; black glass occupied the space between the metal instead. Despite the occasional mesh-covered joints foregoing armor over their elbows and knees for the sake of mobility, Arthur knew from his limited research that the mesh itself was rated for vacuum and could protect the Kidem¨®nes from gaseous or liquid attacks as well. Despite his fascination with the blatant throwback to Ancient Greek culture, however, Arthur also recognised something else. They were soldiers, and he was an unknown. As if in confirmation of that thought, both men turned to face him when he drew closer, and their hands rested on the all-too-functional sword hilts that their shift in position made visible upon their left hips. ¡°Welcome to Port Asfal¨ªs,¡± the Kidem¨®nas on the right said in polite standard, his voice vaguely distorted by the speakers built into his hermetically-sealed helmet. ¡°I am Endymion Chloros of the Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes, and this is Perseus Andino of the same.¡± Endymion¡¯s voice was a deep bass, and even with the distortion he managed to sound both gruff and professional all at once. That was a neat trick. ¡°Welcome to Hellas, mister¡­?¡± ¡°Arthur Magellan.¡± Arthur said with a polite smile and nod, while extending his arm and shaking both mens¡¯ hands companionably. ¡°I¡¯ve heard good things about Graecia.¡± ¡°Well met, Arthur.¡± Endymion rumbled cordially. ¡°Well met.¡± Perseus responded as well, his voice notably calmer in tone. ¡°What brings you to Port Asfal¨ªs?¡± Endymion continued. ¡°I¡¯m looking for transport to Hellas, and couldn¡¯t find a direct flight to the Iris.¡± Arthur explained with a nod back toward the umbilical. ¡°The Naftis manning the lounge said this was the only way in.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Endymion grunted with a nod. ¡°Travel to and from Hellas proper is restricted to citizens with class three security passes, Ascendancy-licensed merchants, and Graecian military. All out-System traffic and visitors have to go through customs here on the orbital station.¡± ¡°Ascendancy policy is to instruct new arrivals to stay aboard their vessels until we¡¯re ready to receive them,¡± Perseus continued in Endymion¡¯s place, ¡°which isn¡¯t usually more than an hour or two, but we had no reason to do so given the current lack of traffic.¡± He gestured to the area around them when he finished, in order to illustrate his point. Arthur nodded in understanding, and glanced around at the largely empty station section. Even with multiple other embarkation and disembarkation lounges, no one else was present in the area. He only saw a small smattering of other Kidem¨®nes, some civilian staff, and the occasional member of the Navy. ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised, given what I¡¯ve seen coming in from Korinth.¡± ¡°No trouble, I hope?¡± Perseus asked carefully. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Arthur had not expected the Kidem¨®nes, who were by all rights elite warriors, to engage a random traveler in such direct and seemingly genuine discourse¡ªbut some buried instinct whispered to him that such an interaction would be to his advantage, and so he crushed his doubts and simply embraced the opportunity to learn what he could. ¡°No trouble.¡± Arthur said with a shake of his head. ¡°But certainly an escalated naval presence. It¡¯s not difficult to see that things with Parthia are getting worse, even for someone from out-Cluster like me.¡± Perseus nodded at his words and sighed audibly. ¡°The usual traffic has slowed to a crawl, and most of the merchant and trade vessels that do still come have a stake in Graecia already.¡± unspoken was the implication that Arthur was no merchant, and that the guardian was very much keyed into that fact. ¡°It¡¯s only been couriers and civilian transports that make use of Asfal¨ªs lately.¡± ¡°My understanding when I left Aurelia was that the disagreement was over hyperlanes and mineral rights, or something to that effect.¡± Arthur said with a helpless shrug. ¡°I¡¯ve come to understand how woefully misinformed that was after visiting.¡± The pair of Kidem¨®nes fell silent for a moment and turned to each other at the same time, which was followed by the occasional sound of muted clicks filtering through to Arthur¡¯s genetically enhanced ears. With experience and discernment telling him that they were communicating on a private channel, Arthur chose to wait patiently rather than be obtuse and interrupt them. He was a guest in Graecia, after all, and the extent of the Kidem¨®nes benevolence was an unknown factor for him still. Captain Larriman had been right about things being calmer when closer to the Core, though, he reflected while he waited. The Core of the Humanosphere was controlled by the Grand Imperium, and humanity¡¯s only true hegemony did not tolerate excessive violence within its sphere of influence¡ªeven if that sphere extended far beyond the two hundred light years it officially controlled. Out as far the Fringe and especially the Rim however, the Humanosphere was bereft of the Grand Imperium¡¯s unilateral enforcement of peace and almost obsessive interventionism. Its Star Marshals and the Peacekeeper Battle Groups, whose impressive flotillas roamed in and around the few hundred light years closest to Sol, didn¡¯t range nearly as far as even the inner-Fringe. As a result, the multitudinous star systems of humanity often found ways to indulge in their species¡¯ natural drive toward violence thanks to the knowledge that they were mostly safe from the Imperator¡¯s wrath. After all, distance was a kind of shield all its own, and while the Imperator could project his Grand Imperium¡¯s power all the way to the furthest reaches of explored space, almost nobody had ever been foolish enough to act in a way that warranted such a heavy-handed response from Terra. Though from Arthur¡¯s conversation with Larriman, the fear of that Censure was definitely eroding across the Rim. Arthur¡¯s focus returned to the moment fully when the calmer of the two¡ªPerseus¡ªaddressed him again. ¡°You¡¯re from the Fringe?¡± Perseus asked with what Arthur thought was wary curiosity. ¡°I am.¡± Arthur confirmed with a nod. ¡°I¡¯m a Freelancer looking for work, and somewhere to stay for the length of whatever contract I find.¡± ¡°A Freelancer¡­¡± Endymion muttered grimly. ¡°That makes more sense. I suppose it stands to reason you¡¯d come out here if you wanted to earn some drachma, given how peaceful the Fringe is.¡± Arthur didn¡¯t miss the mild disdain tied to the word ¡®peaceful¡¯, but chose to ignore it. ¡°The Fringe has its share of conflicts, but I find that life there can be somewhat sedentary at times.¡± Arthur responded carefully, and without overtly lying. ¡°I came to the mid-Rim because I felt like it was where I had to be, and I can¡¯t say I¡¯ve regretted the choice yet. My limited experience with Graecia has shown me how wrong people can be about Rim nations. Your homeland is incredible.¡± Both Kidem¨®nes glanced at each other again at his words, and then turned back to him. Perseus was once again the first to speak. ¡°It¡¯s refreshing to hear that coming from a Fringer.¡± the more junior Kidem¨®nas said in a markedly warmer tone. ¡°I can imagine what is said about us out in the Rim, and I appreciate your open mind, Magellan. Plus,¡± he added with a small chuckle, ¡°I can¡¯t deny it¡¯s mollifying to see Freelancers choosing Hellas over Xerxes.¡± ¡°Says something that even Mercenaries recognize how slimy Parthians are.¡± Endymion growled approvingly. ¡°Charlemagne has a lot of Greek and Roman influences across the Cluster, if we¡¯re speaking in terms of the Terran cultures that preceded us.¡± Arthur said honestly. ¡°Graecia just felt like the more natural fit.¡± The compulsion notwithstanding, it was true. Graecia was far closer to what he was used to in Aurelia. Admittedly, there was a lot more Franco-Roman influence to Aurelia than Grecian, but the overarching aesthetic remained similar and constant enough to breed a comfortable familiarity, if nothing else. If Arthur still felt oddly out of place in both nations, well, that was just him. Arthur had never truly felt like he fit in on Aurelia. Graecia was likely no different. ¡°Do you have a sponsor here, Magellan, or is this strictly a blind disembarkation?¡± Perseus asked while shifting to a more relaxed and companionable stance. ¡°Blind.¡± Arthur confirmed with a wry smile, and idle demonstrative hitch of his backpack. ¡°Just the clothes on my back, and anything I could easily carry.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a brave man.¡± The Kidem¨®nas observed thoughtfully. ¡°Not sure I could do that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re yet to step into a true war, Andino, despite your skill with a blade.¡± Endymion growled with a hint of mirth, and then turned to Arthur. ¡°Not like this one. He¡¯s seen that kind of death before, and plenty of it. Am I right, Magellan?¡± Arthur¡¯s expression tightened a little at the senior Kidem¨®nas¡¯ words, but he saw no point in deception and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve seen my share of battles. Freelancing can have a lot of non-lethal contracts, but sometimes even those turn bloody whether you want them to or not. All I can say is that I¡¯ve survived this far, so I like to believe I can hold my own.¡± Endymion nodded sharply with what Arthur thought might have been approval. ¡°That¡¯s a veteran¡¯s answer. No boasting, no bragging, just truth.¡± he reached out and clapped an armored gauntlet on Arthur¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ll do fine here, Magellan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve ever seen you compliment a stranger.¡± Perseus said with genuine surprise. ¡°Are you feeling well, brother?¡± Endymion turned his helmet toward the younger Kidem¨®nas and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll feel better when you aren¡¯t pointing out idiotic details.¡± he growled. Arthur did notice that the hand dropped away from his shoulder quickly, though. The disdain and irritation for Perseus¡¯ observation were evident¡ªand familiarly hollow. It was the empty recrimination between friends, diametrically opposed in personality, but friends nonetheless. Arthur couldn¡¯t help but feel strangely envious of their clear camaraderie. ¡°He does enjoy trying to crush my spirit.¡± Perseus said while turning his helmeted head back toward Arthur. ¡°But secretly I think he just likes me being socially functional enough for the both of us.¡± ¡°Shut up, Andino.¡± Endymion growled. ¡°No need to pretend, brother.¡± Perseus said mildly. ¡°Magellan understands. Don¡¯t you, Magellan?¡± Arthur chuckled despite himself. ¡°I get it.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re done gossiping Andino, I think we should probably let Magellan be on his way.¡± Endymion grunted. ¡°You¡¯re after Customs, I take it?¡± ¡°I am.¡± Arthur confirmed with a nod to Endymion. ¡°I assume I¡¯ll find it eventually if I just follow the pathways here.¡± ¡°All roads lead to bureaucracy!¡± Perseus said with a laugh. ¡°Just follow the signs.¡± Endymion agreed. ¡°You¡¯ll find it easily enough.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Arthur said with a grateful smile. ¡°I appreciate the guidance, and the chat. You two have a good, uh, day?¡± he glanced down at his left wrist the moment he realized he didn¡¯t actually know what the time was. ¡°Day.¡± Endymion confirmed with a quiet snort before Arthur could open his holoscreen. ¡°Definitely day. You sure you can find your way to customs, Magellan?¡± Arthur¡¯s smile turned wry. ¡°I think so. I¡¯ve just been a little distracted, I suppose.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we just take you?¡± Perseus asked with what Arthur suspected was an impulsive thought. ¡°We aren¡¯t tour guides, Andino.¡± Endymion grunted. ¡°We also aren¡¯t doing anything here, brother.¡± Perseus pointed out with a sigh. ¡°There are two Hexarons in this section alone, and we¡¯re due to be relieved at the top of the hour anyway. Let¡¯s just call Vicente and Morello and let them take the watch until the relief team arrives.¡± ¡°They aren¡¯t even part of our Hexaron.¡± Endymion growled. ¡°Our Hexaron is split over three different duty stations across the entire system, brother. We aren¡¯t exactly spoiling for options.¡± Arthur remained silent as the pair conferred, and idly adjusted his backpack. A Hexaron was the six-man squad Kidem¨®nes operated in as standard, he recalled. ¡°Perhaps.¡± Endymion said after a moment of silence. ¡°Check the schedule, first.¡± ¡°I did! There are no other disembarkations slated for the next few hours, and we¡¯re superfluous here as it is.¡± Perseus said confidently. ¡°Besides, Magellan¡¯s not like the rest of the tourists that come through. Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t feel it, Tacticus! This whole meeting is like a¡ª!¡± ¡°If you say a sign from the gods, Andino, I swear to Zeus I¡¯ll hit you.¡± The taller but more junior Kidem¨®nas shrugged in an exaggerated manner. ¡°You said it, brother, not me. Besides, you¡¯ve been more social with Magellan than you are with most of the Navy. That merits at least some investigation, right?¡± Arthur felt a strange sense of deja vu at Perseus¡¯ words, but dismissed it. He¡¯d never even been to Graecia before that moment. Still, something about what Perseus said had felt¡­ odd. It was as if he should understand or know what was going on, and why Endymion was more openly social with him. A subtle wave of focus swept his concerns away, and he dismissed the thoughts immediately. The ¡®why¡¯ of it didn¡¯t matter. Only answers mattered, and if the Kidem¨®nes wanted to take a liking to him, that just helped his purpose for being there in the first place. ¡°The Navy are blowhards.¡± Endymion continued while oblivious to Arthur¡¯s thoughts. ¡°And Magellan is a Freelancer.¡± Perseus pointed out with clear amusement. ¡°Weren¡¯t you ranting about mercenaries just last¡ª¡± ¡°Fine, Andino.¡± Endymion cut in with a snarl. ¡°We¡¯ll take him to customs, but we only go as far as customs.¡± he continued firmly. ¡°No further.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± the younger Kidem¨®nas said with a laugh. ¡°Whatever you say, brother.¡± B1 | Chapter 04: Knight-Errant
Even then, despite my brother¡¯s recalcitrance, I knew we¡¯d made the right choice. His presence, his manner, the way in which he interacted¡ªall of it felt different to me. Special. I didn¡¯t know if it was divine intent or mere happenstance, and the underlying presumption of a universal plan; but I understood to my core that we had been meant to meet him. For me it was a simple matter of following what I knew to be true. Looking back, even with everything that¡¯s happened, I still believe I made the right choice.
Arthur fell in with the two Kidem¨®nes when they set off, and carefully remained half a step behind. Enough for them to lead, but not enough to look as if he were being forced to follow. He didn¡¯t want to look like he thought himself their peer, but neither did he wish to be antisocial or appear to be. It was a delicate balance, especially given the blatantly abnormal level of favor they were showing him. Something about their willingness to help him tickled Arthur¡¯s deeper-rooted sense of caution, but he couldn¡¯t quite place what it was. He felt as though he should have known the answer, but every time he tried to focus in and find it, his mind slid away from the thought and put him right back to his state of mild vexation and answerless suspicion. They shouldn¡¯t have been so willing to help. He knew that. Then again, people did strange things for strange reasons. It was very possible they truly were just bored. ¡°What did you think of the System when you came in, Magellan?¡± Perseus asked while they walked. ¡°You¡¯re resource rich and know how to exploit it.¡± he said candidly. ¡°I respect the sheer ambition of the Ascendancy. With what you have here, you could rival some of the outer-Verge nations given enough time. You¡¯ll climb to parity with them faster than some Fringe powers will.¡± Endymion grunted at that. ¡°That¡¯s a rare sentiment from a Fringer.¡± ¡°I suppose I¡¯m a pragmatist.¡± Arthur said wryly. ¡°And I know how to acknowledge true potential, no matter which sector it¡¯s from.¡± Perseus and Endymion glanced at him, and the senior Kidem¨®nes inclined his head. ¡°I apologize.¡± he rumbled quietly. ¡°The insult was uncalled for.¡± Arthur shrugged a little and smiled. ¡°I can¡¯t blame you for it. I can imagine what manner of bullshit people from the inner sectors give you.¡± ¡°I suppose you can.¡± Perseus said with a chuckle. ¡°The Fringe was the Rim before the Rim existed, after all.¡± ¡°And the inner sectors never let us forget it.¡± Arthur agreed with a nod. ¡°Shit rolls downhill.¡± Endymion muttered. ¡°The Core gives it to the Mantle, who gives it to Verge, who gives it to the Fringe, who gives it to us.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t give it to the Frontier, though.¡± Perseus said conversationally. ¡°That¡¯s because the Frontier¡¯s too busy killing itself with a violence we couldn¡¯t hope to match.¡± Endymion snorted. ¡°I had heard it was pretty bad out there.¡± Arthur stated quietly. ¡°The stories don¡¯t do it justice.¡± Perseus confirmed with a shake of his armored head. ¡°We get the occasional Frontier trader out here, and other than some special clusters, it¡¯s bad. Local warlords and failed states bad.¡± Arthur¡¯s eyebrows rose in genuine surprise at that. ¡°What makes this wave of colonization so much less stable than the last few?¡± ¡°Distance, so people think.¡± Perseus said grimly. ¡°The Rim only barely feels the Grand Imperium, but we at least understand that Censure has happened. The Frontier? The Core may as well be a distant and irrelevant boogeyman to them. Imperial Censure is almost pure legend a dozen light years further out from Graecia, let alone the two hundred from here to the Frontier.¡± ¡°It¡¯s worse the further you go, too. Every dozen light years is a devolving level of civilization, and the outer-Frontier may as well be a permanent warzone. What few colonies do survive are¡ª¡± ¡°Better not spoken of.¡± Endymion interrupted with a rumble. ¡°Nobody has tried to help?¡± Arthur asked with a twinge of anger. For some reason, the idea of such unpoliced chaos struck a chord of rage in him he hadn¡¯t known to exist until that exact moment. Chaos, his mind told him, was antithetical to everything he believed in. Why that was, he was unable to say. Perseus glanced at Endymion, and the older Kidem¨®nas sighed and gestured for him to go on. The pair of them led him through a chair-populated waiting area and toward a large, white-painted metal opening with the words ¦§¦¨¦§ ¦ª¦¡¦© ¦¥¦¨¦©¦¬¦¡ in bold, blue-lit letters on the panel above. A galactic standard translation of CUSTOMS was lit below. Arthur followed the pair through the long access gate quietly while Perseus continued. ¡°Everyone¡¯s tried, but with no true hegemony in the Rim, it¡¯s not plausible.¡± Perseus said with a turn of the helmet back to Arthur. ¡°Even Graecia, for all that we¡¯ve actively sent aid and help out there, just can¡¯t afford to send proper expeditions. We could restore peace across many Clusters, and pretty easily at that thanks to our stability and economy, but¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯d be making yourselves too vulnerable to your enemies.¡± Arthur guessed. ¡°Those Parthian animals would be pounding at the gates within a month.¡± Endymion growled. ¡°And without a guarantee of safe borders,¡± Arthur surmised, ¡°moving fleets that far out is just asking for any deployed forces to lose logistical support.¡± Perseus nodded and continued with a tone of regret. ¡°We wish we could help. Honor would demand we should, but our people have to come first, and we simply can¡¯t run the risk of exposing ourselves to Parthia.¡± ¡°What a mess.¡± Arthur muttered. ¡°It sucks.¡± Perseus agreed sadly. ¡°The trickle-down enforcement used to work.¡± Endymion muttered. ¡°The Core checked the Mantle, the Mantle checked the Verge, and the Verge checked the Fringe.¡± ¡°But the Fringe largely broke that cycle.¡± Arthur said with a glimmer of sudden insight. ¡°They¡ªwe¡ªdidn¡¯t properly do for the Rim what the Verge did for us, because the emphasis on a peaceful outer sector had eroded so much with time and distance.¡± ¡°And as a result, the Rim has abandoned the Frontier entirely.¡± Perseus said with a resigned nod. ¡°It¡¯s a failure in the chain of responsibility, but that¡¯s what distance does. The Grand Imperium cares about peace enough to enforce it, but send people far enough from the immediate range of those enforced ideals¡ª¡± ¡°And it all goes to donkey shit.¡± Endymion said flatly. Arthur would have smiled at that, if not for how depressing the topic was. ¡°The chaos benefits Parthia, regardless.¡± Endymion continued disdainfully. ¡°Those slaving bastards will raid the Frontier semi-regularly for new batches of people to put to work, both for their mining operations and to use in their planetary exploitation programs. They work them to death, and then just go and steal more people.¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrible.¡± Arthur said with a deeply-rooted sense of something being wrong. He felt as if he should have been able to do something about Parthia¡¯s actions, despite all logic to the contrary. He supposed it was guilt. The idea of humans being enslaved was in opposition to everything he believed. At least, that was what he felt. It felt strange that he couldn¡¯t say with certainty. A subtle compulsion soothed away his wonder about the matter a moment later. ¡°It¡¯s the Humanosphere.¡± Perseus said resignedly while Arthur refocused on the Kidem¨®nas. ¡°All we can do is try to make our own slice of something better than the rest. It¡¯s the most simple, and most ruthless truth of human existence: There are the powerful and the powerless, and there¡¯s always a bigger star nation.¡± ¡°Unless you¡¯re the Grand Imperium.¡± Arthur said with a core-deep certainty. ¡°Unless you¡¯re the Grand Imperium.¡± Endymion agreed with a grunt. Arthur looked around after they emerged from the long corridor they¡¯d entered, and the conversation momentarily lapsed when he did. The area they had entered was far larger and more populated than the one they¡¯d started in, and Arthur realized quickly that it was some sort of ¡®nexus¡¯ point for multiple different arrival areas. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of people filled the space even with the relative statement of ¡®low traffic¡¯ by Graecian standards, and he could see long lines of people with a wide and eclectic variety of attire waiting in front of dozens of gated customs stations, manned by men and women in the scarlet colors of the Ascendancy Royal Navy. ¡°Wow.¡± Arthur said with genuine surprise. ¡°This is Customs?¡± Advertisements played in a myriad of competing volumes and with a plethora of colorful and exciting holovids that reeled across monitors, along walls, and hung suspended by anti-grav motors across the waiting area. It was immense in scale, and seemed to be able to easily house several thousand more people, even with the crowds that were already present. ¡°One of the checkpoints, anyway.¡± Perseus said in a satisfied tone. ¡°Asfal¨ªs has several customs areas scattered across the station.¡± ¡°How many people live here?¡± Arthur asked in wonder. ¡°A few million on the station proper.¡± Perseus said with a sense of pride that was nakedly apparent. ¡°It¡¯s one of the largest stellar habitations in the Rim.¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Graecia has a lot of things called ¡®one of the best in the Rim¡¯, I¡¯m learning.¡± Arthur said wryly. ¡°We aim to impress.¡± Perseus laughed. ¡°Clearly.¡± Arthur said with a low whistle while he looked around, and let the ugliness of their previous conversation wash away with the spectacle. ¡°Though now I¡¯m curious about you two.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Endymion asked gruffly. ¡°My understanding was that your division was part of the Royal Guard.¡± Arthur explained while the two resumed walking toward one of the distant Customs desks. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you guarding a docking umbilical, honestly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a common misunderstanding.¡± Perseus responded without any sound of offense and a half-glance back. ¡°The Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes are tasked with the security and safety of the two Kings, yes, but we¡¯re also posted to the most critical locations across the Ascendancy.¡± ¡°I knew that, and it makes sense you¡¯d be aboard Asfal¨ªs as a general posting.¡± Arthur responded conversationally. ¡°But the docking bays seem a little rudimentary for the Royal Guard.¡± ¡°What did you expect to see?¡± Perseus asked without offense. ¡°I thought I¡¯d see some Royal Marines.¡± Arthur answered honestly. ¡°Or even standard station security officers, especially given how little traffic there is.¡± ¡°Your guess makes sense.¡± Perseus said while coming to a halt¡ªEndymion with him¡ªand idly gesturing to the colossal area around them rife with noise, activity, and throngs of humanity. ¡°The Marines tend to focus on shipboard defense and security, and garrison the less important stations and stellar facilities; and we have normal police forces for the various municipal districts on our worlds and orbital habitats, including Asfal¨ªs¡­¡± He gestured over for indication toward where Arthur did, in fact, spy what appeared to be blue-uniformed police officers speaking to some irate looking people. ¡°But strictly speaking, even though we technically share space with the Navy and other elements of the government; Asfal¨ªs and other militarily or politically important areas are firmly our jurisdiction.¡± ¡°How does that work with contravening authority?¡± Arthur asked with interest. ¡°We tell them what to do, and if they know what¡¯s good for them, they do it.¡± Endymion said with a snort. ¡°If they get lippy, well, there are ways of handling that.¡± ¡°Endymion likes to go above them while they¡¯re standing there.¡± Perseus laughed. ¡°It¡¯s about sending a message.¡± the senior Kidem¨®nas said shamelessly. ¡°I can see the logic.¡± Arthur said with a laugh of his own. ¡°Though it¡¯s definitely a little vindictive.¡± ¡°Well, perhaps a little.¡± Endymion admitted with a hint of amusement. ¡°Thanks for explaining it.¡± Arthur said with a nod of thanks. ¡°No problem.¡± Perseus said easily. ¡°It¡¯s not like you couldn¡¯t have found it out with a quick sweep of the HoloNet.¡± ¡°Better from the source, though.¡± Arthur said simply. ¡°Always is.¡± Endymion agreed grimly. ¡°Too many idiots on the ¡®Net.¡± ¡°Which begs the question, Arthur, as to whether there¡¯s anything else you want to know before we part ways.¡± Perseus said with a gesture around them again. ¡°This is Customs, and I don¡¯t think it¡¯s in my interest to push my surly brother too far.¡± Endymion snorted at Perseus¡¯ words, but didn¡¯t deny them. Arthur smiled at them both, and took a moment to seriously mull over Perseus¡¯ offer. Was there something else he wanted to know? He thought back to what he¡¯d read, and then to Captain Larriman, and then looked up at the Kidem¨®nes. He pondered over how bold he felt, before simply deciding to risk a question he wished to ask. The worst they could do was decline to answer. ¡°There is one thing.¡± He said carefully. ¡°I can already hear the hesitation.¡± Perseus said with a laugh, and a friendly slap to Arthur¡¯s wider shoulders. ¡°Go ahead and ask, Arthur.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re sure.¡± He said with a smile before proceeding. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that there¡¯s another element to your force. The Myrmid¨®nes?¡± Endymion looked at him and sighed. ¡°Of course that¡¯s your question.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done your research.¡± Perseus agreed with amusement. ¡°Not enough, I¡¯d say, but some.¡± Arthur said lightly. ¡°Curiosity isn¡¯t always a good thing.¡± Endymion rumbled dourly. ¡°But it isn¡¯t a crime either, eh?¡± Perseus said with a laugh. Arthur smiled at them both, and Perseus continued a moment later. ¡°Myrmid¨®nes are Kidem¨®nes that have matriculated through the Academia Psionica. It¡¯s a pretty popular point of pride for us to work with them, despite my brother¡¯s surliness. The Grand Imperium¡¯s Paladins have a Fortress-Monastery and garrison force for it on Hellas, like they do in every other stable system in human space, but this far from the Imperium psionics are more or less allowed to defer joining if they don¡¯t want to.¡± That was a surprise. Arthur hadn¡¯t thought the Imperator would ever be so liberal. ¡°That¡¯s unheard of for anyone above Delta rank in the Fringe,¡± Arthur observed with interest, ¡°and it¡¯s even less tolerated toward the Core, from what I¡¯ve heard.¡± ¡°The Myrmid¨®nes have an understanding with the Paladins,¡± Perseus explained while they chatted and the odd passersby threw them curious looks, which Arthur ignored. The Kidem¨®nes were the only ones of their kind in the Customs area, surprisingly enough, and Arthur wasn¡¯t unaware of how odd it must have looked for them to be casually standing around chatting with him. ¡°They are free to serve the Ascendancy and fight for their homeland, and in return, they will answer the call if the Paladins ever need them.¡± Perseus continued while oblivious to the attention they garnered on occasion. Or seemingly oblivious, at any rate. ¡°Terra¡¯s power is respected even this far out, as unlikely as it might be for the Imperium to project power. Nobody wants to make the mistake of being the star system that pushed the Imperator too far.¡± ¡°Even with them being so disconnected from the Rim?¡± Arthur asked curiously. ¡°Everyone in Graecia knows what happened to the Morlane Confederacy.¡± Perseus said with a shake of his head. ¡°An entire inner-Rim nation powerful enough to be a true multi-stellar state, and with the economy to challenge the outer-Verge powers just¡­ dismantled.¡± he shrugged and continued. ¡°All of it happened within the span of a few Solar months, and the timeframe was only that long due to the Imperium¡¯s forces having to travel over a thousand light years.¡± ¡°It might have been before we were born, but we¡¯ve met people from Morlane.¡± Endymion added grimly. ¡°Most Rim citizens have. You don¡¯t forget stories like theirs.¡± Arthur was careful to nod seriously, but otherwise avoid overt reaction. ¡°And Myrmid¨®nes¡ª¡± Arthur said while shifting the topic back for the sake of his own clarity ¡°¡ªare something similar to Aurelian Chevaliers, I¡¯m guessing?¡± ¡°In essence.¡± Endymion agreed with a slight shrug of his armored shoulders. ¡°They are independent investigators and enforcers, tasked with rooting out spies, traitors, and extremely dangerous criminals or dissidents. Their psionic gifts make them particularly skilled at the work, and give them formidable capabilities in battle.¡± ¡°Their Callandium compatibility must be high.¡± Arthur murmured half to himself. ¡°It is.¡± Perseus confirmed. ¡°They have a generous helping of psions, too. None of them are above Delta in strength, and most are apparently Epsilon or lower. Otherwise I don¡¯t doubt the Paladins would have forced them into service already¡­ though I¡¯ve heard a rumor their Strategos is on the cusp of Beta.¡± ¡°Andino!¡± Endymion growled. ¡°It¡¯s just a rumor¡­¡± Perseus grumbled. Arthur held up a placating hand. ¡°I get it, Endymion. Thanks for answering at all.¡± ¡°It was our pleasure.¡± Perseus said a moment later with genuine warmth. ¡°You¡¯re an interesting man, Arthur. I can¡¯t say I¡¯ve met anyone as effortlessly charismatic in a while.¡± ¡°Just good genes.¡± Arthur half-joked. ¡°We did notice that.¡± Endymion grunted. ¡°Symmetrical features, powerful frame, not a blemish or flaw to be seen, and you move like a man that can and will leap to violence quickly if properly provoked.¡± he folded his arms and shrugged shamelessly. ¡°Part of why I consented to escort you was to observe your nature for myself. You could do a lot of damage very fast if you wanted to, I¡¯d wager.¡± Arthur¡¯s eyes tightened a little at Endymion¡¯s assessment, but he didn¡¯t try to deny it. ¡°You¡¯ve got me dead to rights, it seems.¡± he said with a half-hearted smile. ¡°Not quite. You could be a Parthian spy.¡± the senior Kidem¨®nas said flatly. ¡°But I doubt it. You¡¯re not the type they¡¯d want. There¡¯s too much to notice about you, and you¡¯re too easy to like. We¡¯re extensively trained in Parthian tactics¡ªand they haven¡¯t tried to trojan horse us in decades.¡± ¡°What happened to the last one?¡± Arthur asked despite his better judgment. ¡°Defected to Graecia.¡± Perseus said with a laugh. ¡°Hilarious when you think about it. I heard the Parthians were livid. We landed a whole cache of intelligence as a result.¡± ¡°Normally I¡¯d reprimand him for that, but it really was decades ago. It¡¯s history at this point.¡± Endymion remarked gruffly. ¡°And as I said, you¡¯re too easy to like. I almost felt your anger at the idea of Parthian slavery, odd as it is to say. I can tell you¡¯re not like those animals on Xerxes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ genuinely flattering, Endymion.¡± Arthur said with a wry smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Endymion grunted. ¡°Before we go, Arthur, would you answer a question of my own?¡± Perseus asked curiously. ¡°By all means.¡± Arthur said permissively. Turnabout was fair trade, after all. ¡°Which sort of Freelancer are you?¡± Arthur hesitated for a moment at Perseus¡¯ question, and then felt a small encouragement erode his natural wariness. He¡¯d kept his skills under wraps during his negotiation with Larriman, but something¡ªinstinct or otherwise¡ªtold him it was important he be honest with the Kidem¨®nes. So he was. ¡°I¡¯m a Knight-Errant.¡± Arthur said as calmly as his spiked heart-rate would allow. Despite his mind telling him it was the right thing to do, a deeply rooted part of himself balked at the idea of giving away that information. ¡°I can pilot and build Ninth Generation Eidolons.¡± Both men went very still when he said that, and then turned to one another rapidly. The clicking was rapid-fire almost immediately upon them turning to each other. Engineered Interaction Dual Origination Linear Operation Neuralink Weapons, also simply called Eidolon Weapons or Eidolons for short, were the hardest to pilot and most difficult to master warmachines in the Humanosphere. They stood on average between 15 to 25 meters tall, with the ability to transform between a highly maneuverable starfighter and powerful humanoid form. Eidolons were easy enough to build. Finding pilots was a far more difficult prospect. The largest reason, of course, was that the people that could even be considered as pilots were one in a million, while only one in ten million might be considered truly formidable. And beyond those, perhaps one in a hundred million would be classified as a prodigy. Capability was only one part of it, of course. The other factors were far more esoteric. The mental bandwidth required to operate one of the machines was hard to gauge without simply putting candidates in a cockpit with a neuralink to test them, and the result could range anywhere from a failure to move the training machine, to the too-common-for-comfort cases of sudden-onset brain death. And the likelihood of which result would manifest was difficult at best to predict. ¡°Arthur.¡± Perseus said after several long moments of silence. ¡°Are you telling us that you are a trained and veteran Eidolon pilot from the mid-Fringe with the capability to replicate mid-Fringe technology?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Arthur said simply. There was no point lying, for all that part of him was raging at his own stupidity. The urge to be honest remained, but another part of him was livid for agreeing with that urge. He couldn¡¯t have explained the compulsion if he¡¯d wanted to. ¡°You realize what that means, right?¡± Perseus asked skeptically. ¡°I¡¯ve got a pretty good guess.¡± Arthur replied with resigned amusement. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to ask you to follow us.¡± Endymion said grimly. ¡°You¡¯re not in trouble, Arthur, but if what you say is true¡­¡± Perseus trailed off. ¡°It¡¯s going to cause a whole fucking circus of bullshit.¡± Endymion said flatly. ¡°Yeah.¡± Arthur said simply. ¡°I figured.¡± ¡°Hey, there¡¯s a bright side to this.¡± Perseus said while Endymion signaled to some nearby officers, and started barking orders for them to clear a path through the crowds after they ran over. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Arthur asked skeptically. ¡°If all goes well, you¡¯re gonna find that work you wanted, and then some!¡± Arthur couldn¡¯t help himself at that. He laughed. B1 | Chapter 05: Kingmaker Theory
Knowing what we do now, the entire situation on Asfal¨ªs could have ended in catastrophe. We were shielded as much by our own ignorance as we were by our erstwhile companion¡¯s desire to skirt past our notice. Part of me wonders if it would have been better to let others handle his case. How different might our lives have been if we had simply walked away? Would Graecia have been safer if we had deferred the responsibility? We may never know, but still¡­ Still, I wonder.
Arthur followed calmly behind Endymion and Perseus, and maintained his look of casual interest in the finery of Port Asfal¨ªs while they passed through it. It was an act of kindness on the part of the two Kidem¨®nes, Arthur assumed, that they had not taken up a more blatant detaining posture. Their trip through the customs barrier, the ¡®first border¡¯ between interstellar space¡ªat least on paper, given there were other planets closer to Graecia¡¯s two Calypso points¡ªhad been simultaneously eventful and completely devoid of surprises. Endymion and Perseus had simply rolled over the questioning Naval staff and officers by sheer force of presence, and despite a commendable interrogative by the more senior officer near the end of the Customs area, the two Kidem¨®nes had ushered him through the gate and past the staring eyes of dozens of people without so much as a backward glance. The elevators behind the Customs Officers had carried the trio from the arrivals area to somewhere far deeper into the immense space station, and they¡¯d emerged into a very different environment. The inner heart of Port Asfal¨ªs was built shockingly similar to a true ocean-bound terrestrial port, and it took Arthur¡¯s breath away. He¡¯d seen images, but they hadn¡¯t prepared him for the sheer scale to which the Ascendancy had constructed their station¡¯s inhabited interior. Buildings in the style of Ancient Greece with modern amenities and materials dominated the space, creating wide and spacious lanes of traffic. Many of them were occupied by pedestrians traveling through carefully demarcated sidewalks while small vehicles¡ªgrav-bikes, in most cases¡ªtraveled to and fro amid the hum of repulsor engines, which illuminated the bottom of their vehicles with soft blue light. While the structure of Port Asfal¨ªs externally resembled a massive umbrella cast in steel, its gargantuan domed top made far more sense when seen from within. The Port was not merely a middle point for travelers, but a living and breathing city-station all on its own. While guests were plentiful, it was not difficult to spot more casually dressed civilians or¡ªstrangely more commonly¡ªuniformed members of the Ascendancy Royal Navy. Kidem¨®nes like Endymion and Perseus were present while the trio moved through the streets, though they were often accompanied by blue-uniformed police officers, armed with far lighter versions of the Kidem¨®nes¡¯ power armor and absent the helmets or cloaks that completed the guardians¡¯ austere appearance. ¡°We¡¯ll take transport from the nearby security station.¡± Perseus said while they walked, and drew the occasional curious or surprised glances from passersby. ¡°I understand you probably would have liked to explore Asfal¨ªs more, Arthur, and we¡¯ll get to that after we take you where we¡¯re going. It¡¯ll be worth it, though, I promise.¡± ¡°Can you tell me where exactly it is we¡¯re going?¡± Arthur asked with a glance down at the taller of the two guardians. Perseus laughed. ¡°The Rear Admiral in charge of Port Asfal¨ªs. If we didn¡¯t, she¡¯d likely send a Hexaron to break down your door the moment she learned you¡¯d slipped through her fingers.¡± Arthur chuckled at the seemingly light-hearted comment, and decided not to dwell on what that eventuality would look like. He was beginning to suspect that the Kidem¨®nes were modeled more heavily after the Hoplites of Ancient Greece than he¡¯d properly suspected, though there was definitely a more generally Terra-European bend to their structure. Mostly Greek, but with some external modifiers in the mix, it seemed. ¡°Why would she want to do that, out of curiosity?¡± he asked while they walked. ¡°Because your arrival could change the fortunes of some very important people.¡± Endymion said with the most intensity Arthur had ever heard from him. ¡°And I intend on making sure you have the chance to choose the right ones. Not just for them, but for the Ascendancy as a whole.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen him so passionate about something like this.¡± Perseus admitted without any attempt to be subtle. ¡°And that alone makes me want to help. My dour brother is rarely so animated, so it moved me when he insisted we take you to see the Ypon¨¢varchos.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Arthur said with a mix of faint amusement and lurking wariness. ¡°I¡¯ll try not to run for the hills yet, then.¡± ¡°I¡¯d catch you.¡± Endymion said firmly. Arthur and Perseus both laughed at the statement, though not out of lack of belief. Something about the normally taciturn Kidem¨®nas¡¯ statement was just funny. Their journey continued in comfortably calm silence from there and Arthur spent time simply admiring what he could about the streets and Port Asfal¨ªs as a whole. It was a truly beautiful locale, and the rampant greenery offered a cleanliness to the air that was difficult to attain with air scrubbers alone. The faint scent of olives was everywhere, mixed with the subtle aroma of retsina, scents of lamb and garlic, and other myriad smells that were highly indicative of the Ascendancy¡¯s Grecian heritage. It was a small paradise in space, and Arthur felt something in him yearn for more. There was a part of him that, in defiance of all reason, felt at home in Graecia. But he knew, down to the depths of his soul, he had never belonged in a place like it. Arthur¡¯s quiet admiration and peaceful enjoyment of a seemingly idyllic society was only damaged, in fact, when they drew closer to the mentioned security station. The sounds of raised voices and metal on flesh reached his ears, and he automatically tensed for confrontation while some part of him he didn¡¯t recognize began rapidly assessing escape and attack routes. It was only when he and the Kidemones rounded a final corner and came within sight of the immaculate police station that the source of the commotion revealed itself. Several blue-uniformed peace officers were in the midst of restraining and corralling a group of men in unassuming attire, each of them bearing similar features that only truly became apparent in their uniformity when compared to one another, and their difference to the Graecians when compared to the mass of officers around them. ¡°Parthians.¡± Perseus said with quiet disdain at Arthur¡¯s side. ¡°Spies, most likely, trying to infiltrate Hellas through Asfal¨ªs.¡± ¡°They do not appear to be trying very hard to blend in.¡± Arthur observed while steeling himself against the surprising urge to intervene against the over-enthusiastic police officers. Another baton smashed into the ribs of one of the Parthians, and he grimaced in disapproval. ¡°They likely were smuggled aboard a trade container using Callandium obstruction matrices.¡± Endymion muttered. ¡°The Parthians have some few skilled psionics. I would not be surprised if one of their so-called Immortals was behind the scheme.¡± his voice was not disdainful, as much as it was cold¡ªas if he were commenting on the habits of animals, rather than people. ¡°Parthians have neither honor nor compunction when it comes to such things.¡± Perseus said as if it were fact. ¡°They would sell their own mothers for benefit if they believed it would get them ahead.¡± Stolen story; please report. ¡°This is why we maintain our presence throughout Asfal¨ªs.¡± Endymion said on the heels of Perseus¡¯ words while turning toward Arthur. ¡°We cannot afford more of this filth infesting our home. They are a malcontented, vile, and repugnant people. Slavers and rapists run their nation. They are the opposite of everything Graecia stands for.¡± Arthur¡¯s gaze shifted from Endymion and Perseus to the Parthians, and despite their words, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder at the complete veracity of their claims. He did not believe the Kidem¨®nes were overtly lying, but it seemed mildly absurd to him that the Parthians were simply a massive collection of evil, slaving, mustache-twirling psychopaths. After all, history often warned of the ease by which entire cultures could be vilified. How he knew that, however, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to explain. He simply did. Silence fell over the trio once again when they crossed the street, and Arthur looked away with a frown when the Kidem¨®nes saluted the police officers in approval of their actions. He liked Endymion and Perseus. They were, based on his instincts, genuinely good men with good hearts. But he could also see where hatred and bias had warped their sense of perspective. Parthians, to the Kidem¨®nes, weren¡¯t people any more. They were just targets. It was a very dangerous mindset to encourage, and he had no doubt it was encouraged. Very likely by authorities far, far above his new companions¡ªand with a very specific agenda in mind, as well. It took two nations to agitate tensions, after all, and for all that Graecia claimed to be the subject of Parthian aggression, Arthur wasn¡¯t quite sure that was entirely true. Not after the unvarnished loathing he¡¯d seen and heard in the course of the day. By time he managed to fully parse through his thoughts on it all, they were airborne. Arthur¡¯s eyes widened when the aircar Perseus had commandeered for their shared transport banked across the metropolitan expanse of Asfal¨ªs, and offered him his first unobstructed aerial view of the Port. Thoughts of Parthian and Graecian conflict went to the back of his mind, and he simply focused on drinking in the view offered to him by their flight. Beautiful had been an understatement. As if in homage to the land from which Graecia had drawn its cultural heritage, Asfal¨ªs was seemingly designed as a massive tribute to everything classically Greek. A beautiful man-made river as blue-green as any one might find in the Terran Mediterranean ran through the city. Its forks and branches were numerous, and the entire construction of the city itself was built in professionally asymmetrical partitions that lended the illusion of a city built around the river, instead of an artificial ecosystem placed within the station interior. Olive trees and various other traditional Greek flora and fauna were evidenced, and Arthur could even spot large fields of greenery at several locations across the outskirts of the sprawling metropolis where no elevators had been built. ¡°It¡¯s gorgeous.¡± he observed appreciatively with his eyes transfixed by the city below. ¡°Our ancestors came from many places to claim Hellas and create what would become the Ascendancy, but they all agreed that our heritage was the most important thing to keep constant.¡± Endymion said quietly from beside him. ¡°Wherever we can we honor the souls of our ancient home, we do so. Even here, nearly twelve hundred light years Rimward from the cradle of humanity, the legacy of men like Pericles, Leonidas, Plato, Aristotle, Diogenes, and Alexander live on.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a noble aspiration to want to honor the past.¡± Arthur agreed with a look back to Endymion¡¯s armored head. ¡°This isn¡¯t something I expected to see, honestly. I knew Graecia and the Hyperion cluster were more advanced than most Rim nations, but this level of artisanry is stunning.¡± Endymion grunted in acknowledgement. ¡°The Hyperion cluster defies what many consider normal for the Rim, as you said. If only we had been founded earlier, many of the misconceptions and enforced limitations we suffer through might not have been given a chance to take root.¡± ¡°Time is often the greatest barrier.¡± Arthur said with a thoughtful nod. ¡°Yes.¡± Endymion agreed fervently. ¡°Our comparative age to the Fringe, especially given how large the time gap between our colonization and theirs was, means they have had centuries, in some cases, to out-develop and out-build us. The staggered nature of human colonization as a whole has left a diaspora of colonies that seem to have been intentionally forced into tiers of capability.¡± Arthur hummed in thought at Endymion¡¯s words and turned to look out of the window in thought. The sentiment struck a deep chord within Arthur, one that reminded me of something he¡¯d largely let lapse into his suppressed memory. He never forgot things, after all, thanks to his gene-tailoring¡ªbut he did lose sight of things that were not immediately important. Gene-tailored memory was very difficult to explain, he¡¯d learned already. The idea of a grand design behind human expansion was a very commonly held theory, however. The fact it had never officially been confirmed was almost irrelevant given how widespread the belief was, especially in the Fringe and apparently the Rim too, if Endymion was any indication. ¡°Kingmaker theory?¡± Arthur asked when the name came to him. ¡°It would make sense.¡± Endymion growled with a nod. ¡°It was Terra that initiated the expansion in earnest eight centuries ago. Why did they only send out the colony ships in waves, and why take such care to ensure that each cluster even within the Core held largely homogenous populations across each planet of its habitable systems? Populations whose cultures, in many cases, had rivalries and natural frictions dating back to the bronze age of our species and beyond?¡± ¡°I admit I¡¯ve heard the same in Aurelia before.¡± Arthur said honestly while turning back to Endymion. ¡°The Charlemagne cluster contains Aurelia, Svartheim, Colchis, and Rasputin just to name the major four. If I named all twelve, it¡¯d be a checkerboard of conflicting ideologies and values. There does seem to be some measure of commonality in how naturally in-conflict each cluster¡¯s colonized star systems are.¡± ¡°And what better way to ensure that no one can ever rise to challenge Terra¡¯s primacy than to make common purpose a doomed dream?¡± Perseus asked conversationally from the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°It¡¯s an open secret that the Grand Imperium has access to some sort of interstellar communications array, and yet the technology has never been shared.¡± That, Arthur knew, was a sore point even in the Fringe. Some glimmer of understanding surfaced within him when Endymion mentioned the technology, but that understanding vanished as quickly as it appeared. ¡°It¡¯s brilliant in its own way." Endymion continued while oblivious to Arthur¡¯s thoughts. "Create the seeds for inevitable conflict, and disallow anything approaching real-time communication between star systems. It even limits most militaries from waging overly ambitious wars, given that logistics and a command and control loop become harder and harder to sustain over longer distances.¡± Arthur smiled wryly despite the topic. ¡°You almost sound like you approve of it now, Endymion.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a warrior, Arthur.¡± The Kidem¨®nas said firmly. ¡°More than anything else, I respect the bold brilliance of what has been done. Terra has castrated the greater Humanosphere¡¯s natural cooperation enough that we will never be able to dream of challenging its power with any sort of united front, but has left us with enough capability that we will be too busy warring with our neighbors over resources and territory to truly care.¡± ¡°Designating a galactic standard language seems to play into it as well, I suppose.¡± Arthur admitted with a sigh. ¡°A universal tongue for communication allows the hundreds of nations of the Humanosphere to negotiate, argue, and cycle through periods of peace and war¡ªbut it is never quite enough of a bridge for true understanding en masse, because it¡¯s outweighed by the sheer immensity of cultural opposition in each cluster.¡± ¡°So you do understand.¡± Endymion said approvingly. ¡°I do.¡± Arthur said while turning back to the view, and feeling a stirring of discontent within himself he couldn¡¯t quite identify. ¡°I just wish it didn¡¯t make so much sense.¡± ¡°As do we, Arthur.¡± Endymion growled. ¡°As do we.¡± Silence reigned within the car again while Perseus guided it toward their destination, and it wasn¡¯t until almost ten minutes later that it was broken once more¡ªthis time by the younger of the two Kidem¨®nes. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Perseus said while smoothly landing the vehicle. Arthur took a moment to just see the building. It was built not unlike an Ancient Greek temple, with twelve marble steps twenty meters in width leading up to a set of open double doors, and an overhang connected to a set of colonnaded white columns built of the same marble as the steps. A massive golden eagle perched over the doors, and appeared to be gripping three lightning bolts in its talons, while its eyes stared down as if it could see Arthur. He shivered for reasons he couldn¡¯t quite define and looked at Endymion. ¡°Is me going in there looking like I just stepped off a starship going to be an issue?¡± Arthur asked while gesturing to his combination of boots, jeans, long-sleeved shirt, and jacket. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect so.¡± Endymion said while opening his door and stepping out. Arthur opened his own door to step out, and Perseus turned to him when he did. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the clothes, Arthur. You¡¯re still better looking than most living humans in Graecia regardless.¡± ¡°What the hell, Perseus?¡± Endymion said in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s just the damn truth, brother. He may as well go in there with confidence. I certainly wouldn¡¯t want to meet the Lion Duchess while worrying about my appearance.¡± ¡°The Lion Duchess?¡± Arthur asked curiously. ¡°You¡¯ll find out.¡± Endymion said gruffly. ¡°Come on.¡± Arthur eyed the eagle hesitantly, but followed the pair inside regardless. In the back of his mind, the compulsion urged him on. B1 | Chapter 06: Atreus
I should have been able to tell, then. I should have seen it in how my brothers reacted. I should have noticed the signs, but I was blind. Arrogant. We had been taught we were the apex Predators, second in might only to the vaunted Paladins of Terra themselves. We had been taught to hold pride in our supremacy. What fools we were. We had mistaken a lion for a lamb, and none of us had any idea what it was that we welcomed into our midst.
Twenty minutes later, after a process of introductions and explanation of circumstance which proceeded with surprising levels of cordiality; Arthur was led to an office possessed of only sparse decoration. The room was adorned across the middle with a large circular rug in the spartan crimson of the Ascendancy Royal Navy, while white walls hung with various banners denoting different subdivisions of the Navy framed the interior. Photos sat upright upon the desk at the far end of the room, and a high-back executive chair took pride of place behind it. One which served as the makeshift throne for an irrefutably beautiful Graecian woman. She was dressed in the uniform of the Ascendancy Royal Navy, with a crimson overcoat buttoned in gold on the right side of her body, black coloring over her shoulders and upper arms, and two golden stars of rank decorating each of those same dark patches on her uniform. The black material of her high collar, reaching midway up her throat, bore the same two stars in paired formation. Her black hair was tied back into a professional bun, with streaks of silver rising from her temples toward the tied mass of midnight above. Her eyes were a stormy gray, and even at what Arthur estimated to be middle age¡ªaround one hundred or so years old¡ªshe had the look of a woman that both genders would walk into inanimate objects admiring. The amount of duty tabs on her jacket, overshadowed only by the golden Graecian eagle above, was enough of a point of emphasis to warn Arthur into respectful silence. A single black beauty spot sat on the left side of her face, above her full lips, and when she appraised him he was reminded of nothing so much as a she-wolf observing a potential conquest. And not in a fun way. ¡°Have a seat, Kyrio Magellan.¡± the woman said in a tone that was one half invitation, and one half command. Arthur took note of the formal use of address and filed it away while he complied with her order and settled into the provided chair opposite her. Endymion and Perseus, having accompanied him in the room, took up deceptively casual positions on either side of the door. He appreciated the gesture, for all that it was purely that. ¡°I am Ypon¨¢varchos Cassandra Leos. Asfal¨ªs¡¯ defense is my responsibility, in addition to the normal requirements of an Ascendancy Flag Officer.¡± the woman Perseus had called the ¡®Lion Duchess¡¯ said in accented English. Somehow, even her voice managed to sound beautiful. A mix between a purr and caress. ¡®Lion Duchess¡¯ indeed. Cassandra leaned forward when she spoke and braced her elbows on her desk, bridging her fingers together and narrowing her eyes at Arthur above them. ¡°Which brings me to you, Kyrio Magellan. Based on the reports supplied by Kidem¨®nes Chloros and Andino, paired with the travel receipts provided by the Enterprising Fortune; you are what you seem to be¡ªand that is precisely where my interest lies.¡± ¡°You¡¯re looking for an Eidolon pilot.¡± Arthur guessed with a shrewd assessment of the Rear Admiral. ¡°One that isn¡¯t a native.¡± ¡°Quite so.¡± Cassandra confirmed with approval. ¡°You arrive on our proverbial doorstep, fully prepared with the skills and knowledge we need moving into this period of heightened tension within the cluster, and seemingly absent any complicating fealties or associations that would pose an impediment to our ability to hire you.¡± ¡°Which is a little too convenient.¡± Arthur guessed. ¡°Which is much too convenient.¡± Cassandra clarified. ¡°There are only three possibilities here, Kyrio Magellan. Either you are exactly whom you say you are, in which case we of the Ascendancy would be thrilled to put you to work¡ªsomething I intend to see done personally, if such is the case¡­ or you are an agent, sleeper or otherwise, sent by Parthia to infiltrate and sabotage or frustrate our most critical military infrastructure. The final option¡­ Well, I don¡¯t wish to be rude, but¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re wondering if I¡¯m a fugitive.¡± Arthur surmised. ¡°Or a runaway Lord.¡± Cassandra said with a discerning gaze. Arthur opened his mouth to respond, and then winced. A small throb had spiked in his head abruptly, and he reached up to massage it. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± The Rear Admiral asked carefully. ¡°Yes. Sorry.¡± Arthur said politely. ¡°Mild headache. I think it¡¯s just the result of two months of deep sleep.¡± ¡°Ah. Not a fan of long travels?¡± ¡°Not really, no.¡± Arthur admitted without embarrassment. ¡°I can relate. I despise long journeys.¡± Arthur took a breath and pushed on. ¡°So what I¡¯m hearing is that you need to, for your own sake, make sure I¡¯m neither a liability nor a foreign asset.¡± ¡°That is correct.¡± Cassandra said. ¡°Though, that assumes I even want to work for you.¡± Arthur said mildly. ¡°Which, with all respect to you, I have no idea of yet. My only experience with you has been Endymion¡¯s insistence on coming to see you.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Cassandra said with a small smile. ¡°He didn¡¯t tell you about my family?¡± ¡°No.¡± Arthur said with a shake of the head, and another mild grimace at the lance of pain through his head that followed. ¡°But the fact that Endymion, who I¡¯ve learned in my short time with him is the most surly Kidem¨®nas alive, wanted me to meet you says you¡¯re someone important¡ªnot just to the Ascendancy, but to its people as well.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve a mind touched by Athena herself.¡± Cassandra said wryly. ¡°It¡¯s a simple deduction.¡± Arthur disagreed with a mild massaging of his temple. ¡°Not one for flattery, I take it?¡± ¡°No, your grace.¡± Arthur said with a shake of his head. ¡°Not one for flattery.¡± Cassandra grinned openly at his words. ¡°You really might be what I¡¯m looking for, then.¡± Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°Assuming I¡¯m not a spy, fugitive, or political refugee.¡± Arthur observed. ¡°Assuming so.¡± Cassandra agreed. ¡°And you need to be certain.¡± Arthur said with a sigh of annoyance at his head. ¡°Beyond reasonable doubt.¡± ¡°I must.¡± Cassandra agreed with an intense look before turning to the Kidem¨®nes. ¡°Could one of you please retrieve a glass of water for Kyrio Magellan?¡± ¡°Yes, your grace.¡± Endymion said immediately and stepped out through the door. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary.¡± Arthur said with a glance back in surprise at Endymion¡¯s rapid obedience. ¡°You¡¯re evidently in some small measure of pain. It¡¯s the least I can offer.¡± Cassandra said simply. Endymion returned a moment later with a tall glass of water, and set it smoothly into Arthur¡¯s hand. He glanced at the Kidem¨®nas in surprise again, but inclined his head in thanks. A paranoid part of him wanted to check for some sort of chemical in the water, but he doubted that was in Endymion¡¯s character. And if they really wanted to hurt him, they were wearing power armor. With those facts in mind, Arthur took a grateful sip of the chilled liquid. It helped. Somewhat. ¡°Better?¡± Cassandra asked with a smile. Arthur simply nodded and set the glass onto a coaster on the desk. ¡°Thank you.¡± he said with his full focus back on the Rear Admiral. ¡°Do you have any questions regarding what I¡¯ve said so far?¡± Cassandra asked when he set the glass down. ¡°No. I¡¯m mostly just interested in getting the ¡®potential spy¡¯ part of the equation out of the way. I can¡¯t imagine that is going to be good for my prospects, as far as employment in Graecia goes.¡± Cassandra laughed warmly. ¡°No, I can¡¯t say it would. I am glad you understand that. It will make this much faster, and likely far less unpleasant. We have an easy way of qualifying your nature, in fact...¡± While she spoke the doors to her office opened when she trailed off, and the sound of heavy footsteps followed their parting. ¡°To that end,¡± Cassandra resumed, ¡°I took the liberty, after being informed of your coming here by Kidem¨®nas Chloros, to request the services of someone uniquely suited to resolving this matter quickly.¡± Arthur shifted in his chair to look to his right at the same moment as a new figure came into view, and his heartbeat sped up in response to what he saw. The new arrival wore armor of a similar design to Endymion and Perseus, but where theirs was silver and they bore thick cloaks of luxurious cobalt, the figure that entered was bedecked in plates of matte black. A cloak of spartan crimson covered the warrior¡¯s pauldrons and fell across their back like a river, trailing down upon the floor as they walked. Their right hip bore a Greek Xiphos with a hilt suitable for one or two-handed use, and a blade built to a larger scale than was tradition. When the Myrmid¨®n¡ªfor that was the only thing they could be¡ªcame to a halt and turned to face him properly, Arthur felt a small chill roll down his spine at the symbol proudly rising from the center of their chest: the ¦«. Lambda. The symbol for ancient Laconia. The symbol for Sparta. ¡°Thank you for joining us, Lord Atreus.¡± The Myrmid¨®n reached up and removed his helmet without replying and set it on Cassandra¡¯s desk, revealing the face of a man that looked to be in the prime of his life. A well-kept black beard lined his face, and onyx hair cropped with military precision covered his head. His eyes, which were a bronze that seemed to match well to his olive skin, remained fixed on Arthur even when he at last chose to respond. His voice was like the rumble of a mountain. ¡°It is my honor to serve the interests of the Ascendancy, Ypon¨¢varchos. That said, I can scarcely believe so much pageantry and commotion has arisen from the arrival of a single young man.¡± ¡°You and I both, my lord.¡± Cassandra said with a twinkle in her eye that Arthur couldn¡¯t quite parse. ¡°Were it not for the insistence of the Kidem¨®nes, I would not have believed the matter as important as it is.¡± ¡°That is assuming this Freelancer speaks the truth,¡± Atreus said coolly, ¡°and does indeed possess the skills he claimed.¡± ¡°That¡ª¡± Cassandra said decisively ¡°¡ªand his intentions and allegiance, if any, are what I am hoping you will be able to discern.¡± ¡°Then let us not waste any more time.¡± Atreus decreed. Arthur looked from the chiseled features of the tall Myrmid¨®n to Cassandra¡¯s beautiful, and decidedly iron-willed features, and then steeled himself mentally. ¡°May I ask a question?¡± Cassandra raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow, and then nodded for him to proceed. ¡°Once this is done, will there be any lingering side effects? As an Eidolon pilot, my mind is my most important asset.¡± He looked between them critically. ¡°I¡¯m not educated beyond rumor and supposition on what Lord Atreus intends on doing, but I am concerned about endangering my only marketable skill in the process. The fact I¡¯m here at all is only thanks to my trust in the Kidem¨®nes behind me, and that¡¯s only going to extend so far.¡± ¡°You think you can just leave?¡± Atreus asked with what Arthur thought was genuine interest. ¡°I think I haven¡¯t done anything that warrants a mental probe without my consent.¡± Arthur said with a steadier voice than his pounding heart might have permitted normally. ¡°And while I will consent in order to get this suspicion dealt with, I want to know I¡¯m not ruining myself in the process¡ªor risking that happening.¡± Atreus raised an eyebrow and let out a low rumble of thought, but said nothing. Cassandra, meanwhile, gave him a long and unreadable look before nodding. ¡°The concern is valid. My interest in you would be for naught, as well, if your worries came to pass.¡± she turned to the tall Myrmid¨®n and smiled. ¡°Perhaps our Myrmid¨®n can shed some light?¡± Atreus grunted in response, but spoke after sending a very pointed look at Cassandra and then turning back to Arthur with a narrowing of his eyes. ¡°It is a baseless concern, but forgiven due to your ignorance. The only risk lies in whether or not you attempt to fight my investigation. Should you do that, I cannot speak to the results.¡± He shrugged his massive shoulders and then continued. ¡°If you cooperate? The most you will feel is a mild headache, and even that is unlikely. Your implied certainty in being found truthful does you credit, too. It should mean a lack of resistance, which would¡ªas stated¡ªmake the entire process smoother.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Arthur said with a careful look at the Myrmid¨®n¡¯s expression, and a steadying sip of water. He was nervous, of course, but not because of the probe per se. He simply wanted to get it all over and done with. He hadn¡¯t left his home cluster in search of answers just to lose his skills to the admittedly understandable paranoia of a mid-Rim star nation. ¡°Mm. You¡¯re not scared. That¡¯s a good start.¡± Atreus said unabashedly. ¡°You also seem to have made a good impression on both my Kidem¨®nes brothers, if their mild anxiety on your behalf is anything to go by.¡± he glanced at Endymion and Perseus, and then back to Arthur. ¡°I will be extra cautious, Knight-Errant, for the mere fact that you have so easily earned their affection.¡± Atreus smiled mirthlessly. ¡°It is a rare feat indeed to have such a quick impact.¡± ¡°I aim to please.¡± Arthur said with a flicker of amusement before the smile he managed to summon faded once more. ¡°And I am also ready, Lord Atreus.¡± he took a breath and sighed. ¡°Or as ready as I¡¯ll ever be for this sort of thing.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Atreus said with what Arthur almost thought was veiled amusement, before he stepped forward and extended his right hand. ¡°This will be over quickly. For you.¡± Arthur¡¯s brow furrowed in momentary wonder at the man¡¯s words, though before he could put a voice to his thoughts, he felt something akin to pressure surrounding his skull. Seeping past the surface. Digging toward his mind. His consciousness. His instinct, initially, was to fight. In fact he started to do exactly that, until a hand on his shoulder drew his attention back to Atreus¡¯ face, now far closer. The grip, Arthur thought idly, was quite powerful. ¡°Let me in.¡± the Myrmid¨®n instructed in a surprisingly soothing voice. ¡°If you are no foe, Arthur Magellan, then you have nothing to fear. Let me in.¡± Arthur hesitated despite the man¡¯s words and his own resolve to do exactly that, fighting against some instinct or deeply rooted part of himself that urged¡ªno, demanded he deny such a pervasive intrusion. It was a primal urge that implored him to fight. To rail against the submission requested of him. With an act of will, Arthur forced that internal resistance away. He suppressed it. He pushed down his need to defend himself and, in what he could only describe as a deeply unsettling act, he exposed his mind to Atreus. The Myrmid¨®n¡¯s power entered his mind like an opened sieve. Arthur¡¯s eyes lost focus. His muscles spasmed. He felt a strong hand take hold of his head, and then everything faded. Darkness offered him its embrace, and Arthur fell into it gladly. B1 | Chapter 07: First Revelation
The day he walked into my office, I believed we had merely inherited a problem. How foolishly optimistic that was. His presence had the feel of a neutron star, condensed and silenced, and even without any talent with the Veil; I could feel his pressure. His presence. At the time, I had assumed it to be the Myrmid¨®n, yet in hindsight perhaps that was little more than wishful thinking. We had embraced a supernova, and none of us had any idea of what lay in store for us as a result.
¡°For the sake of what we must do, you cannot remember this conversation. Not until the time is right.¡± Arthur frowned at the words of the blonde woman opposite him and watched her critically from across the table between them. ¡°I am not sure how comfortable I feel with the necessity of this cloak and dagger, Inquisitor. Even for an agent of the Throne, this is a level of paranoia I am unaccustomed to.¡± ¡°I assure you, my lord, that this request comes from the highest levels. While I understand this may be confusing, I must impress upon you the need for such drastic measures as I am suggesting.¡± ¡°You are suggesting wrapping my very psyche, memories, and sense of self into layers, Inquisitor. Layers that I have neither the recollection to identify nor the power to unravel!¡± Arthur narrowed his on her, blue eyes meeting brown, and scowled. ¡°More than that, you are asking me to flee to the middle of a backwater mid-Rim nation with no more than what I can carry, and some fabricated backstory with more holes in it than my lecherous cousin¡¯s good sense!¡± ¡°I am but the messenger, my lord Zacaris. Pendragon has ever been a loyal part of the Imperium, and your noble bloodline a treasured branch of¡ª¡± ¡°Spare me the flattery, Inquisitor. Please. It does neither of us honor to indulge in such theatrics. Instead, tell me why. Why me? Why now?¡± ¡°Because you alone are capable of doing what must be done.¡± ¡°That is not an answer.¡± Arthur said with a scowl. ¡°It is as much an answer as I can give, my lord. I must ensure that we compartmentalize things as much as possible.¡± ¡°You want to bury these secrets in sequence?¡± Arthur asked incredulously. ¡°That is the easiest way to ensure you only discover what you must, when you must.¡± ¡°This is sounding more insane by the word, Inquisitor.¡± ¡°Necessity is often married to insanity, my lord. It makes it no less important for those affected.¡± ¡°And whom is it, precisely, we are doing this for? Terra? Pendragon?¡± ¡°The Humanosphere, my lord. The entire Humanosphere.¡± ¡°I find that difficult to accept.¡± Arthur said with narrowed eyes. ¡°Especially since you are proposing a psionic castration of the very strength that I could use to help it!¡± ¡°Only temporarily.¡± Nataliya said calmly. ¡°Only until it¡¯s necessary to unleash it.¡± ¡°You need to give me more than that.¡± ¡°I cannot.¡± She said firmly. ¡°Inquisitor, if you expect me to¡ª¡± Arthur began heatedly. ¡°I cannot, my lord. I cannot take the risk of revealing too much before you are ready.¡± ¡°Throne of Terra, it cannot be that cataclysmic. You are acting as if we are all under imminent threat of destruction.¡± ¡°Not all threats are so easily quantified, my lord. Not all threats are so easily understood.¡± Arthur growled under his breath and leaned back in his chair while folding his arms over his chest, and staring out of a nearby window in thought while his gaze roamed over the levitated spires of Camelot. The Inquisitor seemed content to let him do so, and after some five minutes of rumination he finally spoke again. ¡°How long would I have?¡± ¡°You must depart before you are inaugurated as your father¡¯s heir.¡± the Inquisitor said with her hands¡ªeach one shimmering platinum with inlaid Callandium sigils¡ªextended to him in entreaty. ¡°Before the necessity of your pursuit transcends the recapture of a wayward scion and instead becomes the rescue of a stolen inheritor.¡± ¡°That¡¯s in five days!¡± Arthur exclaimed while looking back at her. ¡°So you must leave within four, then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s madness. I couldn¡¯t possibly¡ª¡± ¡°I will see to the arrangements, my lord.¡± Nataliya said with utter confidence. ¡°You wish me to be seen as a coward.¡± he seethed. ¡°You wish to dissuade my father from any pursuit out of shame.¡± ¡°That would aid greatly in our purpose, yes.¡± ¡°Do you not realize how antithetical the very idea of flight is?! I am a Knight of the Round!¡± ¡°And the child of a concubine.¡± Nataliya pointed out without concern for the insult it paid him. ¡°One that has had to prove their worth in the eyes of everyone. This world has never been kind to you, my lord. It will happily believe you a coward, if you but give it the excuse.¡± ¡°I fought, bled, and killed to disabuse them of that notion!¡± ¡°And still they are ever-so-ready to believe you weak and incapable. You owe them nothing, my lord. You are being called to a higher purpose.¡± ¡°You are asking me to give up everything I have worked my entire life for.¡± Arthur snarled. ¡°You are asking me to lie to myself, and enable you to make me believe it!¡± ¡°I am.¡± She said resolutely. ¡°I am the rightful heir to House Zacaris! I am the progeny of an inviolate bloodline!¡± ¡°And before that,¡± the Inquisitor reminded him, ¡°You are a son of Terra.¡± Arthur opened his mouth, closed it, and then let out a ¡®tch¡¯ at her response, his gaze upon the spires resumed with a renewed frown of brooding skepticism. ¡°Let¡¯s say I do agree. What manner of impact would I have with none of my skills available to me? You intend on armoring me in ignorance and lies, and sending me to a backwater hole of civilization with no more than the clothes on my back¡ªclothes that, frankly, are an insult to my lineage! You must tell me something, Inquisitor.¡± ¡°Your body will remember what your mind does not.¡± Nataliya assured him. ¡°And that will be enough to ensure your survival until your memories properly awaken.¡± ¡°How delightfully unhelpful.¡± Arthur said snidely. ¡°And still you give no answers!¡± ¡°The answers must come when you are ready to receive them.¡± the Inquisitor replied. ¡°Telling you now would be inviting disaster, if not outright sabotaging your chance at survival.¡± ¡°Your continued abeyance from specificity does not inspire confidence, Inquisitor.¡± ¡°I understand, my lord. Truly I do. This is, however, the nature of the calling. Your calling.¡± her tone hardened as she said it. ¡°Terra summons you to serve, Lord Zacaris. Will you answer?¡± Arthur stared at the spires for another long and ponderous minute as a thousand different reasons to tell the Inquisitor, powerful and indomitable as she was, to go to the deepest void of the frontier rolled through his mind. A dozen different ideas for escape, up to and including summoning other Knights of the Round roiled through his mind. A coward, his father had often called him. A son of a whore with no spine. A bastard absent the drive, the passion, or the will to succeed. Arthur had proved him wrong with blade and machine both, and devastated those sent to crush him. He had won his laurels, his rights, and his recognition at the edge of his sword. He had been fighting hatred since his birth. Even his name, Arthur, had been a mockery¡ªthat was why they had paired it with his middle name. The traitor. The abomination. The fiend. Arthur sighed, and closed his eyes to listen. To listen to his father¡¯s voice, claiming he was a coward with no resolve. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. To listen to his grandfather before him, mocking his abysmal Callandium capacity. Arthur let out a low, resigned breath in surrender and forced himself to be calm. None of them would ever imagine him capable of what Nataliya asked of him. Arthur¡¯s eyes opened, and he locked his gaze on the Inquisitor¡¯s own. ¡°Yes, Inquisitor.¡± he said at last. ¡°I, Arthur Mordred Zacaris, will answer the call.¡± Arthur¡¯s mind returned to him slowly. It grew from a spark of awareness of self into a slow and consistent ember, which continued to gather momentum and strength from there. Distantly he felt as if he could hear voices, though in his mental fugue all he could parse was vague intonations and the implication of urgency from the unclear nature of tense intonations. ¡°...risks are¡ªfind out about¡ªkeep it to ourselves¡ªwrath on us all¡ª...¡± ¡°...cannot tell¡ªwe investigate further¡ªthe interim¡ªenough caution for belief¡ª¡± A low groan escaped Arthur¡¯s lips when the ember of awareness erupted into a blaze of cognizance, and he felt his mind snap back into equilibrium. And with it, the awareness of Arthur Zacaris once more. His true self. His true mind. Information, awareness, and knowledge hammered into his consciousness with the thunder of an avalanche. The half-heard and distorted words of those around him faded to nothingness under the deluge, and Arthur snapped back to consciousness with a sharp intake of air, and a surge of shock. The Inquisitor had erased him. She had replaced everything he was with a fabrication, one designed to obfuscate and perfectly suppress everything he knew to be true. She had deleted him. She had removed him as if he¡¯d never been. It was perverse. It was infuriating. It was existentially terrifying. Worse, he had agreed to it. Arthur felt his heart race while memories long forgotten surged to the fore of his mind, escaping from where they had been buried beneath layers of psionic power. His entire life in Aurelia was a lie. The information would pass any manner of investigation, because Nataliya Verchenko was nothing if not thorough like all her ilk, but he¡¯d never truly existed there. He had never lived there. He had never even visited Aurelia, really. Arthur Magellan was a complete fabrication. He was Arthur Mordred Zacaris, of Pendragon. He was the most lethal Knight of the Round Table. He was a Coreblood of the most celebrated lines, bred in pursuit of perfection. Another moment of thought crashed into him, and he shuddered while reaching up to grip his head. He remembered more. He remembered his staggeringly low Callandium compatibility. He remembered his father¡¯s disappointment. He remembered the mockery, the vitriol, and the shame over an accident of birth he could no more have controlled than he could have willed a star to die. More than anything else, he remembered himself and was able to view that remembered self more objectively. With only the limited insights into himself, and with the false but still existent medium of Arthur Magellan, he realized something quite immediately. Arthur Zacaris had been disturbingly self-entitled and arrogant. The very idea of it unsettled and disquieted him. For all that he knew it was who he had been and perhaps even still was under it all, he wanted nothing to do with that particular element of his memory. He¡¯d come to have respect for Graecia, for Aurelia, for the struggles and realities of the outer sectors and their people. He momentarily wondered if perhaps that had been Nataliya¡¯s plan, but the truth was that he had no context with which to weigh it. He recalled himself, yes, but so too was so much still missing. For a start, he had no recollection of how to recreate technology before the Fringe. He remembered using the technology, but the same way a man might remember using a sword he had no part in forging. He knew what it felt like, what its strength was, and how to wield it¡ªbut he could no more rebuild those weapons and drives than he could sprout wings and fly. Additional to this was the fact that, in truth, Arthur Zacaris had been a bitter and cruel man. Forged by his environment perhaps, and created through a series of horrible and abusive events that had¡ªto what little recollection Arthur had¡ªshaped him into the selfish, arrogant, and fundamentally spiteful creature he¡¯d experienced in the memory. He could empathize with Arthur Zacaris, but in that moment, he came to an immediate realization. He had no desire to become him again. At least not in the way he remembered. ¡°He¡¯s waking up!¡± a familiar male voice warned. Arthur¡¯s eyes opened and he looked up with a sharp gaze to see Cassandra watching him with an impassive and focused expression, her gray eyes drilling into him with searching intensity. Atreus flanked her to her left, and both Endymion and Perseus had joined her to the right with their visored helmets turned toward him in silence. Cassandra¡¯s expression softened when his eyes met hers, and she spoke in a perfectly calm and controlled manner. ¡°Welcome back, Kyrio Magellan. The impact of Lord Atreus¡¯ investigation seems to have taken a toll on you. How do you feel?¡± ¡°More myself.¡± Arthur answered with a small slur. His accent had even been changed, and he felt his remembering mind fighting with false muscle memory to build words in a way he was no longer used to. ¡°Are you sure you are quite alright?¡± Cassandra asked carefully. ¡°I¡ªI will be.¡± Arthur said while still attempting to master his rebellious tongue. ¡°May I ask what happened?¡± ¡°Your psyche collapsed under the strain of the probe.¡± Cassandra answered while Atreus watched on. Clearly she was the ¡®designated speaker¡¯ in the present case. ¡°Lord Atreus has assured me that you will be back to your normal, healthy self in a matter of minutes.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Arthur said carefully, while forcing his tongue to cooperate and quietly reaching out to sip the glass of water still left on the coaster. Much of its perspiration was gone, due to the length of time it had sat idle, and from that he could gauge that he had been unconscious for more than the perceived few minutes of the flashback. ¡°How long have I been insensate?¡± He asked slowly. ¡°Two hours.¡± Cassandra answered with an appraising look. ¡°Though I¡¯m told that¡¯s not unheard of. It seems your psions simply disliked the stimulation that Lord Atreus enacted upon them through contact with your mind.¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t really understand what that means,¡± Arthur admitted with the same deliberate speech, ¡°but I¡¯m going to optimistically hope it¡¯s irrelevant to me.¡± ¡°As far as I understand it, it is.¡± Cassandra said with a wry smile. Arthur grunted when a small lance of pressure passed through his mind, and lowered his palms to compress his upper neck and the back of his head while slowly rolling both hands from side to side. The memories in his mind were like blades, each stabbing at his brain in a manner he found exhausting. It took him almost a full minute before he spoke, and to their credit nobody seemed interested in rushing him. ¡°Did you find what you were looking for to satisfy your concerns?¡± Arthur asked carefully, and while looking up at Atreus specifically. ¡°In every way that matters.¡± the Myrmid¨®n confirmed coolly. ¡°Though there are extenuating factors we must discuss.¡± Arthur grimaced and blinked against the pain in his head, and then nodded his assent. He wasn¡¯t surprised by the statement. He¡¯d suspected something would come of the probe, though he was hoping it wasn¡¯t a revelation of his true origins. Something told him that Nataliya would have planned for that much. And from what he could recall of Nataliya Verchenko, she was incredibly powerful. ¡°I am all ears, my lord.¡± Arthur murmured with a grimace of pain. ¡°All Eidolon pilots possess psionic talent to some capacity, which is what allows them the prescience, spatial awareness, and almost supernatural reaction times required to be combat effective in what would otherwise be very expensive prostheses.¡± Atreus said without taking his eyes off Arthur. ¡°Though this is hardly news to you given your status among their number, what is surprising is that while your testing records results show you at a Callandium compatibility of forty-two percent; my delve revealed an oddity with your psion levels.¡± ¡°Please enlighten me...¡± Arthur said while massaging his temples gingerly. ¡°Your psion density is, frankly, factors larger to the point that I¡¯d suspect it of being false, no matter the fact it¡¯s impossible to falsify.¡± Atreus said with focused intensity. ¡°I¡¯ve seen high numbers, but this is beyond the pail. You don¡¯t have the highest ever recorded in Hyperion, but you¡¯re in the top twenty at least.¡± ¡°Well, I suppose there are worse things to hear.¡± Arthur muttered with a slow roll of his neck and another grimace of pain. ¡°Though with my lack of Callandium compatibility, I¡¯m hardly about to start crushing buildings.¡± ¡°Your psion density is irrelevant in the larger scale, because you cannot handle the Callandium required to catalyze them safely. Yes.¡± Atreus agreed tersely. ¡°However, it does mean your reflexes, spatial awareness, and neural bandwidth ratings are likely all rated higher than almost any operator in Graecia¡ªto say nothing of your passive ability to inspire comfort, familiarity, and even loyalty in others, as you did unwittingly with my Kidem¨®nes brothers.¡± The last part of course was enough to give him pause. It was not as if he¡¯d actively manipulated either Endymion or Perseus, but the simple reality was that someone with psions as dense as Atreus claimed his were could make even the most well-trained mind bend and yield toward disproportionate magnetism. Humanity had often wondered as to what charisma truly was, and in psions, they had found their answer. People with high psion density were essentially magnets for positive interaction. The only redemption for such effects was that they could not control them at all. ¡°You were not honest with us, Arthur.¡± Atreus continued heedless of his internal thoughts. ¡°You are not merely an Eidolon pilot.¡± Arthur eyed Atreus carefully, but said nothing. He waited to see what the Myrmid¨®n believed was the truth. ¡°You were an Aurelian Champion, weren¡¯t you?¡± Had his true memories been revealed to the Myrmid¨®n, then the questions Atreus was asking would have been far more probing and far less courteous, but that was not the case. The tall spartan was rolling with the only logical assumption which the identity of Arthur Magellan allowed: that Arthur was a member, either retired or deserting, of the Aurelian Star Kingdom¡¯s elite Eidolon operators. It was not too far from the truth, though if he revealed the whole truth he had a feeling he¡¯d give the Graecian soldiers in the room apoplexy. Aurelia might have been distant and powerful, but being from the Fringe power¡¯s elite was at least something they could logically accept. Being a Knight of Albion? Not just that, but a Knight of the Round Table? He might as well have said he was Achilles reborn. B1 | Chapter 08: Negotiations
Negotiating with him was like dancing with an inferno. His power affected me in ways I did not imagine, and even with the Myrmid¨®n close, I still wonder if perhaps I didn¡¯t act in a way that defied all reason. We had no concept of what he would become at that point, of course. We merely thought salvation for House Leos had been dropped in our laps. I saw the chance to save my family, and I took it without hesitation. Perhaps it was the selfish choice, but I don¡¯t care. It was my duty, and I did it gladly.
Arthur took a moment to collect his thoughts before answering. ¡°I was never a Champion,¡± he began with complete sincerity. ¡°I was trained by someone of a similar caliber¡ª¡± also completely sincere, if not in the way they expected ¡°¡ªand benefited from those lessons, but I have never officially been part of the Star Kingdom¡¯s forces.¡± Atreus¡¯ expression had become a frown when Arthur had denied the tall Myrmid¨®n¡¯s assertions, and the glance he gave Cassandra showed that as expected, his residual contact with Arthur¡¯s mind had likely allowed the Myrmid¨®n to discern that there was complete truth in the answers provided. Even if that truth only existed for wildly more deceptive reasons. ¡°That is unexpected.¡± Cassandra admitted. ¡°We had thought you a renegade or exile in over your head, but directly asking a Fringe nation about their most elite forces¡¯ internal politics is courting trouble no one in the Ascendancy wants or needs.¡± ¡°It does raise even more mysteries, though at this point I believe we are erring between caution and paranoia.¡± Atreus said brusquely. ¡°My delve was neither resisted nor defended against, and I have satisfied my immediate need for certainty. I officially declare you clear of immediate suspicion, Arthur Magellan.¡± Arthur relaxed into his chair at the Myrmid¨®n¡¯s words, and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Does that mean we can begin talking about remuneration?¡± he half-joked while sitting back in his chair and attempting to relax. Perseus and Endymion had been entirely silent through the entire affair, though he assumed that to be a matter of station more than anything else. Atreus, he suspected, outranked both Kidem¨®nes by a small but notable margin. ¡°Almost.¡± Cassandra said with a smile that seemed equal parts rueful and bemused. ¡°First however, there is the matter of your psion count.¡± Arthur raised his eyebrows at her words and glanced from the Admiral to the Myrmid¨®n. ¡°I had thought that explained, Admiral.¡± he said carefully. ¡°The circumstances, certainly, if not the origins. It is impolitic to ask after the biological history of a person absent just cause, however, and I have a feeling that there are truths there that none of us will feel comfortable airing.¡± She was likely suspecting him of being the bastard child of a very powerful member of Aurelian nobility, which is exactly what Arthur would have guessed. While she was wrong, she was closer than he wanted to admit, and it was better to let her believe whatever she wished instead of correcting her. After all, the truth would only serve to complicate matters even further. ¡°The simple reality, Magellan¡ª¡± Atreus¡¯ lack of honorifics was strangely relaxing to Arthur, if for no other reason than the fact it elucidated on how bluntly honest the Myrmid¨®n was ¡°¡ªis that you are now simply too valuable to be treated as another contractor. We have also noticed that despite your now partially confirmed skills, you are ostensibly without an Eidolon of your own.¡± Ah. There it was. The missing piece that all the Graecians were likely curious about. What manner of successful Knight-Errant didn¡¯t own a personal Eidolon? ¡°About that. Regretfully I¡ª¡± ¡°Let me stop you there, Arthur.¡± Cassandra cut in firmly. ¡°To be candid, and despite the fact it may be an entirely innocent tale; I believe that not knowing the reason a pilot of your caliber is bereft of an Eidolon to be in the best interests of the Ascendancy, and my own. What we do not know, we need not lie about when making denials.¡± Arthur paused and then nodded with understanding. It was a sensible approach, and when combined with the fact it saved him some very carefully worded truths; Arthur was not about to look the proverbial gift horse in the mouth. ¡°I take it this is going to be a bit of a different contract than the usual Freelancer fare?¡± he asked her with a half-smile. ¡°Yes.¡± Cassandra said with a dazzling smile of her own. ¡°While most Knight-Errants are contracted for the span of two Solar years by the nations that retain them to fight on their behalf, it is rare that those Knight-Errants feel any true measure of loyalty or belonging to those nations.¡± Knight-Errants. It was a colloquialism for Eidolon-piloting Freelancers, hearkening back to adventuring Knights in legends and tales from Terra. It was a universally accepted term, though often spoken in different names by different stellar cultures. With English being the ¡®common¡¯ language of human space, however; it made for an easily understood term. ¡°As such¡­¡± Cassandra continued. ¡°With Lord Atreus¡¯ blessing and under my own authority, I would like to make you two offers.¡± The Ypon¨¢varchos lifted her hand and Arthur¡¯s omni-comp vibrated against his wrist. He glanced at it and then back to Cassandra, and she nodded for him to proceed. The requirements of basic social courtesy met, Arthur casually flicked his wrist and tapped the black band of metal to activate the two dimensional projected screen. A tap of perplexingly empty-solid digital projection later, and he navigated to his mailbox. Within he found and opened two contracts, which he immediately began reading. ¡°The first contract is a standard fare; two Solar years¡¯ exclusive operation as part of the Ascendancy Royal Navy¡¯s Eidolon Corps, with a standard retainer and bonuses per enemy defeated and battle won.¡± ¡°Contingent on participation, I take it?¡± Arthur asked with an upward glance. ¡°Of course.¡± Cassandra confirmed with another smile. ¡°Sounds right. My apologies for the interruption, and please continue.¡± The Ypon¨¢varchos waved her hand dismissively at his apology, and continued as if the question had never come. ¡°The second contract is somewhat more atypical, and I have made some last minute modifications since we no longer need the deniability clause for worry of Aurelia coming looking for a deserter.¡± Atreus snorted, and Arthur chuckled. ¡°This contract,¡± Cassandra continued unaffectedly, ¡°offers you a place within House Leos as one of our Hetairoi, to fight with us and serve us in the capacity of a sworn Knight. You would answer only to my husband, Menelaus Leos, the Duke of Pallik¨¢ri. In return, House Leos would not only give you a home, a very lucrative stipend, and address any desires you may have within the bounds of law, honor, and tradition¡ªbut would also fund, with our considerable resources, the creation and development of your very own Eidolon.¡± Arthur¡¯s eyebrows had risen slowly when she¡¯d begun, and by time she was finished they were in his fringe. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ very generous.¡± he said while being careful not to insult her accidentally. ¡°May I ask, my lady, if there is more to it?¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Of course there is.¡± Cassandra said with a warm bell-like laugh. It almost made him shiver. She was ridiculously attractive, in both voice and features. ¡°Per the terms of the second contract, you will be required to share with House Leos any Eidolon technology you include in your design, though you will receive the rights to any patents¡ªshared with the House¡ªthat emerge as a result of your efforts.¡± Arthur took a moment to absorb her words, and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle when he did. Cassandra was a truly shrewd woman, and it only took him a few moments¡¯ puzzling to understand it. She wasn¡¯t just beautiful, she was brilliant¡ªand her rise to Ypon¨¢varchos suddenly seemed far less than she deserved. ¡°So you give me a blank cheque for Eidolon development, let me keep the income from any technological leaps I desire to patent, and benefit as a minority shareholder in those patents at the same time.¡± he listed off while ignoring the faint throb in his head. At least it was no longer sharp blades. ¡°You do all of this, while also maintaining plausible deniability if anyone from the inner sectors comes knocking.¡± ¡°In essence? Yes.¡± Cassandra confirmed shamelessly. ¡°That¡¯s a good offer.¡± Arthur said bluntly. ¡°Too good of an offer.¡± ¡°Ah. You caught me.¡± She said with a wry smile. ¡°I suppose it was too much to hope that you wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I dislike being deceived more than I dislike flattery.¡± Arthur said without ire. Cassandra had been honest and honorable in her dealings with him thus far, inasmuch as he could tell. The fact she hid something wasn¡¯t what concerned him. Hiding things was what aristocrats did. He had certainly hidden his fair share of things in Pendragon. At least, he assumed so. It felt like he had. His concern was the gravity of what she was hiding, and whether or not it made the deal untenable. ¡°I understand that.¡± Cassandra said with a genuine smile. ¡°And the truth is, Kyrio Magellan¡ª¡± ¡°Just call me Arthur.¡± he cut in impulsively, and with no real understanding of why other than the fact it was exhausting to be referred to by formal titles constantly. ¡°Very well, Arthur.¡± she assented with a smile that, surprisingly, seemed warmer as a result of his request. ¡°I will be candid. My family is currently in a somewhat dire position, and your addition to our ranks would be¡ªin all honesty¡ªsomething of a miracle we are desperate for. I am afraid, Arthur. I am afraid for my husband, for my daughter, and for all those that depend on us; and I have neither the power nor the means to protect them.¡± Cassandra¡¯s stormy eyes focused on him unerringly. ¡°In you, however, I see a chance to change that¡­ and I will do whatever it takes to seize it.¡± Arthur listened to her in silence and, when she was done, sat up straighter in his chair. His eyes moved across Cassandra¡¯s face, over to Atreus, and then toward both Perseus and Endymion. When he spoke, it was to the older of the two non-psionic Kidem¨®nes. ¡°Is this why you brought me here, Endymion?¡± he asked in a measured tone. ¡°Yes.¡± the Kidem¨®nas said with unashamed pride. ¡°I see.¡± Arthur said while looking back to Cassandra. His mind was working rapidly over everything, from the return of his memories and all that they carried with them, to the new realities of his situation, to the truths the Lion Duchess¡ªa fitting name, in truth¡ªhad given him, and finally to what he was even doing in Graecia. Again he wondered why Nataliya had sent him. Again he wondered what it was she expected him to accomplish. He found nothing in his mind. No hints, no inklings, no idle thoughts or implications. If he wanted to learn more, though; he knew he¡¯d need to stay in Graecia. To do that and be able to truly find what he was sent to find, he needed allies. To that end, a Dukedom he personally saved from imminent destruction would be perfect. He¡¯d never need to worry¡ªat least in the immediate future¡ªof being easily betrayed or abandoned, not if he single handedly brought them back from the brink of devastation. ¡°Very well, Lady Leos.¡± Arthur said while hiding his thoughts. ¡°You¡¯ve given me much to think about. Before we move forward, are there any other details I need to be aware of?¡± ¡°Well, firstly, I would highly suggest that you have a solicitor look over these contracts before signing them.¡± Cassandra said with a smile. ¡°As much as I would like to believe you¡¯ll help me, I also see intellect in your eyes, and I do not want you going in blind.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Arthur said genuinely. ¡°You are welcome.¡± Cassandra replied before continuing. ¡°As for your question, there is one more detail to be aware of¡ªbut it is not for me to say.¡± Cassandra instead gestured to Atreus, and Arthur¡ªwith a mild apprehension¡ªturned his gaze to the tall, black-haired Myrmid¨®n. The Spartan¡¯s golden eyes met Arthur¡¯s unblinkingly. ¡°Given your experience, origins, knowledge, and ludicrous combat potential in or out of an Eidolon; we cannot simply let you wander around unprotected.¡± Atreus began blithely. ¡°When news eventually does break regarding new strides in our technology¡ªand no matter how hard we Myrmid¨®nes work, it will break¡ªand our enemies and other powers begin probing around to find the source of those changes, you will immediately become a target.¡± his expression turned grim. ¡°One that the Ascendancy cannot afford to lose for the foreseeable future, if you prove to be the asset the Duchess believes you can be.¡± Arthur¡¯s eyes narrowed in consideration of Atreus¡¯ words, but he didn¡¯t interrupt. ¡°Thereby and given your value, talents, and psionic gifts; I have decided to personally attach myself as your protector, citizenship sponsor, and cultural mentor. Additionally, Tacticus Endymion has agreed to commit himself and Kidem¨®nes Andino to aiding me. Their Hexaron is deployed elsewhere, but in time they too will join us.¡± Arthur looked toward the two Kidem¨®nes at Atreus¡¯ words and they offered him nods in turn as if confirming the black-armored man¡¯s words. Arthur hadn¡¯t realized with immediacy that Endymion was the leader of the Hexaron he and Perseus belonged to. That put a lot of things into clearer context, too. ¡°I see.¡± Arthur said slowly while turning back to Atreus and Cassandra, and splitting his attention between both Graecian officials. ¡°And why is it that Duke or Duchess Leos cannot sponsor my citizenship?¡± ¡°You are not sworn to House Leos,¡± Cassandra said simply, ¡°and I did not want to coerce you into it by making that a contingent part of your ability to remain within Graecia.¡± Arthur¡¯s eyebrows rose at that, and he folded his arms in genuine surprise. It was entirely possible Cassandra was manipulating him, of course, by pretending to be the kind and noble Aristocrat¡ªbut truthfully, he didn¡¯t even care. Whether she was genuine or not, the intelligence on display if she was manipulating him would have impressed him just as much as if she was being honest. Which, truthfully, he actually thought she was. That alone was rare enough, given his own experiences in Pendragon. Arthur peered at the assembled quartet quietly, and then spoke again to Cassandra. ¡°Let me understand this, then. I give you technology, and in return you help me build whatever Eidolon I want within the limits of your manufacturing abilities, provide me the highest level of protection one can find within the Ascendancy, and you give me whatever I want within the confines of the Law, Honor, and Tradition¡ªbut not at the expense of your national security, nor your nation¡¯s relationships with older star nations that may theoretically have a bone to pick with me.¡± he said while ticking off his fingers. ¡°Is that about the gist of it?¡± Cassandra nodded with an approving smile of her own. ¡°Precisely. If there are demands to hand you over, and they come at the end of a proverbial sword; we are not prepared to go to war with a Fringe power just to retain you.¡± ¡°Not yet, at any rate.¡± Atreus rumbled from beside her. ¡°If you prove to us you¡¯re worth it, both with demonstrable knowledge and demonstrable loyalty, that may change..¡± ¡°Reasonable enough.¡± Arthur conceded with an approving nod. He liked their terms. They were pragmatic, honest, and most of all respected his ability to think critically. They didn¡¯t treat him like a fool, and that alone was a massive boon for their attempts to convince him. ¡°I take it that the mentioned loyalty would be born of service?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cassandra confirmed. ¡°Fight for us. Show us what you can offer House Leos, and the Ascendancy at large. In return, and once we have had time to integrate any potential upgrades to our technology that you may or may not produce, which may or may not hypothetically allow us to comfortably stave off a Fringe power¡­¡± the dangerously beautiful Rear Admiral smiled in a predatory manner. ¡°Well, that gives us options.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Arthur said with a smirk. ¡°And I only have one more question, really.¡± ¡°Yes, Arthur?¡± Cassandra asked with a small smile. Arthur adopted a wry expression, and gestured idly with a hand. ¡°Could you recommend a good lawyer?¡± B1 | Chapter 09: The Lion Duchess
My relationship with Atreus might have been the reason he agreed to take Arthur to Menelaus. I could not say for certain. Truthfully, I can¡¯t think of a reason to care. What mattered was that I had consigned my family to a fate that even then I had no capability to recognize. In the days, months, and years to follow I would ask myself¡ªrepeatedly and often¡ªwhether or not I had missed the window wherein I could reverse the clock, change my decision, and ameliorate the pain that followed. To this day, I still wonder.
¡°That man is going to be trouble, Cassandra.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that why you¡¯re handling him, Atreus?¡± the Ypon¨¢varchos asked with clear amusement. ¡°As amusing as it is to see you as happy as a kitten with cream, Cassandra, this is not the time for your predatory amusements.¡± Atreus responded with long-suffering exasperation. ¡°We have just inherited a potential problem. Arthur Magellan may be the answer to your woes, and he may also be the prelude to House Leos¡¯ final destruction.¡± ¡°It is not as if we are blessed by a bevy of options.¡± ¡°I am aware.¡± Atreus sighed while settling his armored weight against her desk. ¡°Then you know that Menelaus and I are running out of time, Atreus. Houses Drakos, Gataki, and Onasis are looking for any excuse to erode our family¡¯s position, and to compromise our daughter¡ªeither through enforced marriage to seize our assets, or through an ¡®accident¡¯.¡± ¡°Your husband needs to force her to accept some bodyguards.¡± ¡°You know what she is like, Atreus. Circe is headstrong, proud, and fiercely independent. She¡¯ll never consent to what she sees as babysitters.¡± ¡°That reminds me of someone else I know.¡± the Myrmid¨®n said with a meaningful glance down at the Rear Admiral, and a small quirk of his lips. His duty meant that Atreus often schooled his emotions behind a strong and largely indomitable mask, but alone with the few who knew him well¡ªlike Cassandra¡ªit was easier to let his guard down to some degree. ¡°I am painfully aware of the mirror that my daughter has become when it comes to myself seventy years prior Atreus¡ª¡± ¡°Seventy? I would have said thirty.¡± he interjected with a snort. ¡°¡ªand while I appreciate the amusement it no doubt engenders within you, I must stress that I cannot afford to let the just desserts of my own youthful misadventures inform the fate of House Leos¡¯ only heir. The primary line has existed since Hellas was settled, and if Menelaus were the one to fail to continue it¡­¡± Atreus sighed subtly under his breath and turned to extend his right hand to rest on her shoulder. ¡°I understand your worry, Cassandra. The problem is not your attempted use of Magellan, if indeed he is as powerful as we believe him to be¡ªbut instead the consequences for your House if the inkling of the other touch I thought I sensed turns out to be a true residue.¡± ¡°It seems unlikely.¡± she said with a frown and look up at him. ¡°Unlikely? Yes. Improbable? Definitely. Impossible, though?¡± Atreus shook his head and downturned the corners of his lips to demonstrate his consternation. ¡°A Terran Inquisitor leaving a mark on his mind is not fully outside the realms of possibility. There is something about Magellan that despite all answers pointing to affirmation of his identity, I cannot help but believe it is false.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t truly think he¡¯s a Parthian spy, do you?¡± ¡°No. Nor do I think he¡¯s an enemy, nor an agent of one of your political opponents. But does that mean he is not a risk? That he is not hiding something?¡± Atreus¡¯ eyes shifted toward the door through which Arthur had departed with Endymion and Perseus and his frown grew. ¡°My concern Cassandra is that the boy will prove to be not an enemy, but someone far greater in importance than we imagined. Even the implication of an Inquisitor¡¯s touch¡ªand I only know of one order with close to the psionic power to leave the kind of ghosted residue I might have sensed¡ªinfers the involvement of not just the Grand Imperium, but of Terra itself.¡± ¡°What could the Imperator want with Graecia, Atreus?¡± Cassandra said in what Atreus knew was an attempt to soothe his worries. ¡°There could be many reasons Arthur might have interacted with an Inquisitor of Sol, and none of them mean anything targeted at our homeland. In the grand game of interstellar politics, we are a small factor by any stretch of the imagination.¡± ¡°It is my duty to consider the worst possible scenario, Cassandra.¡± ¡°And mine, as your friend, to remind you of what is truly important. The potential of a galactic conspiracy centered around a single Eidolon pilot and a mid-Rim nation, no matter how advanced we are for our position, is not within that scope.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Atreus asked with another glance back at her. ¡°We are friends now, are we?¡± ¡°While my clothes are still on.¡± Cassandra said with an amused smile. ¡°Certainly.¡± Atreus felt his heart skip a beat at the heat in her voice, and he growled under his breath. ¡°Menelaus warned me you were incorrigible of late.¡± ¡°My time away from my husband has made me voracious, it is true. It is hardly my fault you are the only one I can turn to for succor.¡± she demurred. ¡°I did not agree to be your enkekrim¨¦nos erast¨ªs just for you to use me as you see fit, Cassandra.¡± ¡°You agreed because you would have been my husband were your path different, Atreus, and you agreed because you love Menelaus as a brother. You are the only one we can trust to tell us the truth of the Kings¡¯ courts.¡±. ¡°I skirt my oaths to do so, Cassandra.¡± Atreus reminded her grimly. ¡°Oaths that have dire consequences when even loosely circumnavigated.¡± ¡°And I love you for the risk you take on our behalf, my Knight. Agreeing to validate Magellan was more than I might have asked for. The fact you are willing to stay with him is more than I ever expected.¡± ¡°His presence threatens to destabilize all of Graecia, if not the Hyperion Sector at large.¡± Atreus said grimly while looking toward the door through which Arthur had exited only minutes earlier, and once again recalling the ghost of an impression he¡¯d felt during his delve. The power residue there had been catastrophic. More than even the Strategos of the Myrmid¨®nes could hope to wield. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°We have survived worse than one pilot.¡± Cassandra said reassuringly. ¡°If only it were honestly that simple.¡± Atreus said with an exhale of the frustration he felt. ¡°I cannot describe to you what he is, Cassandra, because I cannot make you think as I do¡ªbut he has enough psion density to make me want to help him. Even knowing what is happening, and even with my own Callandium-empowered defenses in play; I still feel that compulsion even now.¡± ¡°If he truly is so powerful, then why let him go?¡± she asked with an idle rest of her chin on her beautiful fingers. ¡°Why not lock him in a cell, or vent him out of an airlock and be done with it?¡± ¡°Forgetting the strictures of honor that compel us to do nothing of the sort,¡± Atreus began with a flat look at his beloved, ¡°the reality is that Magellan is hiding something. Something big. Something he thinks he pulled over me. For now, I am content to let him dwell in that false blanket of security. It will make him more liable to reveal whatever it is he¡¯s hiding.¡± ¡°You¡­ you don¡¯t think he¡¯s an agent of Terra, do you?¡± Cassandra asked in a voice that told Atreus he¡¯d finally managed to break through her indefatigable confidence. ¡°Because the only reason Terra would send an agent, would be¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªCensure.¡± Atreus finished grimly. ¡°If they were looking at us for Censure.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t done anything to warrant that.¡± Cassandra said with what Atreus sensed as a spike of uncertainty. ¡°We¡¯ve abided by the unspoken mandates the Imperator enforces across the Humanosphere. There are Fringe and Verge nations far closer to Terra with far broader ambitions than us. True Multi-Stellar states, at that.¡± ¡°I agree it isn¡¯t entirely rational.¡± Atreus said in his calmest voice. ¡°But neither is it something we can entirely rule out. A pilot of Arthur¡¯s caliber could change the balance of power across the entire sector. If you give that man a machine of worth, he¡¯ll win wars by himself¡ªor as close to that as an Eidolon pilot can get.¡± ¡°Is there truly nobody in Graecia that could match him?¡± ¡°With the right machine? I doubt there¡¯s anyone in the Rim that could match him.¡± ¡°Not even Circe?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Atreus admitted. ¡°And he¡¯s definitely a Freelancer?¡± Cassandra pressed. ¡°He was not lying about being a Knight-Errant.¡± ¡°...Hm.¡± Cassandra said at Atreus¡¯ words, at the same moment as her uncertainty was subsumed by what he had come to understand was a feeling of calculation. It was a feeling that often gave him cause to worry. ¡°Cassandra.¡± he said warily. ¡°He needs to accept my offer...¡± she muttered. ¡°Cassandra.¡± he said more intently. ¡°I would need to make sure he¡¯s handled properly, of course¡­¡± Atreus turned and placed his forefinger under her chin, lifting it up so he could look down into her eyes, each one like thunderstorms made into a window to the soul. ¡°Cassandra.¡± he growled. ¡°What are you scheming?¡± ¡°My House needs a Champion, Atreus.¡± his lover responded while reaching up to gently stroke his armored hand. ¡°My husband needs a Hetairoi. My daughter needs a Knight. House Leos needs a Protector. We cannot afford to let any opportunity pass us by. House Drakos has all but defenestrated our ability to even approach Eidolon pilots to fight for us, and here one of the greatest in Graecia¡¯s history has just fallen into my lap.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous. We were just speaking on whether he was an agent of¡ª¡± ¡°If Graecia is to be censured, we can do nothing to stop it.¡± Cassandra cut him off firmly, and lightly pushed his hand away. ¡°If Terra wants to make an example of us for whatever slight the Imperator might concoct in his Callandium-mad brain, that¡¯s Terra¡¯s business. I cannot¡ªI will not, in fact!¡ªlive my life like a child scared of their absentee father¡¯s ire!¡± ¡°He could be the end of everything, if he¡¯s here for a nefarious purpose.¡± Atreus warned. ¡°He could be the answer to everything if he isn¡¯t, and if we ingratiate House Leos to him and his theoretical puppet masters from Terra come calling, well¡­ that is an advantage I¡¯m willing to take as well. You saw how well he responded to my offer, and my honesty. Arthur could fix everything.¡± ¡°This gamble could cost you and Menelaus everything, Cassandra.¡± ¡°It could.¡± she agreed. ¡°But not doing anything will. We have nothing left, Atreus. There is only Circe to fight for us, and I will not see my daughter destroyed by our enemies if I can stop it. I cannot sit back and wait for my family by birth and by marriage torn asunder because I was too worried to act.¡± Atreus stared at her in silence, debating what to say, how to say it, and what words would have the best impact. He considered which examples to use, which caveats to raise, which cautionary tales to wield¡ªand then, as if from on high, a realization pierced the nebulous web of his own rapid thoughts. If she did nothing, she truly would have nothing by the end. Atreus sighed when he realized he would not be able to change her mind, and he settled back against the desk. ¡°I can see you are set on this.¡± he rumbled. ¡°And I understand why, even if I worry for your safety¡ªand for Menelaus and Circe¡¯s as well.¡± ¡°You have done all you can to protect us within the confines of your oaths, my love.¡± Cassandra said warmly. ¡°You would have been Menelaus¡¯ Strategos, had your calling not taken you elsewhere. You know that. It broke his heart when the Myrmid¨®nes took you.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Atreus said with a ghost of old regret. ¡°I remember.¡± ¡°Good. Then when Arthur is gone, I will ask Menelaus to keep you apprised of¡ª¡± ¡°There will be no need.¡± Atreus interjected while the decision was already resolving in his mind. With things as they were, he realized that sitting back would never be an option. ¡°Regardless of where he goes, I will stay with him. Once you enact your schemes, and if they work to convince him, I¡¯ll go with him to Laconia¡ªto House Leos¡¯ grounds, instead of the Fortress of Ares.¡± Cassandra looked up at him in surprise. ¡°Just like that?¡± ¡°There are many reasons to watch him, but if you truly plan to recruit him, and he is to do what I could not and become Strategos? Well, that is a compelling one.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll need to send a message to Diogenes before he reaches him, then.¡± Cassandra murmured. ¡°The changes I¡¯ll need to make, I¡­¡± she paused and looked back up at Atreus. ¡°Really, though? Just like that you¡¯ll go to Laconia?¡± ¡°If he is to ensure the safety of my vaptistik¨ª?,¡± Atreus said stoically, ¡°I cannot afford to let him do so absent guidance. ¡°And in the act, you have the time to visit your metamor.¡± ¡°Menelaus tires of my warnings faster than you do, Cassandra.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve never fucked him.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being crass.¡± he scolded without heat. ¡°So punish me.¡± ¡°Cassandra¡­¡± ¡°Atreus.¡± He sighed at the shit-eating grin on her face and pushed himself off her desk. ¡°I only have an hour at most before my Kidem¨®nes brothers will wonder at my tarrying.¡± ¡°And I have schemes to concoct, my handsome Knight.¡± Cassandra said with a distinctly predatory and heart-breakingly beautiful smile. ¡°So, let¡¯s not waste a second.¡± Atreus couldn¡¯t help but let loose a low, bass chuckle. ¡°As you wish, Lady Leos.¡± B1 | Chapter 10: Diogenes
When I learned what it was that Diogenes had devised, I thought myself lucky. I considered myself a cunning manipulator, even. Gods I was a fool. How does one think themselves the victor, when placing their heart ¡®twixt the claws of a lion? How could I have ever thought myself brilliant, when I had invited a cataclysm into my home, and set it on a path to pull all of Graecia into hell with it? My husband and I needed a Champion. My daughter needed a Knight. It seemed so perfect. So clever. Now, I weep at my own stupidity. Even now Stars burn across the humanosphere, and I weep.
True to his request and with a commendable level of honest assessment, Cassandra had in fact recommended Arthur to one of the best legal practitioners on Asfal¨ªs, and perhaps within the Ascendancy as a whole. The journey to the quaintly named offices of ¡®Diogenes Legal Services¡¯ had been largely uneventful following his departure from the Ascendancy Royal Navy¡¯s headquarters, thanks partly he was sure to the intimidating appearance of his two companions. As if the soft hum of movement from both Endymion and Perseus¡¯ power armor was not enough, the sheer presence exuded by the pair was such that passersby actively moved away from the trio while they traversed the streets of Port Asfal¨ªs. It had taken only a little convincing for the two Kidem¨®nes to consent to allowing Arthur the chance to see the artificial port city from the ground, and only cost him the concession of not drifting off from their vicinity. Given they seemed to subconsciously adjust to his every subtle shift in direction without issue, that was a small ask indeed. The Kidem¨®nes were the elite royal guard, after all. It made sense that they had a knack for bodyguard duties. A pleasant revelation from his time with the two was that both Graecian natives appeared to genuinely share his appreciation for the city¡¯s beauty, and Perseus especially was more than happy to serve as a font of information and insight; pointing out every important landmark, explaining cultural oddities Arthur couldn¡¯t quite understand, and even explaining some of the inspirations from human history that informed many of the statues, sculptures, and pieces of art displayed proudly throughout the city. Their journey passed quickly in that way, and before long Arthur had found himself approaching the very legal offices within which he sat at that very moment, opposite from what might have been the most interestingly unassuming person he¡¯d ever met. Diogenes Carius, the owner, operator, and sole solicitor of Diogenes Legal Services was a short and portly Graecian man of advanced age. His hair, as wispy and silver as any Arthur had ever seen; was neatly brushed everywhere save for the sides of his head where it seemed determined to puff out as if the elderly lawyer had been electrocuted. His simple brown suit and neat gray pocket square seemed oddly appropriate for the offices themselves, which were painted a faded cream color that somehow granted an homely or comforting feeling to the entire premises. In fact were it not for the clearly modern holo screens, autoprinters, and AI assistant hologram manning the front desk; Arthur might have thought himself stepping back in time to the 20th Century. ¡°This contract does look quite generous.¡± Diogenes said in a voice that might have once been bass, but was now softer from the passage of time. ¡°My only point of contention on your behalf, dear boy, would be the lack of an exit clause in the more lucrative of the two offers.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that to be expected?¡± Arthur asked while looking into the other man¡¯s startlingly blue, exceedingly sharp eyes. ¡°One does not simply swear an oath to a House and walk away absent cause.¡± ¡°Cassandra Leos is the daughter of an ancient and deeply venerated military bloodline. I am not remotely surprised that she is seeking to tie your fate to her House¡¯s own in whatever manner she can. Sending you to me, however¡­¡± ¡°A mistake?¡± Arthur asked with a searching gaze. ¡°No. Very much intentional.¡± Diogenes said firmly. ¡°I believe that we are seeing the separation of role and person. The Lion Duchess may need to do whatever is in her power to tie you to her bloodline, but Cassandra¡ªthe woman¡ªis seeking to give you the chance to build your own future.¡± Arthur frowned at the seriousness of the elder man¡¯s tone, and looked to where the contracts floated between them in holographic projection. ¡°I didn¡¯t really think it was such a dramatic action.¡± ¡°And that is precisely why she sent you to me, my boy. As you rightly stated, you cannot join the world of the Eupatridae and leave at their leisure. Hetairoi usually serve for an agreed-upon term, but this contract has no term limit. Usually Hetairoi swear to abide by a specific timeframe, and those oaths are quite binding both legally and morally.¡± ¡°So if I¡¯d signed the contract, I¡¯d have been indentured then and there?¡± Diogenes chuckled dryly. ¡°No, hardly that. You would, however, have been legally tied down so firmly that you¡¯d have never been able to charter legal passage out of Graecia, let alone operate an Eidolon independently again. I suppose the difference could be seen as semantic, but the devil is often in the details as the saying goes.¡± Arthur leaned back in his chair¡ªwhich had a feature that adjusted it to fit his posture perfectly each time he moved¡ªand reached up to rub his temples. He was no stranger, according to his murky memories, when it came to legalese or complicated matters of law and contract; but part of him had not thought a mid-Rim star nation to be anywhere near as capable of ruthless legality as his homeworld in the Pendragon System. Yet another baseless assumption that might have gotten him into trouble. He made a mental note to not allow his resurfacing memories to encourage them. ¡°So what are my options, then?¡± Arthur asked with a frown. ¡°The second deal is evidently the only feasible one. I can¡¯t pay for nor earn enough drachma to fund my own Eidolon without House Leos¡¯ help, and I definitely have no interest in flying a stock Rim machine.¡± He paused. ¡°Ah, no offense¡ª¡± ¡°You have no need to apologize.¡± Diogenes said without missing a beat. ¡°Your honesty does you credit, and your assessment is correct: The first offer is little more than a formality. It is even structured to be a formality, and attempting to make it anything more would be a fool¡¯s errand.¡± Arthur sighed. ¡°Okay. So what do I do? I wasn¡¯t entirely certain a true counter-offer was actually on the table.¡± ¡°In many ways it isn¡¯t, no. House Leos clearly wants you, and their desire to keep you firmly tied to their bloodline is not something that will subside easily. However¡­ There is room to play within that minefield. Especially since the honorable Duke Leos himself must consent to your appointment, no matter what contract you sign.¡± ¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡± Arthur said while leaning forward again. ¡°Serve House Leos with the explicit intention of representing their interests, in return for all that was promised¡ªas well as an open endorsement from the House Head, at the time of your term¡¯s expiry, patronizing your right to create your own Eupatridae House. You would never be able to serve as a Knight-Errant in the same capacity, but in many ways you would enjoy far more freedom regardless.¡± Arthur listened to Diogenes carefully and frowned while he processed the older man¡¯s words, his fingers tapping on the armrests of his chair in thought. Hetairoi were the storied companions of Alexander the Great, and served as his Knights and champions. It stood to reason that the translation, while not so directly exacting, would infer something equivalent to a sworn Knight. ¡°So I would use my combat skills for House Leos, to then buy the political capital to ennoble myself with their sponsorship?¡± ¡°Yes. We Graecians still retain a great swathe of our classical roots, and among them is a heavy Spartan influence upon our martial and ruling echelons. While Attica and Laconia both play host to the seat of one of the two Kings, it is currently Sparta that enjoys the greatest influence upon the Ascendancy.¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Because of Parthia?¡± Arthur guessed. ¡°Because of Parthia.¡± Diogenes confirmed simply. ¡°With war ever-looming, the citizens look ever-more to King Leonidas, while King Pericles is content to allow his counterpart the scrutiny. The power of Athenai has always been commerce and social engineering, where Spartan might is drawn from manufacturing and the military. Once there was some balance, but in recent decades it is Sparta that has ascended to primacy.¡± ¡°Leonidas and Pericles¡­¡± Arthur repeated thoughtfully. ¡°I understand them to be names taken upon ascension?¡± ¡°Indeed. The Kings doff their born names and moniker themselves after the greatest legends of each city-state. Leonidas is the fourteenth to carry the name, and Pericles the seventeenth to bear his.¡± ¡°What does swearing to House Leos entail?¡± Arthur asked carefully. ¡°Forgive my wariness, Diogenes, but I am cautious of anything that has oaths of service in a society where they are upheld with such dire, and literal emphasis.¡± ¡°Your caution is warranted.¡± Diogenes reassured him calmly. ¡°To be candid, House Leos is one of the best you could ask for, in terms of opportunity, treatment, and reputation. The process is simple enough, as well. You will arrive, be vetted by the Patriarch, demonstrate your skills, and either be offered an official appointment or sent away.¡± ¡°That is simple, and you sound familiar with them.¡± Arthur observed. ¡°Well, yes.¡± Diogenes chuckled. ¡°I represent them.¡± Arthur smiled at that wryly, and leaned back in his chair with a resigned chuckle. ¡°She really did think of everything, didn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Of course she did.¡± Diogenes said with his first proper smile. ¡°That is why she chose me to take care of your needs.¡± ¡°Oh? Here I thought I was just being maneuvered by her.¡± ¡°Well of course you are.¡± Diogenes said with an owlish blink. ¡°That is the nature of these games, dear boy. Everyone is a piece on the board. In your case, it just so happens that while I may be assisting a long-term client and ally, I am also looking out for your best interests.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Arthur asked skeptically. ¡°It is indeed. House Leos is one of the most storied and well-respected bloodlines in Graecia. They¡¯ve recently fallen upon hard times, given that their last Hetairoi died valiantly in combat against pirates of all things some five decades hence.¡± ¡°Cassandra boasted wealth, influence, and power. What manner of hard times could they truly be suffering if she can make me such a lucrative offer?¡± Arthur had his suspicions, of course. If his assumptions about the requirements to become an Hetairoi were accurate, he could perfectly understand why House Leos was desperate to have him. ¡°Because all the drachma and land in the galaxy means little if you cannot enforce your dominion. Hetairoi are the means by which most inter-House disputes are settled, dear boy.¡± Diogenes said, and confirmed Author¡¯s assumptions in the act. ¡°Not to mention, being unable to supply bannermen when called upon by one¡¯s sovereign does not look good. Surely you saw much the same in Aurelia.¡± ¡°And elsewhere besides.¡± Arthur said noncommittally. ¡°So you understand.¡± Diogenes said with satisfaction. ¡°I do. Am I to also understand then, as a matter of certainty, that being an Eidolon pilot is a requirement for becoming an Hetairoi?¡± ¡°Indeed so. It is the only unequivocally universal requirement, in fact.¡± Arthur had suspected as much. The existence of Eidolons and the rare, special breed of soldier that piloted them meant that most higher society factions across human space settled their disputes with ritual duels between champions, usually to disablement, though sometimes even to the death. It was a tradition that had been pioneered¡ªeven aggressively pushed¡ªby the Grand Imperium since the creation of Eidolons, and had become a universal cultural norm across all of human space. Eidolon pilots were as intrinsically tied to the cultural traditions of most societies as the worlds upon which they resided. The idle wonder of why gigantic robots had been pushed as the chosen form of resolution between the aggrieved upper crust of mankind presented itself, but Arthur chose to defer the question for later rumination. It was not one he was likely to find an answer to soon, regardless. His focus was needed in the present. ¡°So House Leos lacks Hetairoi.¡± Arthur said instead, and while giving no indication of his cultural ruminations. ¡°Cassandra wants me to fix that... And she mentioned her husband?¡± ¡°Yes. She is the Patriarch¡¯s wife, though she and he share a great grandfather. She was from a branch line of the main family, though close enough in relation to be worth bringing into the main line.¡± ¡°Ah. Gene-potency, I imagine?¡± ¡°Exactly so.¡± Diogenes said with a nod. ¡°Their daughter, Circe, is the most gifted Eidolon pilot in House Leos¡¯ history. One of the most gifted in the cluster, truth be told.¡± Arthur mulled on that for a moment and realized quickly the problem. While the heiress might have been capable of taking on a Knightly role, the reality was that the path was saturated by the possibility of death, or worse. ¡°They can¡¯t afford to risk her in the role of a Hetairoi, I take it?¡± ¡°That is correct.¡± Diogenes confirmed without hesitation. ¡°Lord Menelaus Leos had an unfortunate accident shortly after Circe was born, and is unable to bear more children. Circe is too important to risk on a Hetairoi¡¯s lifestyle.¡± ¡°And from the sounds of things, they¡¯ve had no luck recruiting other Hetairoi.¡± ¡°No, they have not. Sadly it appears that those seeking an end to House Leos¡¯ primacy in their areas of dominion are working hard to throttle their ability to find adequate champions.¡± Arthur reached up and idly massaged his temples. His headache had gotten better, but now and then it still spiked. ¡°You¡¯re being paid by Cassandra,¡± he said with a glance up at Diogenes, ¡°but can I assume you are still my lawyer?¡± ¡°Yes. I take my obligations very seriously, Ser Magellan.¡± Diogenes said with a firm and no-nonsense look. ¡°I will not twist my advice to a client for anyone¡¯s benefit, irrelevant of my relationship with them.¡± Arthur blinked when a blur of color penetrated his vision, almost as if anchored around Diogenes, and then blinked again to clear it. When he was done, they were gone. He was going to need some sleep, if he was starting to hallucinate. ¡°Are you alright, Kyrio Magellan?¡± ¡°I¡­ yes. Fine. Sorry. Okay, so you won¡¯t lie to me. Somehow I feel like I can trust that. So¡­¡± he leaned forward and focused on the wizened lawyer. ¡°Why House Leos?¡± ¡°They honor their accords, they treat their vassals with respect, and they will give you a powerful shield against others who may seek to use you for their own ends¡ªand against your best interests.¡± Diogenes said immediately and with confidence. ¡°Lord Atreus, whom I am given to understand is your sponsor¡ªwell done with that, by the way¡ªand your Kidem¨®nes escorts will help, but they are strictly apolitical and cannot shield you from threats that do not fall within their purview.¡± ¡°So I need a political shield.¡± Arthur said with a nod of understanding. ¡°And sword.¡± Diogenes agreed. ¡°House Leos can be both, while the Myrmid¨®n and his brothers keep you safe from other concerns.¡± Arthur sighed again and looked up at the ceiling in thought. It was a risk. It was a huge risk, in some ways, but¡­ Something about the situation called to him. Whether it was Nataliya¡¯s wytchery, the effects of his time around Cassandra and her evident sincerity and love for her family¡ªa love he knew he had never seen from his own family¡ªor the simple reality of wanting to belong to something¡­ He didn¡¯t know, nor did he truthfully care. Becoming House Leos¡¯ Hetairoi might serve a personal purpose in giving him later political liberty, but it also answered a yearning within him that he could not deny. Arthur hungered for purpose. Becoming House Leos¡¯ Hetairoi gave him that. All he had, thanks to his abysmal Callandium compatibility, were the passive abilities his dense psions offered him; charisma, spatial awareness, heightened reflexes, moderately accelerated healing, and a deep and abiding ability to sense when he was in danger or when something could truly benefit him. There was no sense in not trusting those abilities now. If he managed to save House Leos from the edge of calamity, they would be indebted to him for the remainder of his life. Based on everything he¡¯d learned, that was not an obligation they would ever take lightly¡ªand having a Duke in your corner, no matter if it was the Rim or the Core, was never a bad thing. ¡°Alright, Diogenes. I¡¯ll take the bait that has been so reasonably dangled.¡± Arthur said with an injection of mirth. ¡°Rework the contract and prepare it for me, with the stipulation for Lord Leos to sponsor my own House down the line if I choose to pursue it.¡± ¡°I shall see to it.¡± Diogenes promised with a smile. ¡°And I assume there will be more to this than just signing the paperwork?¡± ¡°I would certainly presume so. Most likely you will be escorted to the House Leos holdings of Pallik¨¢ri in Laconia, on Hellas, and brought before Duke Menelaus and Lady Circe. Whether or not Cassandra joins you is a wholly different matter upon which I cannot comment.¡± ¡°Well then. All this has made me extraordinarily hungry.¡± Arthur said with a wry smile and buried concern while rising from his chair. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you know somewhere nearby I can find some good food?¡± ¡°Well now that depends, my dear boy.¡± ¡°On what exactly?¡± Arthur asked curiously. ¡°On how you feel about garlic yogurt and lamb.¡± B1 | Chapter 11: Passionate Proselytization
I had never seen Endymion so passionate as when he sought to convince our charge of the merits of House Leos. I knew he was Laconian, but I never dreamed he¡¯d hold any one family in such high regard. I wonder if that was the start of our mistakes. I wonder if that was where our turning point was, and it was that moment which sealed Graecia¡¯s fate. I may never find out the answer.
Arthur sat down at the table indicated by the waiter with a smile of thanks, and set his backpack down beside him when he did. The restaurant that Diogenes had sent him to, named the ¡®Delight of Dionysus¡¯, was apparently one of the best for day-meals and casual luncheons on Asfal¨ªs. It had only taken a quick aircar trip to arrive, and thanks to the parking priority claimed by the Kidem¨®nes they had not had to worry about finding somewhere to stow the aircar first. When both Endymion and Perseus took up guardian positions nearby, Arthur glanced over at them. ¡°Not going to join me?¡± He asked curiously. ¡°We were instructed to watch over you while waiting for Lord Atreus.¡± Endymion rumbled gruffly in response. ¡°And that means you can¡¯t do that while enjoying a meal?¡± Arthur questioned skeptically. ¡°It would be inappropriate.¡± ¡°Do you really think someone¡¯s going to attack me here, Endymion?¡± Arthur pressed with a mild amount of amused exasperation. ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of Port Asfal¨ªs, I can see police nearby, and there are cameras and people everywhere. Not to mention the fact that nobody even knows who I am. Standing there like silver-and-blue ¡®look over here!¡¯ signs is just going to draw more attention.¡± ¡°Us eating with you could be just as strange a sight.¡± The Kidem¨®nes said dubiously. ¡°Could be. Probably less obvious than standing guard as if I¡¯m royalty, though, right?¡± ¡°He has a point, brother.¡± Perseus said with a small chuckle. ¡°We look very conspicuous standing guard over him.¡± Endymion turned his helmet to Perseus, and then back to Arthur, and finally let out an audible sigh. ¡°Very well. You¡¯ve made your point, Arthur.¡± The more senior Kidem¨®nas said while moving to join Arthur at the table, and reaching up to remove his helmet with a hiss of depressurizing air. The face that was revealed was both expected and unexpected in equal measure. Endymion appeared to be in his prime, with close-cropped brown hair and a beard that erred toward red, which was meticulously maintained to surround his mouth. His eyes were a deep brown and surprisingly soulful, giving Arthur the impression of an artist or scholar more than a warrior. Were it not for the military haircut and powered armor, in fact, Arthur would have mistaken him for a very fit librarian or poet. ¡°You don¡¯t look like what I was expecting.¡± Arthur observed thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that before.¡± Endymion muttered while setting his helmet aside on the table. ¡°And it¡¯s irritating every time.¡± Arthur smiled at him in amusement. ¡°The look of annoyed sufferance is certainly very you, though.¡± Endymion just grunted and looked at Perseus when the younger and taller of the two Kidem¨®nes joined them both, and similarly removed his helmet. Perseus looked far more like the poster boy for Graecia¡¯s classical heritage: olive-skinned, curly black hair falling to his shoulders, an easy smile, and a strong and handsome jaw. Someone could have taken his face and put it on the poster for a movie about Hercules, and Arthur would have thought they¡¯d actually gone and found the man. Mythological or not. ¡°Endymion¡¯s only setting is ¡®professionally dissatisfied¡¯.¡± Perseus said while easing himself into the chair and setting his helmet on the table. ¡°I thought it was ¡®annoyed with everything¡¯.¡± Arthur jested with an ease that surprised him. His regained memories told him unequivocally that he was not a person prone to jesting, yet he found it shockingly easy to do around the two Kidem¨®nes. ¡°Currently, my setting is ¡®wondering why I am here¡¯.¡± Endymion griped while picking up the laminated menu with a faint whine of his gauntlet¡¯s servos. ¡°Though I will admit, I enjoy the food here.¡± He muttered. ¡°The Delight is one of the best places for day-food on Asfal¨ªs.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what Diogenes told me.¡± Arthur agreed while picking up his own menu. ¡°Though I¡¯m surprised it¡¯s a physical menu.¡± He commented while wobbling the laminated material in amusement. ¡°Plays into the classical vibe.¡± Perseus said with a laugh. ¡°Though since I don¡¯t think they had laminated paper in the old world, it¡¯s just more ¡®classical¡¯ than holo screens.¡± ¡°Classical vogue, then.¡± Arthur laughed in kind. It felt good to laugh, he admitted to himself. Arthur Zacaris, he knew, had not had very many opportunities to laugh freely. Endymion set down his menu at the same time as Arthur turned to look at his own properly, and perused the options without any idea of what to pick. ¡°Can either of you recommend something?¡± he asked idly. ¡°Lamb.¡± Endymion said with surprising zeal. ¡°Lamb is good.¡± Perseus agreed. ¡°Steak is good too.¡± ¡°You have Lamb and Steak on the station?¡± Arthur enquired. ¡°Is it imported from Hellas, or is it vat-grown?¡± ¡°Graecia only does vat-grown for rations.¡± Perseus said with a shake of his head. ¡°The restaurants and day-to-day stuff are all genuinely farmed. It¡¯s considered pretty prestigious to be a proper farmer in Graecia. Macedon, the third continent of Hellas, is almost entirely dedicated to farming and food production. We also get a lot of things from Demeter.¡± ¡°I had heard you had an impressively well-developed Agri-World.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Perseus said with a nod. ¡°Largest supplier of food in the cluster, actually. We got real lucky settling in Graecia. The System is absolutely stacked with resources and vital world-types. With access to proper terraforming technology, we¡¯re hoping to be able to make more of it habitable. Zeus and a couple of the other worlds are exceptions, but the gas giant has its own benefits.¡± ¡°Like free hydrogen fuel for the fleet.¡± Arthur guessed. ¡°And a lucrative income from merchants stopping in to refuel, too.¡± Perseus agreed. ¡°Do the other nations not have gas giants?¡± ¡°Byzantium does, Parthia does, but Espania, Temujin, Liberty, and Sicilia are all pretty out of luck as far as that goes. I think Liberty and Sicilia share one at the gateway system between them and us, but their entire sub-cluster only connects to Hyperion through a single hyperlane.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised Graecia doesn¡¯t control it.¡± Arthur commented while perusing the list of drinks instead, and putting off his meal choice for the immediate moment. ¡°We provide security for the merchants, given the size of our military, but we agreed to make it neutral territory early on in the colonial development. We ended up becoming one of the two big nations in the cluster, but we¡¯ve stuck by the treaty.¡± ¡°The star map of Hyperion is pretty rigid.¡± Arthur said while deciding to go with some sort of mango-vanilla hybrid drink. ¡°I saw several micro-clusters connected to Hyperion¡¯s main hyperlane network, and several of them were colonized by small nations.¡± ¡°There are ten star nations in the Cluster.¡± Perseus said with a nod. ¡°But of those, Liberty, Sicilia, Iroquois, Bretonnia, and Madrid are minor players. Liberty tends to puff up now and then, but it¡¯s mostly just to show they aren¡¯t willing to be bullied by Graecia¡ªnot that we even care to do that.¡± Perseus finished with a sigh. ¡°So Graecia, Parthia, Byzantium, Espania, and Temujin are the major players?¡± ¡°Temujin¡­ Well, sort of?¡± Perseus said with a look at the still-silent Endymion, who caught the glance and sighed. ¡°Temujin is borderline as a major player.¡± Endymion said with a resigned grumble. ¡°We rate the power of a nation based on its capability for projection, its population, and its gross system product. I¡¯m sure Aurelia was similar.¡± Arthur simply nodded in agreement and continued listening. Truthfully he had no real idea, but it seemed consistent with his false memories. ¡°In terms of projection, Temujin falls far short. Its military is second-priority to its conservation of the natural elements of its systems, and the Khanate places a lot of impetus on ensuring the preservation of the natural environments of the worlds that come under its control.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sensing a but.¡± Arthur said, and shared a look of amusement with Perseus. ¡°But¡ª¡± Endymion said with an annoyed glance at both of them ¡°¡ªTemujin is rimward of Parthia, to the galactic north as reckoned by Sol¡¯s relation to us and the galactic center.¡± ¡°So they¡¯re a nature-loving coalition of nomads, if my historical context is correct.¡± Arthur said while thinking back to what memories he had of his education on Albion. It was strange, he could remember the knowledge he gleaned from that education in sudden and unpredictable surges that came while he spoke to people, but he could recall nothing of the actual process of education, nor what his schooling had even looked like. It was incredibly off-putting. He knew it had happened. He knew he had the knowledge. He simply couldn¡¯t remember any of it with specificity. Shelving the disconcerting reality of his butchered memory, he focused on the immediate moment and finished his thought. ¡°And they¡¯re cornered by an imperialistic and hyper-aggressive neighbor?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Endymion grunted. ¡°Temujin holds its own, thanks largely to its wealth of mineral resources and highly professional military, but if Parthia decides to really hammer them, they¡¯ll need help.¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Graecia isn¡¯t willing?¡± Arthur asked with surprise. ¡°Temujin isn¡¯t willing.¡± Perseus said with a sigh. ¡°They keep refusing our offers of aid, saying they don¡¯t want to be in our debt, basically. They¡¯re stubborn.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not uncommon, especially for some of the more culturally introverted nations.¡± Arthur said while using the knowledge provided by the memories Nataliya had fabricated. ¡°The Fringe isn¡¯t much different either. Rasputin is downright xenophobic.¡± ¡°Sounds like Iroquois.¡± Perseus muttered. ¡°They¡¯re so jaded they might as well post ¡®fuck off and die¡¯ signs across their Calypso points.¡± ¡°Andino.¡± Endymion growled. ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Perseus said defensively. ¡°Just because it¡¯s true doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s okay to say in public, brother.¡± ¡°Politics.¡± Arthur said dryly. ¡°They¡¯re always the same no matter where you are in the Humanosphere: a fucking headache.¡± Perseus burst out laughing at his words, and even Endymion allowed himself to snort in amusement. ¡°So of all these powers, it¡¯s just Parthia that¡¯s a pain in the ass?¡± Arthur asked after their laughter subsided. ¡°Essentially. Liberty and Sicilia depend on us for trade, Iroquois is isolationist, Temujin has a tenuous armistice with Parthia and uses their lanes for trade shipping¡ªwith a hefty tax, so I hear¡ªand commercial travel. Bretonnia and Madrid are at a kind of permanent war footing with each other, and spend most of their time shooting one another over the same three systems in the same micro-cluster.¡± ¡°Waste of human life.¡± Endymion growled. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s pretty bad out there.¡± Perseus said with a sober look. ¡°As for Byzantium and Espania; they¡¯re located Solward and just sort of exist. They¡¯re too weak to challenge us or Parthia and historically they¡¯re pretty close allies. Both the Byzantine Basileus and Espanian King are actually cousins, funnily enough. Their royal families are pretty heavily intermarried after centuries of peace.¡± ¡°What if they merged?¡± Arthur asked with interest. He¡¯d definitely heard of it happening between smaller nations in Rim sectors, and even the Fringe and Verge had examples of it¡ªthough in almost every case, it was due to one side gaining pre-eminence over the other, and the lesser of the two powers seeking to preserve some measure of identity or influence when faced with a neighbor¡¯s inevitable victory. Planets didn¡¯t fall often or easily in the Humanosphere, but a blockade would kill a civilization just as easily. He didn¡¯t even need to worry which memories that knowledge came from. It was just such a constant for the Humanosphere that it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°A merger could happen.¡± Perseus said with a thoughtful tone. ¡°But probably won¡¯t. I think they enjoy their individual independence too much, and alliances are a far cry from assimilation. Not even sure who¡¯d be qualified to take over the other, honestly.¡± ¡°Could just do two monarchs like us.¡± Endymion muttered. ¡°Assuming they could find a way to meld the two constitutions as well.¡± Perseus agreed. ¡°Byzantium is a lot less democratic than Espania, and a lot more brutal on dissidents to boot.¡± ¡°Nothing compared to Parthia.¡± Endymion snorted. ¡°Nothing compared to Parthia.¡± Perseus agreed. ¡°Parthia can¡¯t be all that bad, can it?¡± Arthur asked carefully. Both Kidem¨®nes stared at him flatly, and Arthur raised his hands peacefully. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not from here. I don¡¯t have generational loathing. I¡¯m asking objectively.¡± His companions looked at each other for a moment, and then Perseus spoke. ¡°They¡¯re not mustache-twirling holovid baddies.¡± Perseus admitted. ¡°And they are pretty economically solvent, with a booming population to boot. The problem is that¡ª¡± ¡°They¡¯re slaving, pillaging, honorless scum.¡± Endymion interjected flatly. ¡°Parthians only put value on their nobles and serfs. The rest of the population are seen as chattel for their imperialism, and used as disposable assets. They use state breeding programs to inflate their birth rate, and then send children as young as fifteen to go fight their wars in mass-produced and cheaply built warships.¡± ¡°It¡¯s numbers and fusillades for Parthia.¡± Perseus agreed grimly. ¡°They¡¯re the other big power in the cluster, but their strength has been built on a callous disregard for their own citizens¡¯ lives.¡± ¡°And nobody has bothered to rebel?¡± Arthur asked with a disturbed look. The very idea of a nation like that not simply persisting, but thriving made his skin crawl. ¡°It¡¯s been attempted.¡± Perseus said sadly. ¡°Their propaganda is extreme, though, and their narrative is impeccable. Most Parthians are highly xenophobic, and genuinely believe the rest of the cluster¡ªhell, the rest of the Humanosphere wants to destroy or enslave them. It¡¯s classic despot stuff.¡± ¡°Another tragedy to lay at the feet of Terran selfishness.¡± Endymion muttered. ¡°With no FTL communications, nobody can truly show Parthians differently. Merchants are kept well away from the population at large, and with how they curate their pleasure stations, most don¡¯t care enough to rock the boat.¡± ¡°The ones that do, well, they don¡¯t generally last very long.¡± ¡°And there¡¯s no Solar Marshals here to do shit about it.¡± Endymion growled. Arthur fell thoughtfully silent at the Kidem¨®nes¡¯ words, and the pair seemed content to let him. Parthia had been a sore topic since he¡¯d set foot on Asfal¨ªs, and the one interaction he¡¯d seen between Graecians and Parthians had left no illusions as to the Ascendancy¡¯s stance on their sector contemporaries. It reminded him of Pendragon, he realized with sudden clarity, and his own home nation¡¯s abject dislike for several of its rivals within the inner Core. More interesting was the fact that it seemed to be a very pointed dislike. He¡¯d seen no such vitriol when the Kidem¨®nes were speaking of other nations, even those that were clearly thought of as the sector¡¯s problem children. The more Arthur considered it, the more he came to wonder what exactly had happened¡ªor was still happening¡ªthat made Parthia so immensely reviled by people who, in his limited experience, seemed relatively reasonable. Even with the knowledge of their Frontier raiding and slavery, there had to be more. It was a matter that merited future investigation, though at a later date. Instead, he broached a topic he was more immediately intent on. ¡°So, I have news about House Leos.¡± Both men turned to him in surprise at the sudden statement, and likely at the unexpected change in topic. ¡°...go on.¡± Perseus said carefully. ¡°I¡¯m about to sign a contract to become one of their Hetairoi.¡± Arthur said honestly. Endymion spat out his water, and Perseus¡¯ eyes widened. ¡°Well now.¡± he said with a look of eager interest. ¡°That is quite the juicy revelation.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to do what?¡± Endymion asked incredulously. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you wanted, Endymion?¡± Arthur asked carefully. ¡°You did lead me there.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Endymion said with a cough. ¡°Yes. Yes! It wasn¡¯t a negative reaction, Arthur. It was just something completely unexpected. I thought you¡¯d need more time to decide!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not from Laconia,¡± Perseus admitted, ¡°so Endymion is more qualified to speak on this. It¡¯s still pretty juicy, though.¡± ¡°Endymion?¡± Arthur prompted. ¡°House Leos is the Blood of the Lion.¡± Endymion said without any preamble, and with a gleam of intensity to his brown eyes. ¡°They claim descent directly from the original Leonidas, from Terra, and have been one of the pillars of Graecia since the Ascendancy¡¯s founding.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t tell me much about them that I couldn¡¯t have learned with my omni-comp, Endymion. Nor does it explain your insistence on my meeting with Cassandra.¡± Arthur pressed. ¡°Hmph. Right. Well. Let me then say this: if you truly are to be their Hetairoi, Arthur Magellan, I will make it my personal mission to ensure nothing threatens your life, with the gods as my witnesses.¡± Perseus hissed in air in surprise, and even Arthur had enough social awareness to recognise a rather intense promise. ¡°That serious, huh?¡± ¡°House Leos is one of the last truly honorable bloodlines left in Laconia.¡± Endymion continued unabashedly. ¡°Especially when compared to some other Houses, which I won¡¯t name¡ª¡± he shot a meaningful look at Perseus with that, who laughed while Endymion continued ¡°¡ªbut who, I will say, are far less deserving of the Lambda. Menelaus Leos is a hero, and his family has been tormented and abused to an extent that is unconscionable.¡± ¡°Tormented how?¡± Arthur prompted while absorbing the information. ¡°Every attempt at recruiting Hetairoi has been cut off at the knees. They¡¯ve been backed into a corner of their enemies¡¯ devising, and nobody seems to be able to help. Even King Leonidas, at whose pleasure I serve, has been perplexingly silent on the matter. I would never dream to question our sovereigns¡¯ will, but the utter lack of any action on the Kings¡¯ part¡ªespecially Leonidas¡¯¡ªis extremely odd.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Arthur asked with extreme focus while Perseus listened quietly. ¡°Because House Leos is a Great House. They¡¯re not just part of Laconia, they help define Laconia.¡± Endymion said passionately. ¡°The whole Ascendancy has benefited from their dedication to the ideals and spirit of Graecia¡¯s founding principles. They don¡¯t just give lip service to the creed, they live it. Duty is everything to House Leos. They¡¯re a bloodline that puts the ¡®noble¡¯ into ¡®nobility¡¯.¡± ¡°I heard that Menelaus and Circe are both skilled pilots. Is that not enough?¡± ¡°Of course it isn¡¯t.¡± Endymion growled dismissively. ¡°Menelaus was named the Sword Saint for his capability on the battlefield when piloting the Ares Martialis, and Circe has been heralded as the embodiment of Athena herself¡ªbut neither of them should be risking their lives in an Eidolon, not when their entire bloodline is at stake.¡± ¡°Plus, didn¡¯t Duke Leos sustain an injury that ruined his piloting ability?¡± Perseus asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Endymion confirmed with a growl. ¡°Yes he did. The claim was an enemy ambush, but many of us suspect foul play.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t investigating that fall under your¡ªah.¡± Arthur cut himself off when he realized the answer to his own question. ¡°The Myrmid¨®nes.¡± Endymion simply nodded and said nothing. ¡°Diogenes told me that their ability to uphold their dominion is at risk.¡± Arthur said carefully when Endymion remained silent. ¡°He believed that my addition to House Leos would help stabilize that.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re even a quarter as powerful as Lord Atreus led us to believe, Arthur, it absolutely would!¡± Endymion growled fiercely. ¡°You cannot comprehend how important House Leos is to those of us born and raised in Laconian tradition. For them to wither like this, to evaporate like this¡­ it¡¯s wrong. It¡¯s just wrong.¡± he finished angrily. ¡°Then you think my joining them to be a good idea?¡± Arthur asked with a wry smile. ¡°I think it¡¯s a privilege, Arthur.¡± Endymion said with an earnestness that Arthur had not heard from him. ¡°I think you¡¯d be a bloody fool to pass on it. Even forgetting my passion for House Leos, and putting aside any political reasoning; you becoming their Hetairoi and bringing them out of their crisis would be an act of unbridled might. You¡¯d make yourself a legend.¡± ¡°It¡¯d certainly help you find your own space in Graecia.¡± Perseus agreed. ¡°With or without Leos as your overlord.¡± Arthur leaned back at their words thoughtfully and folded his arms, his eyes shifting away to stare at the sky above without seeing it. His purpose in Graecia had demanded he find some way of ingratiating himself to someone with power, and certainly this seemed to fit the bill. Whether or not House Leos was a calculated risk or a certainty, however, was yet to be seen. He could always decline the engagement, after all, as long as he hadn¡¯t sworn an oath. Endymion¡¯s words stuck with him as well. The passion. The zeal. He¡¯d seen that before in his home system, when people spoke of House Zacaris. His eyes lowered to look at the people passing in the street, and Arthur made his decision. He would go to House Leos as planned, and if they proved to be all that Endymion had said, he would offer them his blade. And then, he would give them back their future. In the process, perhaps he¡¯d learn more about his own. A smile spread across Arthur¡¯s lips at the thought. Perhaps it was the Knight of the Round in him. Perhaps it was the classical and romantic nature of Graecia. Perhaps it was just his own muted, abused, but still-there desire to be a hero. Whatever it was, one thing remained constant. He really did love fairytale endings. B1 | Chapter 12: Departure
The ease with which he integrated among us should have rung my alarm bells, but I was either too arrogant or too na?ve to notice. It is odd to think of myself that way, but I had been the one shepherding him¡ªand for all my vaunted power, wisdom, experience, and insight; I had thoroughly misjudged the gravity of my newest charge. The signs had been before me, but either wilfully or fearfully I had ignored them. Now I must wonder: did he know? Did he understand what it was he was doing? The thought he did unsettles me, but the thought that perhaps he truly did not¡ªthat he did it all unconsciously? That thought terrifies me.
Arthur settled into his seat aboard the small interplanetary shuttle with practiced ease, and leaned back while the automatic safety belts snaked across his torso in a criss-crossing X formation to brace him within the comfortable leather. The shuttle was a small craft, no more than twenty meters from nose to engines, and equipped with only six passenger seats behind the cockpit¡ªdivided into two sets of three with a spacious walkway between them. An on-board lavatory was at the back of the shuttle, and what Arthur assumed to be supply lockers were built into the walls framing the currently unsealed pilot¡¯s access. The only passengers aboard were himself, Atreus, Endymion, and Perseus; with the last of the three serving as the ship¡¯s pilot. Endymion was seated in the co-pilot¡¯s chair casually, while Atreus stood behind them both with his feet firmly planted and arms folded over his power-armored chest. Arthur had not balked at being told to strap in and take a seat, and it wasn¡¯t as if the armored Kidem¨®nes needed to be away from him to hide conversation. The hermetic seals of their combat helmets did that easily enough. Besides, the distance between the passenger area and cockpit was a matter of feet. Instead of watching the trio of companions he¡¯d ostensibly fallen in with, Arthur turned instead to look out of his window. It was a small luxury that few spacecraft enjoyed, given the obvious concerns around the vulnerability of what was essentially a missing piece of hull armor; but in the case of the shuttles used by the Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes, it was not an overly large worry. Primarily because only the extremely brave or stupid would even think to take a shot at them. The view outside the shuttle was no longer of the wide-open and beautiful vista of the city-interior of Port Asfal¨ªs, but instead the cold steel and curated cylindric interior of a restricted docking bay within the bowels of the station proper. Few to no maintenance workers had been visible while his escorts had led him down carefully veiled elevators and through meticulously clean and eerily vacant corridors painted in sterile white. When they had emerged from the blast doors within a zero gravity docking bay, Arthur had been thankful they¡¯d also kitted him out in a basic shipsuit and retractable helmet. ¡°It¡¯s normally several hours from Asfal¨ªs to Hellas due to approach procedures, Arthur, but we should be able to skip most of the traffic control measures that enforce that time delay.¡± Perseus said from the cockpit. ¡°That¡¯s a long time.¡± Arthur said while turning toward the cockpit door. ¡°Aren¡¯t we at the closest of Hellas¡¯ lagrange points?¡± ¡°We are.¡± Atreus confirmed in Perseus¡¯ place while turning to look at Arthur. ¡°But normally the home fleet will check and verify every spacecraft on approach to Hellas, and clear them for entry to the shield Iris. With our credentials, however, we¡¯ll bypass that need. It is prudent to explain, however, that you may not enjoy such a swift approach each time.¡± ¡°Given I¡¯m supposed to be under your careful eye for the foreseeable future, I doubt I¡¯ll have to worry about that any time soon.¡± Arthur said with good humor. Atreus grunted in what sounded like amusement, and turned back to observe the silver-armored pair manning the controls. Arthur counted the interaction as a win. Perseus and Endymion were largely known elements to Arthur by that point, insofar as how his mind categorized them, and neither of the Kidem¨®nes were particularly surprising any longer when it came to their interactions. He could rely on Endymion to be surly, blunt, and grouchy¡ªwhile also being honest even when he shouldn¡¯t be. In much the same way, he could rely on Perseus to be cheerful, optimistic, and more eloquent in how he explained things¡ªthough like Endymion, he would not shirk at being honest even if it was an uncomfortable truth. While Arthur knew that ¡®friends¡¯ might have been too strong a word by then, especially given that all of them were now irrevocably aware of the fact that their initial unification had been in large part thanks to Arthur¡¯s impressive psion density and the supernatural charisma it enforced; they were certainly at least friendly. Atreus, meanwhile, was a study in enigmatic indifference coupled with leonine intensity. What little Arthur had managed to glean from the trio¡ªmostly Perseus¡ªcombined with his pre-existing knowledge of the Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes, from his study prior to arriving in Graecia; informed on a sense of distinct capability difference between the three. The ¡®regular¡¯ Kidem¨®nes like Endymion and Perseus normally operated in teams of six, called ¡®Shield Squads¡¯ or ¡®Hexarons¡¯, and had a doctrine not unlike a pack of wolves. They used coordination, skill, and borderline religiously drilled cohesion to take down foes of the Ascendancy and defend their areas of responsibility with ruthless capability. The Myrmid¨®nes, conversely, appeared to be far more lonesome. If the regular Kidem¨®nes were wolves, the Myrmid¨®nes were lions. One Myrmid¨®n was considered the equivalent of a full Hexaron of Kidem¨®nes or more, depending on their veterancy and power, and were almost exclusively tasked with the most dangerous and most deep-reaching investigations throughout Ascendancy space. They operated somewhat akin to the Inquisitors of the Grand Imperium, from what little he could recall through the fractured kaleidoscope of his memory; and specialized in the hunting and ¡®handling¡¯ of threats considered beyond the capabilities of ¡®regular people¡¯. When asked about the relationship between Paladins and Myrmid¨®nes during their transit to the shuttle, Atreus had simply said that it was an agreement of mutual respect and left it at that. Any further attempts to glean information had been fruitless, and when not given taciturn refusals for elaboration; had been met with outright silence from the towering spartan. It was a puzzle that Arthur¡¯s dogged mind had only grown more interested in solving. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. His thoughts, however, were interrupted a moment later when a rumble of ignition abruptly brought the shuttle to full life and he felt the plasma thrusters at the rear of the vessel hum with ignition. It was a stark reminder of the technology differential between the Core and the Rim, one that jump started a spark of memory within him that until that moment he had not actively been aware of. The Fringe, he knew, was already well-equipped with proper Impulse technology, and the inner parts of the Verge had graduated very recently to Antimatter Engines. Only the Grand Imperium and its Core-spanning Empire, insofar as Arthur¡¯s limited recollection told him, had graduated beyond conventional thrust entirely. The thoughts naturally led to his considerations for what manner of Eidolon he would build. Plasma thrusters on his Eidolon would be extremely undesirable, Arthur knew instinctively, due in no small part to the sheer inefficiency of the technology when compared to higher forms of technology. While superior to ion thrusters, the fuel requirements, heat issues, and power sinks made plasma unacceptable for his purposes. With the holes in his memory as it related to inner sector technology, he could reliably bring his machine to parity with the Fringe. He was confident in that much. Anything beyond that, though, was an exercise in guesswork at best. It was extremely frustrating to know the knowledge existed, but was inaccessible. The rumble of acceleration drew his attention back to the shuttle and the space around it a moment later, however, and Arthur turned his full attention back to the window looking out the docking bay¡ªwhich was even then rapidly receding. Moments later the ship passed through the open bay doors and into the space around Port Asfal¨ªs, and Arthur let loose a low whistle at what he saw. Graecia had truly redefined the meaning of civilization in its area of space, so many hundreds of light years from humanity¡¯s cradle. Port Asfal¨ªs was a bustling hive of activity. He¡¯d seen evidence of that on his approach with the Enterprising Fortune. Now though with a different angle of sight, and while departing from what Arthur recognized as the upper part of the colossal ¡®rod¡¯ that was the lower half of the station¡¯s design, his shards of memory only helped to reinforce his scope of reference. Hundreds of vessels traversed the space around the starport like a colossal swarm of fireflies, lighting up the void in coruscating flashes of azure plasma. Some were close enough to be discerned as freighters, haulers, or luxury civilian transports¡ªothers instead so far away that all Arthur saw was the flare of their engines. All of them had been invisible due to the space station¡¯s immense bulk. The bridge crew of the Enterprising Fortune had never bothered to angle the sensors enough to see the other side of the starport, and so Arthur only then witnessed the activity for the first time himself. Seated where he was in the sleek shuttle of the Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes, Arthur was treated to an unobscured vision of prosperity while their ship accelerated to speeds close to or even in excess of 500 m/s2. Based on Arthur¡¯s extensive understanding but limited experience with plasma drives, he knew that the acceleration would be reversed via turnover¡ªliterally a flip in space to face the engines toward their destination¡ªjust before the halfway mark between their origin and destination; allowing the shuttle to ¡®decelerate¡¯ toward Hellas using inverted forward momentum until it came to a stop relative to the planet¡¯s Docking Iris. The alternative was slamming into the near-impenetrable energy shield that was a standard part of any colonized world¡¯s defenses, and being atomized on impact. The shield, after all, was designed to stop everything from stray kinetic munitions traveling at velocities close to the speed of light constant¡ªalso called c¡ªto world-killer asteroids. A single shuttle would prove little more than a gnat by comparison. ¡°We¡¯re approaching the Navy¡¯s home fleet flagship.¡± Atreus cut into Arthur¡¯s thoughts suddenly. ¡°Given you will be fighting for the Ascendancy, you may as well know her on sight. The King Alexander has been the name of every flagship since the first hull was laid in the yards above Hellas.¡± ¡°Alexander?¡± Arthur asked with a hint of wry amusement. ¡°That¡¯s not subtle at all.¡± ¡°Subtlety has its place. Projection of force is not one of them. The name has intent.¡± ¡°Hard to argue with that logic,¡± Arthur conceded with a shrug while looking at Atreus. Another flash of memory came to him, and he continued with a small nudge of impulse he couldn¡¯t quite identify, but felt compelled to obey. ¡°Alexander is still one of the most prolific names in human history, even with the Humanosphere¡¯s expansion. I think the only martial records more lauded by military education are the actions the Geneticists took to wipe out the Transhumanists.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were formally educated, Arthur!¡± Perseus called with a tone of pleased surprise. ¡°At least not in martial curriculum. I took you for some sort of noble¡¯s kid!¡± ¡°He probably is.¡± Endymion growled from beside Perseus. ¡°That¡¯s probably why he has that education, Andino.¡± ¡°Sure, whatever, but that still means I can pick your brain about the ethics of¡ª!¡± ¡°Focus on flying, Andino.¡± Atreus cut in coldly. ¡°Leave Magellan to me.¡± The youngest of the three Kidem¨®nes shut up immediately, and Arthur couldn¡¯t help but smile regardless of Atreus¡¯ words. The Myrmid¨®n¡¯s insistence on dealing with Arthur himself was hardly a surprise. Atreus, Arthur had realized, was professionally paranoid as a matter of course¡ªand greatly disliked not being in control. Still, Perseus¡¯ enthusiasm for discourse and debate was equal to Arthur¡¯s own, and he understood implicitly that he enjoyed the act of both. It was something he¡¯d retained even in the false guise of Magellan. Though truthfully, Magellan seemed more real to him in some ways than Zacaris. It was a strangely ambivalent realization to have. Understanding logically that his personality had been fractured was one thing, but the dissociative effects of experiencing it in real-time were far more visceral, and far more unnerving. On one hand he was almost pleased with the chance to objectively assess the bitterness, anger, resentment, and cold indifference to human life with which Zacaris had operated. It let him put things into perspective, and even glean a greater level of insight into his own motivations. On the other hand, the comparative simplicity and even enforced naivete of Magellan had created a kind of shock-effect that manifested every time Arthur received a new batch of recollections or particularly graphic memories from his true¡ªor perhaps former¡ªself. He wasn¡¯t certain what manner of person he would become in the long-term, but the marriage between Zacaris and Magellan didn¡¯t merely seem inevitable, it seemed necessary. There were strengths he could take from both to balance the weaknesses of each. ¡°We¡¯re coming up on the King Alexander now.¡± Atreus said with another look back at Arthur. ¡°Here is your chance to see it for yourself.¡± Arthur didn¡¯t hesitate in doing as advised, and turned to look out of his window while Perseus gracefully banked the shuttle. The younger Kidem¨®nas must have greatly decreased the vessel¡¯s acceleration somehow without Arthur realizing, because when the King Alexander came into view, it did so slowly and with cinematic grace. Even with his fractured memories of the Core, he couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. The Supercarrier was one big bastard. B1 | Chapter 13: King Alexander
Showing our newest recruit the King Alexander had seemed like a simple and relatively unimportant, but well-repaying act. If we impressed upon him the power of our nation¡¯s military, surely it would awe even a man of the Fringe¡¯s great star nations. Looking back on it now, I wish I had never ordered my brothers to grant such a view. How idiotic we must have seemed to him, lauding our triumph as if it were not but a gnat before the gaze of an apex predator. He may as well have been a nascent god in that moment, and we the ignorant primitives exclaiming with wonder at our discovery of fire.
The first detail that struck Arthur was the ship¡¯s color: a flawless, reflective bronze which gleamed like the polished arms of ancient Greek hoplites he¡¯d seen in historical holodisplays¡ªa hue that whispered of antiquity, tradition, and war. The second, washing over him with a wave of quiet awe, was the sheer and breathtaking scale of the vessel looming before him. Even if reckoned by the Fringe instead of the Mid-Rim, the flagship was monstrous. The King Alexander hung in the void like a colossal spearhead forged for the stars. Its prow was a wicked, ornate blade that echoed the predatory grace of the ships he¡¯d glimpsed at the Graecian Calypso point, and promised a hateful wrath for any that dared challenge its dominance. Her hull stretched vast and unbroken, a bronze titan that Arthur estimated at nearly 1,500 meters from stem to stern. At her widest point, swelling near the rear where her form flared into angular wings; she spanned perhaps 800 meters¡ªa rough guess, but one honed by memories of void warfare even then reawakening within his mind. The shuttle¡¯s lazy arc around her revealed a topside bristling with armament: ten triple-barreled plasma batteries per flank, their barrels built with staggered layers to weather the recoil of their immense projectile blasts, and each one linked in clusters that warned of apocalyptic fusillades. Between these juggernaut capital weapons sat rows of double-barreled laser cannons; anti-starfighter defenses built at a 4:1 ratio to the main guns¡ªtheir sleek forms glinting faintly under the distant starlight. As the shuttle looped languidly over the flagship, Arthur¡¯s gaze caught on a peculiar detail: the ship¡¯s center wasn¡¯t a solid mass. Instead, her hull split along a tapering seam¡ª reminiscent of a paper airplane¡¯s folded spine¡ªand widened as it swept back toward the stern. Within that divide was built a colossal cylindrical structure, shielded by the overhanging halves. ¡°A launching tube,¡± he murmured quietly, its scale dwarfing anything he¡¯d imagined Graecia capable of. The massive central construction ran the majority of the length of the ship, and if his guess was correct; housed multiple squadrons of interceptors, heavy fighters, and bombers that the warship could deploy at a moment¡¯s notice. Given the style of the design, Arthur also assumed it to be one of the special deuterium-infused hyper-acceleration catapults used to launch Eidolons. While all starcraft could use such constructs to launch and land, it was the nature of Eidolons that required such construction. The war machines were not ostensibly difficult to build, but given that fully capable Eidolon pilots were such a critically rare minority of any population, it was seen as foolish bordering on idiotic to not mitigate risks when it came to their preservation. An Eidolon was rarely more vulnerable than when on approach to an enemy starship, and thanks to their distinctive energy signatures, size, and dimensions; they were priority targets for any enemy within the battlespace. An Eidolon¡¯s power was in the speed of its combat maneuvers, and that meant the machines often sacrificed redundant plating or defensive technology for greater burst acceleration. It also made them extremely dependent on not being hit. The solution was elegant in its brutality, and paired well with the madness inherent to most daredevils that called themselves Eidolon pilots: launch them fast¡ªfaster than any targeting system could track. When ¡®fired¡¯ out of a launching tube with comparable velocity to a railgun, that goal was far more easily achieved. ¡°What¡¯s her classification?¡± Arthur asked out loud while the shuttle looped under the colossal flagship and gave him a view of the matching sets of turrets mounted on her ventral hull. The bottom of the vessel was another flat plane, dispelling any idea of a keel. Given the time for the loop, he further estimated the Graecian flagship to be nearly 400 meters high from its bottom-most surface to its topmost. ¡°She¡¯s no Carrier,¡± he continued as the realization bloomed alongside a flood of voidspace tactics he hadn¡¯t possessed even moments before. ¡°Even with that Supercarrier-sized catapult, that prow¡¯s built for ramming.¡± ¡°Well-observed.¡± Atreus replied, his tone carrying a flicker of approval¡ªor perhaps satisfaction¡ªas he shifted his attention from the warship back to Arthur. The Myrmid¨®n¡¯s black armor caught the shuttle¡¯s dim light, a stark contrast to the bronze beyond the viewport. ¡°The King Alexander is the title ship in our Basileus line of Super Dreadnoughts. You see how the catapult is smaller in profile than the highest points on top and below?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Arthur said while his eyes traced the split hull¡¯s overhang. ¡°The two sections of hull can close like a seal,¡± Atreus explained with evident pride in his nation''s achievement, ¡°shielding the catapult and creating an unbroken spearhead. At that point, special emitters built into the prow create a plasma lance she can use to punch through just about any ship in space.¡± ¡°They come together?¡± Arthur asked with genuine surprise. ¡°Like, what, two halves of a paper airplane?¡± Atreus snorted, a rare crack in his stoic facade. ¡°Yes, Magellan. Like two halves of a paper airplane.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Laughter rolled from the cockpit¡ªPerseus, no doubt¡ªand Arthur¡¯s lips quirked into a wry smile. The example had made sense to at least one other person, at least. ¡°And the bridge?¡± Arthur continued without preamble a moment later. ¡°Where is that?¡± ¡°Two-thirds back, in the most heavily armored part of the King Alexander.¡± treus answered after a brief pause, as if weighing how much to reveal. ¡°Only the Alcubierre Drive, Compression Drive, and Conversion reactor are more heavily shielded.¡± Arthur nodded, his thoughts spiraling as fragments of knowledge¡ªunbidden, instinctive¡ªcoalesced into clarity. The more he learned, the more his mind seemed to key into what he needed to learn next, and the questions he asked were spurred on by the veritably thirst for information his compulsion to know more created. ¡°Would it be too much to ask, Atreus, about which factor of drive you¡¯ve iterated?¡± Silence stretched after the question was poised, heavy and deliberate. Atreus¡¯ hesitation was palpable, and Arthur understood why. Though his path seemed tied to Graecia, he could still walk away¡ªcould still carry secrets to another power. The Myrmid¨®n was likely calculating: was this knowledge too proliferated to matter, like the Basileus-class details he¡¯d already shared? Arthur doubted anything about the King Alexander would surprise rivals like Parthia, but drive factors were another thing entirely. Arthur very much doubted any of what Atreus had told him about the King Alexander would be a surprise to the other nations of the Hyperion Cluster. Especially not Parthia. A few more moments of deliberation later, Atreus finally answered. ¡°Sixth Factor.¡± The tall and black-armored Myrmid¨®n said simply. That was a critical piece of information that Arthur made sure to file away. While the Alcubierre drive was a crucial piece of technology that almost all of humanity made use of, it was the ¡®Mass Factor Rating¡¯ which stood as one of the most defining elements in the military and economic power of different star nations¡ªit defined their hierarchy when compared to peer powers, and was instrumental in a cluster¡¯s power standings. The insight hit him as naturally as his own pulse. More information came, and he reflected on it hungrily. Mass Factor Rating, or ¡®Factor¡¯ in the shorthand, determined the tonnage a drive could warp, a multiplier of maximum warpable mass (wm). Every colony ship launched from Sol carried Third Factor blueprints¡ªwm ¡Á 3, or 300,000 cubic tonnes, given the baseline of 100,000 tonnes without exotic matter coils Warpable mass, Arthur remembered, was controlled by specific and carefully curated exotic matter coils. These coils interacted with the Alcubierre drive to create a larger bubble of warped space without compromising its stability, though the technology was limited both by understanding of the exotic matter¡¯s production, and the various minutiae of the Alcubierre drive¡¯s development. Maximum warpable mass without the coils was fixed at 100,000 cubic tonnes. A Third Factor drive¡¯s coils could thereby warp up to 300,000 cubic tonnes. A Sixth Factor drive¡¯s coils in comparison could warp up to 600,000 cubic tonnes. ¡°So she¡¯s at capacity,¡± Arthur surmised with a steady voice as the numbers clicked into place in his mind, and his eyes¡ªwith new knowledge and understanding blooming behind them constantly now¡ªswept over the King Alexander with critical analysis. ¡°Including the interceptor, heavy fighter, and bomber squadrons as well as her shuttles, supplies, crew, and deployable escort craft?¡± Atreus clarified gruffly. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What¡¯s her unburdened weight?¡± ¡°Five hundred and sixty thousand tonnes.¡± Arthur let out a low whistle, genuine admiration breaking through to show on his features while he turned back to Atreus. ¡°Impressive. Especially this far Rimward from Sol.¡± ¡°The Ascendancy may be a minnow in the humanosphere,¡± Atreus said while his voice warmed with quiet pride, ¡°but in the Hyperion Cluster, we¡¯re a whale.¡± ¡°So I¡¯m learning,¡± Arthur murmured, his mind alight with returning fragments¡ªhistory, tactics, technology¡ªand each piece slotting in like puzzle pieces fitting togeter to fill his artificial void of understanding. The Inquisitor truly had done a number on him. The last views of the King Alexander filed past his window while they spoke, and the last Arthur saw of the flagship was the blazing luminescence of her plasma drives pushing her through the patrol path she occupied; each one housed within a hexagonal thrust cone depressed into the rear of the gargantuan flagship. Five main thrusters comprised her rear complement, with smaller honeycomb patterns of sub-engines patterned among the larger majority. It was a popular design choice among stellar warships, and followed the logic of using many individual smaller thrusters linked to a central control so as to avoid losing a large amount of propulsion from a single strike at the engines. The fact that thrusters were depressed into the rear of the hull under the watchful gaze of her rear guns and a plethora of dedicated point defense lasers surrounding the ¡®rectangular maw¡¯ of her engine block certainly helped. That strike, of course, would still need to penetrate the attached battle group of battleships, battlecruisers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and corvettes patrolling in formation with the monstrous flagship. Not to mention what Arthur assumed was more than a few squadrons of starfighters. The King Alexander was a colossus, but she didn¡¯t stand alone. ¡°The King Alexander almost never leaves Graecia.¡± Atreus commented while Arthur watched the colossal starship fade from view. ¡°She¡¯s the fulcrum upon which our home fleet is centered.¡± ¡°Because the star fortresses can¡¯t move to interdict starships,¡± Arthur said when the clarity of thought came to him. ¡°Though that assumes an enemy breaches the Calypso cordon and penetrates past the warp anchor before you can respond.¡± ¡°No bulwark is impenetrable.¡± Atreus said in a sober and pragmatic tone. ¡°There is a reason we named our border fortress at the Korinth Calypso point Thermopylae. Our ancestors learned the price of prideful presumption well.¡± ¡°Hope for the best, prepare for the worst,¡± Arthur said quietly, the words a reflex from a life he could almost taste again. ¡°And be ready for the catastrophic.¡± Atreus intoned with a hint of approval. With that, Arthur realized, both Magellan and Zacaris whole-heartedly agreed. B1 | Chapter 14: The Iris
In ancient history, it¡¯s often called ¡®crossing the Rubicon¡¯ when one takes a step beyond the point of no return. In future, perhaps they will look back at our guiding him to Hellas as Graecia¡¯s Rubicon¡ªperhaps even humanity¡¯s Rubicon. They would be wrong. The point of no return was not taking him to Graecia, it was failing to end him the moment we had an inkling of what he might have been, as implausible or improbable as it was. I was the one who declared he was no threat. I was the one who vouchsafed his stay. In the end, I will be the one solely responsible for the end of mankind as we knew it.
The journey toward Hellas proved far less eventful after the sight of the King Alexander and its escort fleet, and it was only when the shuttle was truly closing in toward the planet over an hour later that Arthur realized something had been bothering him since the pass over the Ascendancy¡¯s flagship. ¡°Atreus, I have a question.¡± Arthur said while turning to look where the black-amored Myrmid¨®n maintained his vigil over the two Kidem¨®nes occupying the cockpit. ¡°Go ahead.¡± the spartan responded with a helmeted glance back. ¡°It skirted past my immediate attention earlier, but now that I¡¯ve had time to reflect, I need to know¡­ how did the shuttle slow without contravening thrust?¡± It had been bothering him since he¡¯d noticed it, though he¡¯d only just fully realized what it was that had been nagging at his mind. While quite far ahead of ancient technology like chemical or even ion thrusters, Plasma-based propulsion was still relatively constricted by the laws of physics in that¡ªto the best of Arthur¡¯s knowledge¡ªthey could not properly create an inverse thrust strong enough to bleed momentum in a vacuum. With no air resistance to speak of in space, it was thereby required that all ships equipped with such technology make a ¡®turnover¡¯. In essence, they pivoted 180 degrees in space to face their thrusters toward their destination at the halfway mark, and used the same thrust that had accelerated them to instead slow them down gradually, reaching ¡®zero relative thrust¡¯ upon reaching their destination. The shuttle had not done any such manoeuvre when slowing to give him a view of the King Alexander. It was utterly perplexing. ¡°I had wondered if you¡¯d even noticed.¡± Atreus admitted without an immediate answer, though he did turn to regard Arthur properly. ¡°In truth I was worried you weren¡¯t nearly as skilled an engineer as we¡¯d hoped. I am pleased to see my assumption was incorrect.¡± ¡°Thanks for the faith.¡± Arthur said dryly. ¡°Though that isn¡¯t an answer, Atreus.¡± ¡°I suppose it is not.¡± Atreus said with a hint of amusement. ¡°Very well. I am not familiar with the scientific principles behind the technology, but the essence of it is a form of spatial manipulation. Special additions to the drives create an intangible ¡®mass anchor¡¯ at the rear of the ship, and force a rapid¡ªby the standards of space flight¡ªdeceleration.¡± ¡°A mass anchor? Huh¡­¡± Arthur¡¯s mind puzzled over the concept after Atreus¡¯ explanation, and he found himself genuinely surprised. He had expected something far more rudimentary like forward-facing thrust cones, but not something he¡¯d never even heard of. Even the Grand Imperium hadn¡¯t invented a means to decelerate a vessel at speed reliably until they¡¯d started breaching the realms of Graviton technology. The more Arthur thought about it, though, the more it made sense. Much like the wet navy vessels of old Terra, the Graecians had in essence recreated the idea of a deployed ¡®anchor¡¯ to slow or even hold in place a starship. The fact it was both intangible and only affected the vessel from which it was spawned only served to confuse Arthur further. He had the knowledge needed to create a suitably powerful Eidolon, but the idea of a ¡®mass anchor¡¯ was not part of his own scientific understanding. The advantages of a gene-enhanced memory made it so that ¡®forgetting¡¯ was an impossibility, other than cases where external influence¡ªlike the Inquisitor¡¯s¡ªforced a lapse. He may not have immediate recollection, but he knew that he could access anything he¡¯d learned, experienced, or otherwise with enough focus. The fact he had no recollection of a ¡®mass anchor¡¯ led him to an interesting thought. It might actually have been a genuine first in terms of galactic innovation throughout the known nations of the humanosphere, and that alone was worthy of immense praise. It also put the sheer might of the Ascendancy into better perspective, when viewed from the lens of their preferred style of stellar warfare within their sector of space. They never needed to expose their vessels to danger with ¡®turnover¡¯, and as such could fearlessly engage any foe with neither hesitation nor concern for their entirely forward-and-broadside vessel designs. It also held the potential for an entirely new lane of technological development outside of the usual path of Plasma, Impulse, Antimatter, Dark Matter and Graviton technologies. Not that he actually remembered the specifics of the latter three. Arthur immediately had to wonder if the Ascendancy even realized that they¡¯d innovated something completely outside the scope of expected development or not, and couldn¡¯t help but to shake his head in disbelief. The idea of mass manipulation brought up incredible possibilities. ¡°I can see that you have an appreciation for the technology.¡± Atreus said suddenly. ¡°That is good. If we can garner that much surprise from a Fringe-trained engineer, then perhaps the technology truly is worth exploring.¡± ¡°It absolutely is.¡± Arthur said with a partially distracted amount of excitement. ¡°The possibilities that mass manipulating technology opens are¡­ Well, they¡¯re multitudinous! You could invalidate the usual constraints of shipbuilding! You could actually make use of Neutronium!¡± That alone would be a victory outside the scope. The manner of creating Neutronium had been understood for centuries, but its density, weight, and incredible mass made it impossible to work with as more than the body of a Warp Anchor, or the rare piece of redundant hull on a star fortress¡ªand even then, it required extensive thinning and a minimum station mass in the megatonnes to be even feasible. If the Ascendancy managed to find a way to reduce the effective mass of the neutron star material, they could create ships that even outer Verge powers would have to take seriously. Ships that would let them completely outclass everyone and everything their peer powers anywhere in the Rim could field. They wouldn¡¯t be enough to do more than slightly even the playing field against the Mantle and major Verge powers, or the Grand Imperium whose technology had already surpassed the need for things like super-alloys; but against Rim or Fringe nations? Neutronium warships would be a complete upending of the galactic power dynamic. Arthur couldn¡¯t help but whistle in disbelief at the prospect. The Coreblood in him knew that the Imperium would almost certainly be investigating such a development with critical assessment, especially if the Imperator¡¯s intelligence network wasn¡¯t already aware of the Graecian innovation¡ªbut another part of him, the newer blend of both Arthurs, wondered at the what he¡¯d learned from his conversations with Endymion and Perseus. Would the Imperator even care, given how far the Rim was? Terra certainly seemed content to let the usual enforcement of peace lapse considerably across the Rim and Frontier, even with their intercession against the Kariston Confederacy¡ªwhich Arthur had later learned had more to do with the fact they were actively trying to raise resistance to Terran supremacy. The Imperator would not tolerate overt challenge. Mass Manipulation technology, though¡­ Well, that was more ambivalent. ¡°We¡¯re approaching the Iris, Arthur.¡± Arthur¡¯s attention snapped back to Atreus while the spartan continued. ¡°Come and see, if you wish for a better view.¡± Curiosity and interest as to why the Myrmid¨®n would make the offer warred with patented disinterest over seeing yet another Docking Iris within Arthur, until finally curiosity won out. Arthur let his straps retract a moment later, and stood to make his way to the unsealed access hatch leading to the shuttle¡¯s cockpit. Atreus stepped aside to let him pass, and Arthur came to a halt with his hands on the back of Endymion¡¯s chair. What he saw dashed his thoughts of ¡®yet another Iris¡¯ almost entirely. It wasn¡¯t just the Iris he¡¯d been invited to see. It was Hellas itself. The superhabitable world was a colossal ball of life that seemed to shine with vitality. Its seas were a beautiful shade of sapphire in some places, and a radiant type of emerald in others; clear and free of even the hints of industrial pollutants that obfuscated the skies of some other heavily developed worlds. Its three landmasses were a mix of greens, browns, whites and even reds from orbit; with the greenery being the predominant shade of color across nearly seventy percent of their visible surface. This close to the planet, only a third of the total landmass of the planet was visible at all¡ªwith only the lower fifth of the topmost one discernible. Hellas, due to its size, had a forty-eight hour day cycle from what Arthur had read¡ªone that was accounted for by simple creature comforts to simulate night time within dwellings, and artificial sunlight to light up cities even through the long nights. It was that same cycle that allowed Arthur to take in a barely-moving view of the majestic world that the Ascendancy had claimed as its capital. ¡°Even living here all my life, it still never ceases to amaze me when I see it.¡± Perseus said conversationally from his right. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± Arthur admitted genuinely. ¡°I expected to see more ice up north, though.¡± ¡°It¡¯s much more visible from closer to the poles.¡± Perseus explained. ¡°We¡¯re toward the lower part of the equator at present. We may be able to take you to visit one of the ski resorts at a later date.¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°That would be pretty nice.¡± Arthur said with a laugh. ¡°Though I might embarrass myself.¡± ¡°Unlikely, with those Eidolon reflexes.¡± Endymion snorted in disbelief. Perseus laughed, and even Atreus grunted in amusement. ¡°How harsh is the gravity?¡± Arthur asked with another smile. ¡°Roughly twice Terran-standard. We usually keep off-worlders in the tourist areas with gravitational equalizers, but the locals have mostly adapted to the change.¡± ¡°What about where we¡¯re going?¡± ¡°House Leos sits on an island off the southernmost peninsula of Laconia.¡± Endymion explained gruffly. ¡°They very specifically don¡¯t have one because they believe in authentic experiences.¡± ¡°No need to pretend you are concerned, Arthur.¡± Atreus said while stepping up behind Perseus and resting a hand on the younger Kidem¨®nes seatback. ¡°Your gene-tailoring probably allows you to move freely in up to three times Earth¡¯s gravity, does it not?¡± Arthur¡¯s mind filled with knowledge the moment Atreus said it, and he nodded automatically. ¡°It does.¡± In truth, Zacaris¡¯ memories told him even six times gravity wouldn¡¯t be too much. ¡°Then you will be fine.¡± Atreus said simply. ¡°And Graecians are born for it!¡± Perseus added in with a laugh. ¡°We were adapted early.¡± ¡°Higher muscle mass and bone density, right?¡± Arthur asked conversationally. ¡°I¡¯ve read about initial colonization. The geneticists that came with the Olympus colony ship didn¡¯t want to give up on Hellas despite the force of gravity, so they engineered micro-tailoring as soon as they could.¡± Perseus laughed. ¡°Very true. The first decade was miserable for the colonists, though. The VidLogs are pretty damn clear about that.¡± ¡°Our people are stronger than the average human in the cluster, but do not grow very tall.¡± Atreus added in calmly. ¡°You will need to remember that and be polite in how you interact with others, Arthur. If you are seen to be lording your height over the common people, it will create problems for your sponsors in House Leos.¡± Arthur¡¯s mind worked at that problem calmly before he responded. ¡°Keep a step back, lower my center of gravity, talk to them side-on and try to avoid looming?¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re thinking!¡± Perseus said with an approving chuckle. ¡°Gotta account for us short stacks, Arthur!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not that short.¡± Arthur said with a glance at the Kidem¨®nas. ¡°Not that short, he says.¡± Endymion grunted in amusement. ¡°Arthur.¡± Perseus said jovially. ¡°It isn¡¯t as if none of us have noticed you have half a foot on even Atreus, and he¡¯s considered quite tall by Graecian standards.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°The average Graecian height is 5¡¯9 for men, and 5¡¯3 for women.¡± Atreus said simply. ¡°You will need to remember that during your time with the Ascendancy. As your volunteer guide to our culture, your failure to understand these things will reflect on me poorly if you fail to understand.¡± ¡°That explains why you¡¯re being so forthcoming.¡± Arthur said with an appraising look at the taciturn Myrmid¨®n. ¡°I take my obligations seriously.¡± Atreus stated firmly. To that, Arthur could only smile. It was strange, but he had a feeling that the Spartan''s words were as close to ¡®I do not disdain you¡¯ as Arthur was probably going to directly hear. ¡°Are you enjoying the flight so far, Arthur?¡± Perseus asked a short time later while they began to more sharply vector through thickening traffic. ¡°Very much.¡± Arthur said with a grin. ¡°You¡¯re a good pilot, Perseus.¡± ¡°Ha! I know. That¡¯s why Endymion makes me do all the flying. He claims it¡¯s because of seniority, but he really just hates to fly.¡± The only response from the older Kidem¨®nas was a shake of his helmeted head and a disapproving click of his tongue, though it lacked the same bite as earlier reprimands. Perhaps Perseus had hit the proverbial nail on the head. Outside of the projected viewscreen of the cockpit the spaceborne traffic had become a dizzying spectacle of thruster lights and patrolling stellar ships as the Ascendancy Royal Navy¡¯s orbital patrols organized the hundreds of starships seeking entry to the system capital and settled many into safe holding patterns. This close to the planet, it was primarily Corvettes and Frigates that did the proverbial heavy lifting, accompanied by fighter patrols acting as direct-contact and eyes-on security for any potential threats or unwanted visitors within the milling tide of arriving vessels. That was only half the picture, though. While the incoming traffic was organized to their right, the outgoing traffic was organized to their left, and though it was only half as populated; it was clear that such an event was largely due to how smoothly the planetary controllers were coordinating the movements. That was largely thanks to the intricate network of tachyon relays spread throughout the system and linked into a central receiver array built on the surface of Hellas itself, Arthur knew. The array, if it were anything like those on other planets, would have an entire city¡¯s worth of power generation dedicated solely to its operation¡ªand a literal city of staff, defenders, and maintainers whose singular purpose was the immense structure¡¯s continued operation. Every planet had a SYSCOM¡ªSystem Communications Array¡ªsomewhere within the heart, which allowed it to transmit in real-time to everything up to and slightly beyond a star system¡¯s Calypso points, outside of the Heliosphere. Without such technology, even the most rudimentary communications between in-system planets and starships would take hours. Arthur knew better than to ask where the Ascendancy¡¯s SYSCOM was located, however. That information was hardly relevant to him, and more than that was considered a faux pas in most civilized star systems. It was like asking someone where their vital weak points were. ¡°Incoming transmission from the docking authority.¡± Perseus said abruptly. ¡°They¡¯re hailing us.¡± ¡°So late?¡± Arthur asked. ¡°We sent the flight path ahead, but there¡¯s too much traffic to worry about us until we¡¯re in range.¡± Perseus explained without missing a beat. ¡°Besides, Kidem¨®nes vessels sometimes like to take random detours. The Iris authority won¡¯t bother with most ships until they¡¯re close enough to bother with. The Navy handles the ones outside that scope.¡± ¡°Put it on screen.¡± Atreus commanded. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Perseus replied dutifully while reaching out to flick one of a multitude of switches on his console. The image of a professional brunette woman with a uniform very similar to that of the Asfal¨ªs police officers appeared in the center of the screen, and she swept the four of them with alert eyes. Her gaze settled briefly on Arthur in what he registered as genuine surprise before moving to instead focus on Atreus, at which point he saw her visibly stiffen when the Myrmid¨®n¡¯s presence fully registered. ¡°¦¡¦Ñ¦Ö¦Ï¦Í¦Ó¦Á? ¦¬¦Ô¦Ñ¦Ì?¦Ä?¦Í¦Å?! ¦¤¦Å¦Í ¦Å¦Í¦Ç¦Ì¦Å¦Ñ¦Ø¦È?¦Ê¦Á¦Ì¦Å ?¦Ó¦É ¦È¦Á ?¦Ò¦Ï¦Ô¦Í¡ª¡± ¡°Per design, Anthypoploiarch¨®s¡ª¡± a rank which Arthur mentally translated as ¡®First Lieutenant¡¯ in English ¡°¡ªand as was necessary. Your lack of information on my travel plans should be as expected, given the necessities of my station. Are we clear to proceed into the Iris?¡± Another look of surprise stole over the woman at what Arthur assumed was Atreus¡¯ very intentional use of English, and she glanced at Arthur again in clear wonder before turning back to the Myrmid¨®n. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± She responded in kind. ¡°There are three vessels currently making the transition, but the restricted lane is free of traffic per your request. The Navy didn¡¯t like it, but¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you handled them admirably.¡± Atreus said coldly. ¡°That will be all, Anthypoploiarch¨®s.¡± The woman snapped a salute at Atreus¡¯ clear dismissal. ¡°My lord.¡± The line terminated a moment later, and Arthur glanced at the tall Spartan thoughtfully. ¡°You¡¯re pretty terrifying, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°When I need to be.¡± Atreus responded in a tone that was almost amused. ¡°I¡¯m going to need to brush up on my Greek.¡± Arthur said half to himself. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you don¡¯t have a proper translator device yet.¡± Perseus said from nearby while manoeuvring the shuttle. The knowledge hit him this time like a freight train, and Arthur knew that he didn¡¯t have one because he¡¯d never needed it in the Core¡ªwhere English and Terran were mandatory tongues¡ªand had not had time to correct the lack during his journey to Aurelia, and subsequent linking up with the Enterprising Fortune. That was partially thanks to Aurelia¡¯s own language preferences, of course. ¡°It was never necessary in Aurelia.¡± Arthur said a moment after the memory crash settled. ¡°The mother tongue there is English, and the only other thing spoken nearly as much is French. Both languages are similar enough that I never needed to worry about it.¡± ¡°Greek is absolutely not similar to English.¡± Perseus laughed. ¡°It definitely isn¡¯t.¡± Arthur agreed. ¡°A translator device will be waiting for us when we land.¡± Atreus said simply. ¡°I¡¯ve sent the message ahead. It was an oversight none of us caught.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Arthur said with a glance at the Myrmid¨®n, and a nod. ¡°Thanks, Atreus.¡± The tall Myrmid¨®n simply grunted in response and Arthur turned his attention back to the viewscreen while their destination drew closer. The Iris. Focusing on it for the first time, Arthur had to admit that the Graecians had built their version of the universal construct with style. Two massive steel renditions of both Leonidas and Pericles¡ªthe namesakes of both the Kings of Hellas¡ªlay on either side of the Iris¡¯ ¡®space-side¡¯ ring, and ¡®atop¡¯ the Iris relative to Hellas¡¯ northern pole lay a beautiful rendition of the ancient goddess Hestia, the lady of the hearth and home. It was a beautiful example of culture married to form. The Iris itself was a colossal ring structure that lay in permanent fixed position above a planet, held in place by the immense power of the world¡¯s protective shield. The diameter of the circle was close to ten kilometers, and the thickness of the metal was such that even the King Alexander would have trouble damaging it in a meaningful way without considerable time and focused effort. Its outer layer sat ¡®atop¡¯ the shield by way of frequency-plating that allowed the alloy it was built from to ¡®match¡¯ the unique signature of a planet¡¯s shield, thereby allowing it to make contact without being summarily detonated by the raw energy. For the purpose of security, there were quadrillions of different frequencies for a planetary shield¡¯s energy signature, and even within those quadrillions lay pentillions of different combinations one might use to make it further unique. For that reason, deciphering the frequency of a planet¡¯s shield¡ªand thereby making it useless¡ªwas essentially impossible, even with the most powerful military-grade AI in the humanosphere working at it for a hundred years straight. While the top of the Iris, a circular structure not unlike a massive gate with three shielded ¡®prongs¡¯ extended into the void sat atop the shield, its lower half was partially submerged inside the shield¡ªwhich was an energy barrier several dozen meters thick. This lower half of Iris formed an accessible ¡®gate¡¯ around its interior, which was safe from the effects of the planetary shield and could allow traffic to move freely in and out of the planet¡¯s protective blanket. That was not to say that the Iris itself was lacking in defenses. Enough plasma turrets, point-defense batteries, and electromagnetic rail cannons were built into the ¡®prongs¡¯ and outer circle of the entrance point. At a moment¡¯s notice, the Iris could unleash a fusillade of fire strong enough to kill capital ships in moments¡ªand that was to say nothing of the two lunar fortresses orbiting protectively around the shielded planet even then. All told, the Iris was both the single most vulnerable point to a planet¡¯s defenses, and its single most vital point of control. If the Iris were destroyed or rendered inoperable, the only conceivable way to escape from Hellas would be to disable the shield from the planet¡¯s surface, which would open the entire world not simply to the possibility of mass invasion and bombardment; but potential catastrophe in the form of forgotten kinetic munitions or random spaceborne debris. Even starships accelerating too fast toward its surface. The planetary shields had been a crucial necessity for interstellar colonization, especially after more than one human world had been killed by each of the aforementioned cataclysmic occurrences several times in their species¡¯ history. The age of interstellar madness, during the Transhumanist-Geneticist wars of the 22nd Century, had taken lives in the tens of billions before the end. ¡°We¡¯re being guided into the priority access line at the top of the Iris, my lord.¡± Perseus reported while the shuttle soared toward the only accessible entrance to Hellas. ¡°Take us in, Andino.¡± B1 | Chapter 15: Arrival
I will never forget the first time I saw him. The first time he saw me. The first moment our fates were forever intertwined. It was not a bang, nor explosion, nor grand trumpets of destiny. It was an aberrant reaction, a whimper of discordance, and a sudden crashing dive from full awareness to his being utterly insensate. It was the whisper of Doom, and the subtle gong of Armageddon. Something in him awoke. Something in me awoke. I have never felt such rage as I did at that moment. Oh, how foolish I was. I had no idea of the ways in which that man would break me. In that sense, I think; Humanity and I share common ground.
Passing through the Iris was a wholly mundane affair once all was said and done, and Arthur had experienced such passages innumerable times both at home on Albion and elsewhere in the Galaxy. It had been the Iris itself, and its design and parameters which Arthur had been truly interested and amazed by¡ªand the sheer density of traffic that flowed into and out of it. Traffic that not even its mid-Rim location nor new war-footing seemed to fully deter. Once they were past the yawning maw of the massive orbital construct and under the protective barrier of the planetary shield, Arthur was already back in his seat and he heard as much as felt the tell-tale indications of gravity asserting control over the shuttle. The sudden sound of the engines transitioning from plasma to chemical thrust, and the hum of the anti-grav technology lifting the transport away from the terrain below filled him with an indescribable elation. There was just something about the roar of engines in the atmosphere which spaceflight, for all its own mystique and wonder, could never truly imitate. When the shuttle peeled away into the blue skies of Hellas, Arthur activated the omni-comp on his left wrist and pulled up a positional map of the planet. Based on the immediate registry of location supplied by the tachyon HoloNet, he knew with immediacy that they were headed for the easternmost supercontinent of the planet, which he knew to be named Laconia. The supercontinent upon which the megalopolis of Sparta had been built. The shuttle winged its way toward the colossal surface area with a clear destination in mind, and Arthur changed his omni-comp¡¯s view to tourist information about Sparta and subordinate cities while sinking back to simply enjoy the primal roar of the engines and the jostling of turbulence that battered at the sturdily-built craft as Perseus guided them in. He let his mind fully focus on absorbing what he read, and the minutes quickly blurred together as they made their descent through the azure expanse. It was only when he felt the tell-tale sensation of final approach deceleration¡ªsomething he could identify instinctively as a pilot himself¡ªthat Arthur closed the 2D projection from his omni-comp and looked outside his window. The view below was a stunning overview of what appeared to be a blue-green body of water girding a colossal island-bound town built under the shadow of what he could only describe as an ancient Greek palace rebuilt from inspirational images of history and greatly enhanced by the capabilities of modern technology. The palace sat upon a raised plateau that appeared at least partially artificial. It was the center of the town, with multitudinous dwellings varying from large villas built in a ring within an area one kilometer in diameter from the furthest of the palace¡¯s walls, to more reasonable and decreasingly ostentatious homes that expanded out toward the island¡¯s watery surrounds. The entire island, which itself was a vaguely circular shape, appeared to be perhaps forty kilometers in diameter in total. Dozens of boats from small dinghies to fishing trawlers and even luxurious yachts filled the waters around the island, and Arthur spied what he believed to be a full military base and naval facility built into the northernmost end of the island, facing toward the main body of Laconia visible in the distance. Perseus seemed to have no doubts about his destination however, and Arthur observed the town ever-more-slowly passing by beneath him as the shuttle continued its deceleration toward what looked like a specifically designated landing area near the rear of the palace-proper, where several powerful-looking ground-to-air batteries were even then tracking their approach. Arthur¡¯s attention was pulled from his assessment of the palace¡¯s defenses and the vague hints of people assembling to greet them by Atreus¡¯ voice a moment later. ¡°House Leos is one of the most ancient and respected dynasties in Sparta.¡± The Myrmid¨®n said, having turned to face Arthur with his helmeted gaze. ¡°Despite their distance from the capital, and their current hardships; the family remains deeply and powerfully entrenched within the schema of Ascendancy politics, especially when it comes to the military.¡± ¡°Casandra made that clear.¡± Arthur agreed. ¡°The Rear Admiral was quite impressive.¡± ¡°She¡¯s cut from the same cloth as most of the clan, though I will admit she¡¯s risen higher than most.¡± Atreus rumbled. ¡°The rest are mostly officers aboard starships or serving in safer roles planetside. Some have chosen civilian pursuits, but the family chooses to treat that more as a tolerated eccentricity than anything else.¡± ¡°Not fans of civil service?¡± ¡°House Leos believes duty is how they prove their worth.¡± Arthur nodded at that. The Knight of the Round Table within him could relate easily. ¡°And the Patriarch, Menelaus?¡± Arthur continued. ¡°What of him?¡± ¡°Menelaus was a very talented Eidolon pilot until he was involved in an extremely ill-fated ambush during the last Parthian Conflict, and suffered irreparable radiation damage to his lower body. While most of his superficial wounds were healed, he was rendered incapable of having any more children as a result of the injury.¡± ¡°Which is why Circe, as the Heiress, can¡¯t be risked even temporarily as an Hetairoi.¡± Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Your reiteration of the obvious makes this easier, at least.¡± Atreus said coolly while the shuttle commenced its final descent with a deactivation of its engines and a complete reliance on the steady depowering of its anti-grav coils. ¡°Why did Circe never seek military service, then?¡± Arthur asked while he readied himself to disembark. ¡°She is the sole heiress to the title. She needs to marry and birth an heir¡ªprobably several, in fact, before she could be considered able to risk herself, even if the posting might be a safe one. Which is unlikely, given her disposition.¡± Arthur nodded thoughtfully at Atreus¡¯ words. The political nuances of Aristocracy were something his memories told him he had extensive experience with. Though in Zacaris¡¯ case, Athur knew he had solved his issues with a sword edge. ¡°You would do well to remember your interactions with Lady Leos, and her implacable power of will.¡± Atreus warned him. ¡°Circe takes heavily after her mother.¡± ¡°Any advice on dealing with her?¡± Atreus turned his armored head away for a moment, and then turned back to him. ¡°Treat her like a warrior, not a silk-adorned damsel. Respect her as an Eidolon pilot. Do not simper nor veil your words with platitudes. Circe values directness, honesty, integrity¡ªand more than anything else, she values strength. Not just physical, but personal as well. She will never accept a weak-willed Hetairoi, no matter what her parents say.¡± ¡°So she¡¯s a regular warrior princess, then.¡± Arthur said half to himself. ¡°As much as it pains me to admit it, you have the right idea.¡± Atreus said while they touched down with a quiet thud. ¡°I suppose I may not have cause to deem you an irredeemable waste of my time, if you continue with such insights.¡± ¡°Comedy isn¡¯t your strong-suit, Atreus.¡± Arthur said with a look outside of the window at the people gathering beyond the clean white landing pad. He only had a few seconds¡¯ time to steal glances at the blood red armor of what looked to be an honor guard among the greenery of the reception area before the flood of gaseous coolant obfuscated everything. That was the problem with combustion engines and orbital descent, after all. It made both the shuttles and the pads they landed on rather hot. ¡°Andino will handle your possessions, Arthur.¡± Atreus said matter-of-factly.¡± Your task will be to make yourself known to your soon-to-be liege, his staff, and his family. Before any of this can be made official, you will also need to demonstrate your skills with an Eidolon.¡± ¡°After I build one, you mean?¡± ¡°No. We have arranged for a training model to be delivered for your use.¡± ¡°I take it I¡¯ll be granted time to look it over, first?¡± Arthur asked wryly. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly looking forward to piloting a strange Eidolon whose design and function I¡¯m not familiar with.¡± ¡°Most likely.¡± Atreus said without acknowledging the event. ¡°Lord Leos is by all accounts a reasonable man. I see no reason for him to deny you such.¡± Arthur nodded and rose when the belts keeping him safe retracted, his eyes sweeping the shuttle interior once out of habit and then coming to rest again on Atreus. ¡°I suppose we should be about it, then?¡± The Myrmid¨®n¡¯s head tilted slightly as if he were eyeing him up and down, and then he simply nodded. ¡°The traveler¡¯s clothes will suffice, poor though they are.¡± ¡°I had just stepped off an interstellar freighter, Atreus!¡± ¡°They possess some measure of ragged charm, I suppose.¡± ¡°You mean rugged?¡± The Myrmid¨®n simply glanced back at him silently before opening the hatch to exit the shuttle, and Arthur glanced down at his shirt and jacket before adjusting them surreptitiously. His boots were unmuddied. His jeans were well-made. He did look presentable, damn it. Atreus¡¯ descent down the accommodating set of unfolding stairs set the path for Arthur to follow, and with a glance toward Endymion and Perseus¡ªboth of whom nodded to him with encouragement¡ªhe took a steadying breath and stepped out into the brilliant sunlight of the Hellenic day. The first thing he noticed when he stepped out of the shuttle was how clean the air was. Even in an age of atmospheric scrubbers and environmental preservation, and even having benefited from the greatest advances of climate science in the humanosphere; the air on Hellas simply felt different. There was a vitality and purity to its nature that no machine could ever truly, fully recreate. It was intoxicating in its own way. Enough so that he actually paused upon the edge of the first step down, and simply breathed in the air with a heartfelt smile. It wasn¡¯t until his eyes descended from admiration of the naked blue sky and the deceptively small metallic sheen of the Iris far above, to look down upon the assembled party of individuals awaiting him and Atreus¡ªwho had halted at the bottom of the stairs and was looking back up at him silently¡ªthat Arthur remembered himself. His first steps down toward the surface of Hellas were accompanied by his first look at the people with whom his fortunes would be intertwined for the foreseeable future. When Arthur¡¯s eyes met the gaze of the man that must have been Menelaus Leos, judging by the black toga emblazoned with a rampant crimson lion, and the golden adornments on his wrists and biceps; there was a distant sense of immediate kinship between them. Menelaus Leos had golden eyes, silvery-golden hair the opposite of Atreus¡¯ own, and olive skin natural for an island-born Lord. His eyes, Arthur noted, were also bereft of haughty calculation or self-serving indifference. In the Lord of Leos, Arthur saw a man that greeted him not as a tool to be used, but a possible friend worth cultivating. It was when Arthur¡¯s eyes moved to the tall woman to Menelaus¡¯ right¡ªArthur¡¯s left¡ªthat things went wrong. He barely had time to take in her full lips, smoldering dark gaze, and athletic physique before colors exploded around her like the birth of a star. A rainbow, a corona, a supernova of vibrancy erupted into being between them and Arthur felt something within his mind break. A metaphysical tendon. A muscle whose origins he could not have placed even had he attempted to for a hundred years. A nebulous infinity of spectrums assailed his awareness, his vision was utterly obfuscated by the kaleidoscopic insanity of it all, and Arthur felt something deep within him uncoil from hidden depths he¡¯d never known himself to possess. Arthur¡¯s equilibrium abandoned him, his stomach rebelled against his control, and he felt his legs lose strength and his feet lose purchase. His hands feebly sought the railing of the stairs in vain from under the drowning tide of pressure burning within his mind. The sky became the earth, the earth became the sky, and Arthur felt himself slam into something steely and unyielding while voices lost to the encroaching void at the edges of his vision called out in alarm. The last sight he could remember was the woman¡¯s eyes. A vibrant shade of emerald, like polished jade. Two sets of warm fingers gripped his shattering skull. Searing pain lanced through his mind. The world turned white, and Arthur¡¯s awareness fled deep within the peaceful void. B1 | Chapter 16: Second Revelation
Seeing him as I did, witnessing what he did, and what effect he had¡­ not just on me, but on my very perspective on reality¡­ Gods help me, what could I have done? Even in that moment I knew I was lost. This being, this mystery, this harbinger of doom¡ªhe had coiled us all around his orbit as surely as a Sun demanding the adherence of enslaved planets. He was gravity made manifest, and when he cast his gaze upon us, we were already lost. Had I known then what I know now, I might have run screaming instead of drowning in the depths of his gaze. What a fool I was. What a fool I still am.
¡°You said something about a first trigger, Inquisitor,¡± Arthur Zacaris said while staring out from his towering balcony, across the expansive vista of his land toward the near-distant floating spires of Camelot. Albion¡¯s Capital was a beautiful blend of technology mixed with nature, and the main palace sat upon a levitated landmass with immense bridges connecting it to the far more expansive, out-spread megacity surrounding the floating central fortress-citadel. ¡°When you meet someone that resonates with you, it will happen.¡± ¡°What does that mean, exactly?¡± Arthur asked while turning to rest his back against the colonnaded balustrade of the balcony. Nataliya looked at him from where she sat at the luxurious tea-table at the center of the balcony, her cup of Albionian Dry Leaf Tea in her hand. ¡°Resonance is the connection between¡ª¡± ¡°I know what resonance is, Inquisitor,¡± Arthur said impatiently. ¡°I am not a fool. I am asking you, specifically, what you mean by that. I¡¯ve resonated with several people in my life, and it has never been a cause for much interest.¡± he continued disdainfully. ¡°It simply means our consciousnesses are compatible. It¡¯s quite good for finding women to take to bed from among Eidolon pilots eager for some recognition, but I see little value beyond it.¡± ¡°You are a man hardened by pain and molded by suffering, my lord. Your value in the concept of companions outside of the physical pleasures associated with the word was eroded many, many years ago.¡± Nataliya¡¯s voice was calm when she spoke, but a subtle chill raced down Arthur¡¯s spine at the intensity of her blue eyes. ¡°I am speaking not of what you think of resonance as, but what it should be seen as.¡± ¡°And what is that?¡± Arthur asked again, albeit with perhaps a touch more respect. Not because he was afraid, of course. Never that. ¡°It is the understanding of a potential ally. It is the recognition of someone that can stand by you, and aid you. It is the compounding realization that you are not alone, and that those you can trust to be at your side have made themselves known.¡± Arthur¡¯s expression twisted at that, and he narrowed his eyes. ¡°Trusting people to that extent only allows them a chance to betray you. The contravening stories are all hyperbole and naive optimism. If I had trusted any of the people that I resonated with outside of the women I¡¯ve fucked, Inquisitor, I¡¯d be dead with a knife in the back a dozen times over.¡± ¡°That is the sad reality of Pendragon, yes,¡± Nataliya said with an acceding nod. ¡°But it is not the true reality of everything everywhere.¡± ¡°Elsewhere is not my concern, Inquisitor.¡± ¡°It will be when we move forward, my lord, and when it is you must remember this conversation. Resonance is not always to be feared. It is not always to be seen as a vulnerability. It is the key to finding allies that will be critical to your future.¡± ¡°So anyone without this resonance is not to be trusted?¡± ¡°Now you are leaping to the opposite extreme,¡± Nataliya said with a quiet sigh that set Arthur¡¯s irritation spiking. She was looking at him like he was a pitiable child, and it rankled. ¡°Not all people who resonate will be trustworthy, and not all people who are trustworthy will resonate. It is a potential bond, my lord, not one of predetermination. To your point, Pendragon has proven this true with remarkable cruelty.¡± Arthur narrowed his eyes at that and drew in a steadying breath. ¡°Perhaps, Inquisitor.¡± he said while wrestling down his temper. ¡°That does not change the fact that resonance is just as much a key to finding your greatest adversary.¡± ¡°But also a key to finding your greatest allies.¡± ¡°And how am I to tell?¡± ¡°Simply be open to the idea,¡± Nataliya said with a smile. ¡°The rest will fall into place.¡± ¡°And what of my other task? The one you said I must undertake with more immediacy?¡± ¡°The package?¡± Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°Yes. You have spoken much of how I must find comrades, build a home, establish a belonging, curate an¡­ an investment in this backwater technologically deprived armpit of a nation, and yet somehow you have studiously avoided what you seemed to think was one of the most imperative parts of this little adventure.¡± ¡°I cannot tell you what it is, my lord, only its importance.¡± ¡°Then how am I to¡ª?¡± Arthur fell silent when Nataliya drew forth a simple black omni-comp, not unlike the black wristband already wrapped around his left forearm, and held it up. ¡°This is your charge.¡± ¡°An omni-comp?¡± he asked skeptically. ¡°A key, my lord.¡± ¡°A key to what?¡± ¡°The future,¡± Nataliya said with a fervent certainty. ¡°My future?¡± Arthur asked while moving forward to take the device carefully. ¡°Not just yours, my lord,¡± Nataliya said as he did. ¡°Humanity¡¯s as a whole.¡± Arthur awoke to the sound of birds and the warm glow of sunlight on his features. A couple of slow blinks helped draw him further out of the vivid dream he¡¯d been immersed in, and his gaze settled on the canopy of silk above him suspended by four imitation greek pillars attached to what his immediate mind told him was a very luxurious four-poster super-king sized bed. His arms shifted at his sides and he immediately realized two things. First, he was lying on and under what felt like pure silk or velvet. Second, he was utterly and completely naked. A moment of panic gripped him and he reached down to feel for the omni-comp at his wrist, and only relaxed when his fingers made contact with it. ¡°Nataliya Verchenko¡­¡± he muttered to himself in remembrance of the woman in his mind, and the meeting that until then had been utterly absent from his memory. His arms came up beside him and he pushed himself upright on the bed, and pressed his back against the ornate headboard¡ªmade of some fine and likely expensive varnished wood¡ªwith a frown. Why had he remembered the conversation now? Had he resonated with someone? Arthur¡¯s left hand rose and he examined the inconspicuous black device banded around his wrist thoughtfully, his attention focused on it with a look of frustrated lack of comprehension. What was it about the device that was so special? For all that the conversation with the Inquisitor had come back to him, he felt¡ªand knew thanks to the snippets of memory¡ªthat he was still missing potentially massive chunks of detail. ¡°Layers¡­¡± he murmured while rubbing his right hand over the metal band in contemplation. ¡°The memories will come back like pieces of a scattered puzzle. Great.¡± Speaking out loud might have seemed odd to others, but Arthur had always found it a fine means of contemplation in the past. Something about the act of vocalizing his inner thoughts allowed him to better comprehend and parse them, and in doing so to process whatsoever was going through his mind as a result. At that moment, it was mostly the question of why. Why had Nataliya Verchenko chosen him? Who was it that had triggered his latest recollection? Why had it been Graecia he was sent to? And most importantly; why was he naked in a luxurious bed? The final question was the one that finally spurred Arthur into decisive action. His legs swung right and he pulled himself from under the covers to the rightmost edge of the bed, braced against the heavenly soft mattress and pushed himself to his feet while sweeping his eyes across the room. The interior of the bedroom was a perfect complement to the bed itself, of course; with a spacious interior that must have been nearly fifteen meters long and ten wide. A fireplace and a pair of luxurious reclining chairs sat at the far end of the room from the bed, along with what appeared to be a small drinking table between them and before the fireplace. The design of the entire room fit a Greek aesthetic, with marble and stone painstakingly carved across the breadth, width, and height of the interior. Behind him on either side of the bed were inlaid two large, partially opaque floor-to-ceiling windows which he recognized as having smart-glass which could be set to either a complete blackout or to total transparency. Useful on a planet with a 48 standard hour day and night cycle. The cold marble under Arthur¡¯s foot was a soothing comfort while he padded away from the bed and toward the distant, welcoming archway to what he gleaned to be a private and rather well-made bathroom. A steady stride took him across the length of the room, and over the smooth and comfortable pelt of some great cat that looked remarkably like a Lion mixed with an Elk, and then he stepped through the archway into the bathroom to see to his ablutions and the call of nature. Thirty minutes and a pleasantly scalding shower later, Arthur took a moment to examine his features in the expansive smart-mirror above the classical-style basin, complete with taps and bronze faucet. Rich blond hair cut in wavy strands fell down to frame the face that looked back at him, with the edges of each golden strand of hair curling upwards slightly at the bottoms. His jaw was strong and squared, with high cheekbones and a pair of bright azure eyes that he¡¯d been told were mischievous, charming, discerning, or ruthless depending on who he¡¯d been speaking to. A light shadow of growth adorned his symmetrical features in a perfect distribution across his jaw¡¯s surface area, all of which he knew was the result of generations of painstaking genetic tailoring and selective breeding on his homeworld. His shoulders were broad and defined, and his frame¡ªat just shy of six and a half feet¡ªwas well-chiseled and naturally combined natural athleticism with a genetically bulky musculature that he knew was neither coincidental nor difficult to maintain. Arthur¡¯s natural metabolism and physiology made maintaining his physique barely an effort. His hand reached up to feel the smooth stubble shadowing his jaw and he clicked his tongue in annoyance at its presence. ¡°I need a shave or I¡¯ll end up looking like a drop trooper at this rate.¡± A quick glance around the vanity guided him to a waiting drawer, and Arthur grinned in victory at finding a las-shaver. Two minutes and a few passes of targeted lasers later, and Arthur was able to run his hands over smoothly shaven flesh once more. He was only thirty-five, after all. He¡¯d save the beard to celebrate his first century. It seemed better suited for a ¡®middle aged¡¯ thing, anyway. ¡°Right. Welcome back, Arthur.¡± he said to his reflection. ¡°Time to find some clothes.¡± Arthur wrapped his towel around his waist out of habit, and a pivot on his heel took him out of the spacious bathroom once more. Arthur set his sights on the large closet he¡¯d walked past upon stepping down from the bed. If there were clothes to be found, they¡¯d be in there. It was a perfect plan, right up until he stepped out of the bathroom and very nearly lost his head. B1 | Chapter 17: Lion Maiden
There is something about power that is intoxicating, no matter who you are. Men and women both are enthralled by it, seduced by it, and addicted to it. Power can come in many forms, but one is notably more visceral than all others. When I walked in and saw them there, arranged as they were, my immediate thought was to laugh¡ªand then my second was to worry. I saw the look, then. I saw what impression his power had left, and every instinct in me screamed to warn him off. Sometimes I wonder what might have been different, had I listened.
Instinct, buried muscle memory, and an extrasensory sense of danger saved Arthur from an early grave¡ªand he rolled under the metallic whine of a blade slicing the air his neck had occupied only moments earlier. Confusion, panic, and anger combined together into a composition that sent suffusing waves of calm focus radiating throughout his body. He felt muscles he barely recognized tense and relax one heartbeat after the other while instinctive preparedness lanced through him like a switch in his brain had been flipped. He looked up immediately toward his would-be executioner. A pair of intense green eyes stared back at him. A sense of familiarity blazed through his mind, but he ignored it reflexively. His attacker was dressed in a generic maid¡¯s outfit with the sleeves cut off, and had wrapped her face in a definitively feminine scarf to hide her identity. Only the uniform and scarf, combined with the distinctly feminine appearance of her exposed arms, gave away her gender. He was being attacked by an assassin that had infiltrated the House Leos maids? All of this rapidly processed through Arthur¡¯s mind in the same moment as his attacker shifted her stance backward, moved her weight, and swung down at him once again with what appeared to be a well-honed steel xiphos. Arthur rolled away from the blow and pushed himself to his feet, his towel miraculously still in place while he raised his hands in an open-handed guard, and his eyes focused on his enemy. She was tall, close to or just above six feet. Extremely uncommon for a Graecian, let alone a woman. The pale skin of her arms, lightly tanned from Apollo¡¯s touch, showed biceps that were clearly those of a woman used to physical exertion. Not overly large, but well-defined and possessed of clear strength. Going off of the vague shape of curves beneath the conservative uniform, she seemed to have a body ideal for force and speed, with a greater emphasis on the former. Definitely a woman who excelled at precise blows backed by raw power. Which, according to his Zacaris memories, was the ideal build for a female assassin. Arthur glanced around quickly for something to use, and promptly cursed when his attacker came at him once again. This time she launched herself forward with staggering speed, and delivered two precision slashes intended to bisect him at the shoulders. As if he could anticipate her thoughts and movements, his body reacted. The first he dodged with an instinctive weave to the left, and the second he threw off by pushing forward into her guard and using his left hand to throw off her right-handed strike with a backhanded slap to her wrist with his own. Her swing went wide, and Arthur took the chance to jump backwards and roll across the bed toward the closet. Her blade struck the sheets when he passed, and he filed away the fact that it managed to slice clean through the silk and mattress in an explosion of padding and feathers that surprised him. Real feather mattresses? That was surprising. His eyes darted from the sword to her face, and he saw a glimmer of frustration in her eyes at his escape. Already she was stepping back to move around the bed and follow him, and so Arthur took three quick steps backward and rolled sideways onto the bed¡ªright near the headboard. The assassin hesitated. Arthur didn¡¯t. Pillows nearby him were picked up and flung with wild abandon using every iota of his gene-enhanced strength, and he heard the thump of impact each one made. His attacker cursed in a voice that sounded almost musical to his ears, and staggered backward while slashing apart the pillows in a spray of fine silk, feather, and stuffing. Arthur threw the last one and rolled back to his cupboard to rip it open¡ªthanking whatever divine forces there were that it was a ¡®classical¡¯ pull open cupboard¡ªand grab at the first two belts he could find. That done, he threw himself back onto the bed. No sooner than the xiphos was flung out to impale the polished wood of the door. ¡°Alright, you crazy bitch,¡± Arthur growled while bringing the belts up and looping one around his waist quickly to hold the towel, while the second he doubled up and gripped between his hands. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± ¡°You mean no more running like a coward?¡± his assailant questioned tauntingly while retrieving her xiphos. ¡°You have a sword!¡± he said incredulously. ¡°And you apparently lack a spine,¡± she replied angrily. Why she was angry, of course, was a mystery. But Arthur wasn¡¯t about to question the mental acuity of an assassin. Instead he launched himself forward with every iota of his gene-tailored body¡¯s speed at the same moment as she came back into the open area, and this time he didn¡¯t hesitate. When she swung at him, Arthur lifted the belt and used the leather to very carefully deflect the stroke away. He couldn¡¯t catch the blade on the belt, but that wasn¡¯t the goal. The goal was to do something better. When the blade was deflected, Arthur took note of the angle of her stance and danced backward, storing the information in his brain and waiting for her to recover. The moment she did, and her jade eyes narrowed in focus, he charged her again. This time she tried to stab at him, and Arthur instead ducked down to his left and around the xiphos to lift his hands and push the blade toward her left while standing to her right. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Her balance was overextended and she momentarily stumbled, enough for Arthur to shift his weight and deliver a short-range snapkick to her stomach with moderate strength. It felt like kicking a sheet of solid metal, and though he knew he¡¯d encountered several people with stronger bodies, hers still ranked among the most durable he could recall. Given how far he was from the Core, that was both puzzling and quite concerning. The majority of humans would have had their ribs broken by the force of his blow. His assailant, though, only slid backward on her feet while managing to stay upright. Even more concerning was the fact she only appeared moderately winded. And to truly cap it all off, the would-be assassin still held onto her sword. Arthur¡¯s eyes glanced across her figure with careful assessment while he tried to find a weak spot to exploit, or a defensive hole through which he could press the advantage. She maintained an admirably solid stance despite his kick, and he felt that even as Arthur Zacaris he would have given her respect for that level of sheer tenacity. Clearly, he was not the only one in the room with exceptional gene-tailoring. ¡°Is that it?¡± she asked with a mild wheeze. ¡°Is that the best you can do?¡± Arthur was careful not to let down his guard, though her question perplexed him. What manner of assassin made small talk during an attempted killing? Was it a Graecian custom, or was his opponent simply stalling for time while she recovered? Not wishing to give her the chance if the latter were the case, he burst into motion. Arthur moved with every ounce of his gene-enhanced speed toward her while giving her as little time to react as possible. When she did move, he loosely noted a slight widening of her eyes before she brought her xiphos down toward him with a cutting strike at his shoulders. Arthur lifted the belt up to slide the blow to his left, and forced his assailant to overbalance to her right. Following that, he lifted his right hand off the belt and firmly backhanded her across the jaw. A shock of familiarity rippled through his mind again, and for a brief instant he almost felt what she did. Then it was gone. A snarl of pain and surprise was his reward, and Arthur used the moment to slam his right hand back down against her forearm once, and then twice, and then a third time before she could fully recover. On the third strike, his left hand seized her spasming right and relieved the xiphos from her grip. Arthur promptly took the blade by the hilt and stabbed it into the wooden footboard of his bed. He would have liked to simply kill her, but that would be contrary to the point of gaining information. Namely, who it was that had sent her and why. He might have lost much of himself, but Zacaris had survived enough assassination attempts to understand the value of good intelligence. He would have been a fool and idiot besides not to at least attempt to discover her motivations, or even better; the person who sent her. Then he could deal with them afterward. The assassin was even then recovered in the intervening seconds between his disarming her and stabbing the blade into the headboard, and Arthur staggered when a surprisingly adroit kick took him in the ribs. Stupid fool! His inner Zacaris berated him. You were distracted! Stop thinking! He felt an actual bruise from her kick, and took a note to her seriously as a result. She really was enhanced. Considerably so, if a simple kick left him in notable discomfort. Arthur was more ready for the follow-up punch that came afterward, and dodged to the left away from it. Another followed, and his next dodge¡ªa quick tilting of his head to the left¡ªresulted in the echoing crack of wounded marble when her fist indented the solid stone. Definitely gene-enhanced. Her third punch was when he chose to act. She once again attempted to swing at him and Arthur moved forward and snapped his hand up to grab her wrist, while shifting his weight around to slam his left elbow backward into her stomach. She wheezed at the impact, and Arthur pushed his strength to pull her forward and over him to smash spine-first into the ground. At the same time, he rotated to grip her by the scarf, lift her head up, and smashed her skull backwards into the stone. When he did, her scarf came off at the same time as he dropped his knees to pin her down with his weight atop her thighs, and tore the blade from the headboard to press the tip against her throat. His left hand gripped her wrists before she could fully recover, and he watched her intently. His first thought was that she was durable, given that all the head-smash had seemed to do was cause her to squint at him in pain. She¡¯d barely even grunted. The second thought he had was that she was obscenely attractive. She had full pink lips with a natural cupid¡¯s bow to their shape, and a small cut in the lower lip where he had struck her. Her deep jade-green eyes were matched by dark eyelashes, and her face was constructed in a way that exemplified high cheekbones, a feminine jaw, and the sharper features common among aristocrats in Graecia. She was so familiar in a way that he couldn¡¯t instantly place, despite his memory. Her skin was fair, with a slight bronzing from the sun, and on her head waist-length black hair, shot through with streaks of light gold, framed her face from where it had fallen free of the scarf. Her features were more than beautiful, Arthur noted distractedly, and instead would be better described as breathtaking. Even in an era of broad-reaching and extensive genetic tailoring, the foundation for beauty had to be present before it could be enhanced to something greater. In the case of his attacker, that process had been embodied and writ large. ¡°Well?¡± she demanded with what Arthur noted was a contradictingly authoritative and commanding tone, while raising her chin at him defiantly. ¡°Do your worst, you bastard.¡± Arthur bent down to look into her eyes directly, and when he was mere inches away, spoke in a voice of cold menace he remembered from his time as Arthur Zacaris. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s what you want?¡± he asked in a soft growl. Her eyes widened, and of all things, a blush bloomed across her cheeks. Her lips parted as if to retort, but before she could respond the closed doors to his room burst open. Arthur and his assailant turned at the same moment to see Endymion and Perseus framed in the doorway, with their blades drawn and their helmets sweeping the interior of the room. Both Kidem¨®nes seemed to acknowledge Arthur for only a moment before examining the destruction left in the wake of the fight, and then promptly lowered their swords. ¡°Arthur,¡± Endymion said gruffly. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°What do you mean, what am I doing?¡± Arthur asked incredulously. ¡°I¡¯m about to interrogate my attacker!¡± ¡°Arthur, don¡¯t you know who that is?¡± Perseus asked with perplexing amusement. ¡°What? No. Should I?¡± ¡°Arthur,¡± Endymion growled. ¡°The woman you¡¯ve got by the throat is the Lion Maiden of Laconia.¡± Arthur¡¯s eyes narrowed at Endymion¡¯s words and he looked down to his would-be killer, who stared up at him defiantly in turn. No wonder her features had been so familiar. She looked like a younger Cassandra. Looking at her now, he could see the similarity for what it was. ¡°Hello, Arthur Magellan,¡± his opponent said with a smile that seemed more like a baring of the teeth. ¡°I¡¯m Circe Leos.¡± B1 | Chapter 18: Circe Leos
The way he held himself, the way he spoke, the way he took it all in stride¡ªlike a monarch surveying a new realm ripe for conquest. It was a warning sign, more than the way we connected ever was. I should have known he would destroy us all the moment I saw that, and yet all I could fathom was his strength, his power, his potential. I was blinded by my desire, and though it shames me, I must admit in retrospect that I wholeheartedly regret it not a whit.
Arthur stared down at the woman beneath him for several long moments after she spoke. His eyes, which had already told him the truth of her words, probed more sharply across her features to fully assess what it was she was saying. Beautiful features. Jade green eyes. Graecian skin. Tall, proud, female, warrior. Arthur pulled the blade back from Circe Leos¡¯ neck with muscle memory-fueled precision and promptly tossed it over to Endymion, who caught it with a faint whine of his armor¡¯s servos and said nothing. His mind was racing while he regarded the heiress, and worked over a mix of shock, disbelief, bewilderment, confusion, and most of all a general sense of absolute incandescent rage. His eyes narrowed while he stared at her, and she stared at him, and something passed between them. A sense of¡­ rightness that he couldn¡¯t instantly place. Until his memories as Arthur Zacaris flashed to the fore. Resonance. He had suppressed unnecessary thoughts during the fight, but with the immediate danger gone, the realization crashed into him like a freight train. He had been resonating with her, with a degree of ease that even Zacaris had rarely encountered. The odds of that seemed ludicrously small. Yet somehow, he knew, it was true. ¡°Well?¡± Circe asked in a strangely breathless voice. ¡°What?¡± He asked distractedly while staring down at her. ¡°Are you going to get off of me?¡± Arthur stared at her uncomprehendingly for a long moment, and then realized belatedly that he was still on top of her, with his legs straddling her hips, and her wrists gripped in his far stronger left hand. A moment of processing followed while Arthur¡¯s brain attempted to work through why he would let go of someone that attempted to kill him, and then a quiet cough from Perseus stole his attention instead. ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t be holding the heiress of a Graecian Great House captive, Arthur. It¡¯s somewhat ill-advised given you¡¯re to be her family¡¯s Hetairoi.¡± ¡°She tried to kill me, Perseus,¡± he growled without taking his eyes off of Circe. ¡°And besides, if it¡¯s such an issue, why didn¡¯t you just tackle me off of her?¡± ¡°Seemed inappropriate, given she ordered everyone away and said to ¡®ignore any disturbances¡¯.¡± ¡°She¡ª?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t find out until we came to check in on you,¡± Perseus said apologetically. ¡°And besides, she didn¡¯t appear to be in much distress when we entered¡ªand it was pretty clear who attacked who,¡± he shrugged before continuing. ¡°Still, you should have been a little less forceful, perhaps.¡± ¡°She tried to kill me!¡± he exclaimed irritably. ¡°False edge,¡± Endymion grunted while looking at the xiphos, ¡°won¡¯t cut flesh, but it will cut everything else. We use them for training. Tricky bit of technology, this.¡± Arthur turned to stare at Endymion blankly for a moment, and then with another wordless growl he released Circe¡¯s wrists and smoothly pushed himself to his feet. He gained distance when he did, while keeping his eyes once again fixed on the onyx-and-gold haired femme fatale. He noticed her gaze shift from his eyes to elsewhere, and saw her blush deepen. Arthur frowned at her in momentary confusion, and then flicked a glance downward. The towel and hastily buckled belt had fallen off. He was completely naked. Arthur took several moments to parse this development, and then sighed in irritation. He had long ago divested himself of embarrassment over nudity. The amount of time he¡¯d spent barely clad or naked with peers of both genders while training for war on Albion had almost completely inoculated Zacaris against any sense of shame or embarrassment, and Magellan had never had that shame put back into place. He had often forgotten, in fact, that many others¡ªespecially among higher social echelons¡ªstill adhered to a more rigid sense of conservative propriety. An impatient frown took hold of Arthur¡¯s lips and he studiously ignored the staring heiress and decidedly silent Kidem¨®nes. Instead he walked purposefully toward the partially destroyed cupboard and retrieved a black chiton, a scarlet himation, some black silk briefs, and a pair of knee-high sandals. Still he said nothing while he started laying the clothes out on the bed, and attempting to collect his thoughts. Circe Leos. He had been attacked, apparently falsely attacked, by Circe fucking Leos. His soon-to-be potential liege-lord¡¯s only living heir. Arthur¡¯s temper danced between a bonfire and a frosty seethe while he habitually laid the clothes out, one after the other, on the ruined doona of the four-poster king size. His hands were shaking slightly, he noticed, from the after-effects of the adrenaline¡ªand only his personal sense of control stopped him from snarling in renewed fury at seeing it. He felt completely out of sorts, and more than that, was assaulted by the resonance he felt with Circe. The moment he¡¯d recognized it for what it was, it was like he¡¯d opened the shutters to the sun and they could never be closed again. She was simply there. He was aware of her, passively, in a way he would never be able to explain to anyone that wasn¡¯t experiencing the same thing. It wasn¡¯t as thought their minds were connected or as if he could read her thoughts. It was something both far more and far less intimate. Circe Leos was, within a certain proximity, both a beacon of life and a deluge of instinctive responses. He could tell where she would move before she did, feel the intentions of her actions before she made them, and even pinpoint her exact location blindfolded. It was not something he did with perfect awareness, but more akin to a gut feeling. It was like knowledge whose veracity he could never quite properly explain. Even worse, Circe Leos had the highest resonance he¡¯d ever experienced. What that even meant he wasn¡¯t sure. Somehow, he doubted it would end well. At least after a hundred or so meters, the resonance would fade again. Even when it did, however, it would still exist in the back of his mind like the embers of a fire that remembered what it meant to burn. That was the true cruelty and power of resonance between psions: it never, ever faded. It would last until one of the pair was dead, and even that the other would feel the moment it happened. Like a miniscule part of themselves had died. The very notion of it, he knew, was repulsive and invasive to Arthur Zacaris. Arthur Magellan, though, had possessed no direct experience with resonance. Arthur as he was at that moment, however, didn¡¯t know what to feel. The Inquisitor¡¯s latest memory thread had seemed purposefully timed to awaken when he experienced his first strong bout of resonance, and there was almost something uncanny about the fact he had done so with Circe Leos. It was, he reflected, almost too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence. Arthur reached out to take the briefs in hand, and pulled them on at the same time as Circe¡¯s voice cut through the silence. ¡°I wish to speak to Ser Magellan alone,¡± she announced firmly. ¡°My lady, I am not certain that would be¡ª¡± ¡°It will be fine, Ser Kidem¨®nas,¡± Circe declared with the tone of a woman who expected to be obeyed, ¡°wait just outside the doors if you must, but I will have privacy for what comes next.¡± Arthur looked over toward the pair of stoic, elite royal guards of the Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes¡ªand almost snorted in amusement when the pair bowed, gave him shallow nods, and retreated outside of the doors with a quiet thud of her closing. ¡°Pushovers¡­¡± he muttered while turning back to his clothes. Shoes on marble pulled his attention, and Arthur turned to see Circe Leos step up beside him. ¡°We should talk,¡± she said in a tone tense with suppressed emotion. ¡°Should we?¡± he asked blithely. ¡°In that case, should I prepare for you to try to subdue me with your fists again?¡± ¡°You are being needlessly caustic,¡± she huffed. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°You tried to break my skull with a sword!¡± he shot back. ¡°Ser! Open your eyes!¡± she exclaimed while stepping forward and into his personal space to glare up at him. ¡°Do you have any idea what manner of situation you¡¯ve walked into?¡± Circe demanded with a narrowing of her jade eyes. ¡°Do you even understand how dire things are for House Leos? Do you understand how close our enemies are to the proverbial gates?¡± Arthur glared at her in response, and she continued without cessation. ¡°It is only luck, Ser; luck, my talents for battle, and an inordinately strong-willed father that have kept me from the marriage bed of one of those vipers seeking to prey upon our weakness!¡± she said angrily. ¡°A weakness they created, mind you!¡± ¡°And that explains your assault on me, how?¡± he asked stubbornly. ¡°Because you may be a very big issue for me, Ser!¡± ¡°I am failing to see how I could be an issue for you, Lady Leos,¡± Arthur said flatly. ¡°You could be an issue, Ser, because you seemingly belong to no one and fight for nothing,¡± Circe explained in a fiery tone, ¡°you are a mercenary. You sell yourself to the highest bidder, and do whatever they ask of you. You have no home among us, you have no roots, you have nothing that motivates you to persevere¡ªeven when everything goes against you.¡± Arthur narrowed his eyes at her presumption, but Circe wasn¡¯t done. ¡°I have seen mercenaries before, Ser! I have seen them make promises of aid and service to my father, only to renege when our enemies band together to intimidate them with force and send them running, or when that fails; offer them a fee so extortionately large, we cannot pay a matching one!¡± Her expression tightened while she spoke, and Arthur vaguely sensed more than just anger; he sensed a clear pattern of feeling betrayed. ¡°Not simply out of honor do we not pay,¡± she continued fiercely, ¡°which is a factor! But because we simply cannot afford to engage in that manner of escalating bidding war with regularity, and still provide the quality of care our people deserve.¡± Circe¡¯s words were firmly resolved when she said that, Arthur noted. ¡°Every mercenary we retained would be a dent to our coffers, which while immense, are not endless.¡± ¡°And you divert much of those funds toward the development of Pallik¨¢ri,¡± Arthur surmised from her earlier words, ¡°which impacts their quality of life.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Circe agreed fiercely. ¡°We cannot even consider not investing actively in those that rely on us to invest in them, for their futures. We have a duty to our people we cannot set aside!¡± Arthur finally gave up on his clothing and turned fully to face the heiress, whom he quietly noted had already attained the signs of rapid healing on her cut lip. If his rough assumptions were correct, the superficial wound would likely have vanished in a scant few hours. ¡°If your family is destroyed, Lady Leos, their lives will fall to ruin regardless,¡± he pointed out with unveiled skepticism. ¡°Yes,¡± she agreed without missing a beat, ¡°but that does not mean they should suffer for our weakness. If we are no longer here, then their future deprivation will stain the honor of those who claim our lands after the fact¡ªbut House Leos is the owner and defender of these lands here and now,¡± she declared with an earnest conviction that Arthur couldn¡¯t help but be intrigued by. So he listened, despite the rage still burning within him, and barely noticed it cooling. ¡°These people look to us for safety, and we can no more betray that than we could not call ourselves Graecians! It is the duty of the strong to protect the weak, and it is the duty of a Noble to ensure the prosperity of their charges.¡± Circe¡¯s green stare was fierce when she finished, and her cheeks were flushed. She was passionate, if nothing else. Passionate, and dogged to a fault perhaps. ¡°Noblesse oblige,¡± Arthur said with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Some would call that a naive, idealistic, or even antiquated outlook.¡± ¡°Look around you, Ser.¡± Circe said fiercely. ¡°Our whole civilization is built on naivete, idealism, and antiquated notions. The colonists that first landed on Hellas made the choice to build a society that reflected Greece-on-Terra in antiquity, and did so with the knowledge it was both optimistic and patently absurd in the cosmic era! We are well aware of how unlikely our current prosperity was, especially within this age of bipedal war machines and interstellar warships!¡± Well, someone had to say it he supposed. ¡°And your attempt to brain me with a practice blade?¡± he asked, now more curious than angry. Much of his ire had abated following her impassioned explanations of her motivations, and though he still harbored some solid embers of fury, they were largely smothered by his growing curiosity in the tall, powerful woman before him. She was interesting. He wondered idly how much of that was her, and how much was their resonance. ¡°The point of that exercise was not to hurt you,¡± she objected immediately and stubbornly. ¡°Anything short of decapitation could be addressed by our medical teams, anyway, thanks to the geneticists¡¯ legacy. No, Ser, the point of that was to test your preparedness,¡± she continued as if that made perfect sense. ¡°My preparedness?¡± Arthur asked skeptically. ¡°For assassins in maid costumes?¡± She blushed more brightly at his query, but did not appear deterred. ¡°No!¡± she insisted. ¡°For assassination in general! There have been no less than forty-seven attempts on my life in the last five years alone!¡± Arthur¡¯s eyebrows rose at that, and her words finally gave him pause. Forty-Seven? That was¡­ a lot. Even on Albion, where assassination was very much a ritual part of each generation¡¯s struggle for the title of Heir; there had been some measure of reasonable restraint with the amount of attempts. Arthur himself, he remembered, had only had to endure thirty in the last decade of his push to become his father¡¯s heir. For there to have been so many attempts on Circe¡¯s life¡­ he might have underestimated how badly House Leos¡¯ enemies wanted them off the board entirely. ¡°I can see from your expression, Ser, that you grasp the gravity of my words,¡± Circe said with a hint of triumph to her tone, ¡°I had to be certain that you were ready and able to react to such a situation, and so I acted. Perhaps a little brashly, I admit¡­ but I do not regret it!¡± ¡°And why did it have to be you,¡± Arthur asked with a frown of thought, ¡°instead of one of your House guards or an actual assassin you could have paid for a mock attempt? I could have hurt you. Badly.¡± ¡°With hindsight the risk was¡­ probably unwise,¡± she admitted with a grimace, ¡°but given that I am the most enhanced person I know of, I thought that I would be the best form of pressure.¡± ¡°You were wrong,¡± Arthur said without hesitation, ¡°because you failed to consider two things, my lady.¡± Circe looked at him with what Arthur recognized as a mix of anger at the implication she¡¯d failed in her due diligence, and genuine curiosity¡ªbegrudging or not¡ªfor what he had to say. It was a sign of her complexity, he decided. A mix of passionate warrior and intelligent lady. She was a noble as much as she was a combatant, so much so that the trope of the ¡®warrior princess¡¯ almost seemed to have been created solely for her benefit. ¡°You failed to account for the fact that I might have been capable of meeting or even out-matching your physical capabilities, and for the fact that technique trumps power.¡± Arthur said with utter conviction. He knew that well enough from his own experiences in his memories, and the amount of times humans with almost no genetic enhancement at all had nearly ended his life as Zacaris. ¡°I understand you probably realize this rationally, but accepting it conceptually is a different beast. It is very hard to be able to accept that someone whose fist would break against marble, when yours would break the marble, can still defeat you with superior technique and simple muscle memory.¡± ¡°That is¡­¡± Circe trailed off with a thoughtful frown, before her face shifted to a look of embarrassment. ¡°That is a very astute observation, Ser, and a very Spartan one at that. I suppose you may have a point. I may have been needlessly reckless in my actions.¡± Arthur raised his eyebrows in surprise at that. He had not expected her concession. At least not so readily, and certainly not with as much humility. ¡°Well, it speaks well to your character that you at least acknowledge it so easily,¡± Arthur said quietly while reaching up to brush his fingers through his thick, blond locks of hair out of habit. ¡°You are kind to say so,¡± Circe murmured with a tone of embarrassment, ¡°and have my thanks.¡± Arthur watched her for a long moment after she finished speaking, and braced his hands on his hips in thought. She was headstrong, stubborn, self-righteous, utterly implacable in her convictions, and completely selective about when she chose to actually approach a situation with something resembling tact¡ªat least from what he¡¯d seen. Circe Leos would not have lasted a month in Pendragon. And for that reason alone, Arthur couldn¡¯t help but like her. ¡°Alright, Lady Leos,¡± Arthur said after a further moment of consideration, ¡°let¡¯s say I empathize with your stance. Let¡¯s say I even forgive you for attacking me like a mentally unhinged serial killer.¡± ¡°I already told you that¡ª!¡± Arthur lifted a finger warningly, and to his surprise, Circe¡¯s mouth snapped shut. ¡°Allow me to explain my motivations, and hopefully ease some of your concerns about my mercenary nature.¡± He understood her concerns regarding that, after all. Abandonment was something Arthur Zacaris was very familiar with. ¡°I didn¡¯t come here because I wanted money, fame, or anything else. I can see why you¡¯d think that, but you made assumptions about me¡ªassumptions that were false,¡± Arthur said while maintaining contact with her jade eyes, and willing his sincerity to shine through to her. ¡°I¡¯m here, my lady, because House Leos is a way for me to build my foundation within Graecia. I¡¯m here because your mother struck me as an honorable woman, and your father is known as an honorable man. I¡¯m here because House Leos needs a Hetairoi, and I need a reputable sponsor to eventually make my own place among the Eupatridae.¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Circe said after a few seconds¡¯ silence, ¡°but that will all mean nothing if you can¡¯t fight in an Eidolon.¡± she added almost as an afterthought. ¡°Or if I¡¯m blindsided by another custom,¡± Arthur muttered with a look back at his clothes and a quiet grumble. ¡°Atreus and the others are supposed to mentor me, but I can see that being a haphazard process at best.¡± ¡°Mentor you?¡± Circe asked with a frown. ¡°Graecian customs,¡± Arthur explained with a glance back at her. ¡°I know essentially none of them.¡± ¡°That would pose a problem, yes.¡± she said with immediate understanding. ¡°Not the least of all because Hetairoi are representatives of their Houses, and if you fumble an encounter with a notable ally or enemy or worse, someone that could go either way, it could be disastrous for House Leos.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Arthur agreed. ¡°Which is why I need to find a better way to learn.¡± Circe¡¯s eyes narrowed at his words, and she eyed him speculatively. ¡°Are you trying to trick me into volunteering?¡± ¡°What?¡± Arthur asked with a genuinely bewildered glance. ¡°No. I don¡¯t work that way.¡± ¡°Truly not?¡± she pressed. ¡°No!¡± Arthur insisted with a flare of irritation. ¡°You just tried to cave my head in. You may be more understandable now, but I still have no desire to¡ª¡± ¡°Then you may learn from me,¡± the princess said decisively. Arthur stared at her when she did, and Circe stared right back. ¡°What?¡± he asked with an immediate look of skepticism. ¡°My family needs a Knight that can win battles in all arenas, not just within a cockpit¡ªand you need to understand Graecian culture enough to become part of it. We can help one another, Ser. I will teach you about Graecia, and in return, you will prove to me you can be the chivalrous blade House Leos needs.¡± ¡°How?¡± Arthur asked with a mix of suspicion and wary interest. ¡°One week,¡± Circe said simply while raising her forefinger. ¡°We will spend one week together, learning from one another and teaching one another. You will absorb all I have to teach about relevant Graecian culture, and you will teach me in turn all about you and your motivations¡­ and at the end of that week, we will fight.¡± ¡°A duel, you mean?¡± he asked curiously. ¡°Yes,¡± she confirmed. ¡°A duel. A chance for you to prove, beyond all doubt, that you are the warrior you claim to be.¡± Arthur stared at the tall, proud, strong-willed warrior maiden in front of him and couldn¡¯t help but see in her eyes the hope, sincerity, and intensity of her desire to make their joint desires come to fruition. Well, desires as far as House Leos went. ¡°And you truly believe this will be enough?¡± he asked with some remnant of doubt. ¡°I believe that if you are even half as genetically enhanced mentally as you proved to be physically, we shall face no issue at all.¡± Another moment of consideration passed, and then at last Arthur nodded. ¡°Very well, Circe Leos,¡± he said with a cautious smile, ¡°one week. It¡¯s a deal.¡± Circe smiled back at him without reservation. She really was strikingly beautiful. B1 | Chapter 19: The Traditions Which Bind Us
Watching him interact with the lady was like watching a lioness stalk a kill, only to find it had teeth and claws far beyond her own capability. His supreme confidence even in the face of overt hostility to his ideals was unfaltering. How did we not see the truth, even then? How did we not realize what he was? Looking back on it now, I feel ashamed of my own ignorance. There stood a titan, a god, a deity made flesh¡ªand we assumed him a man. A rare breed of man perhaps, but a man no less. Now all of the Humanosphere hangs on the faint hope of his mercy, and we are powerless to do more than watch. Watch, and pray. Gods help us all.
Arthur stepped out of what he¡¯d been informed were officially his ¡®apartments¡¯ within the Leos¡¯ palace twenty minutes later, and Arthur took note of both Endymion and Perseus standing quite conspicuously silent outside the doors, with a freshly changed Circe. Gone was the pseudo-maid ensemble, and in its place she wore a black peplum dress down to her knees, with her arms bare and braced by two golden bands around her biceps. Her hair fell in two luxurious waves down her front and in a third, far broader one to the base of her spine¡ªand she completed the look with a pair of criss-crossed sandals extending up to her knees. When he moved forward and she joined him smoothly, both Kidem¨®nes fell in behind. ¡°So,¡± Arthur said with a glance at Circe while they walked, ¡°the Lion Maiden?¡± ¡°That is my moniker among the nobles,¡± Circe said conversationally, and with a slight blush of embarrassment. ¡°I didn¡¯t coin it, and I certainly didn¡¯t embrace it immediately, but it is not as awful as ¡®Sword Saint Menelaus¡¯ or ¡®Lady Cassandra the Lion¡¯,¡± she said with a subconsciously embarrassed brushback of her blonde-streaked black hair. The immediate empathy he felt toward her momentarily took Arthur by surprise. Even knowing it was happening, the subtle pressure to apologize of all things, and to ask forgiveness, was stunning. Circe¡¯s psionic charisma was intense, and it actually took him a momentary act of focused willpower to suppress it. Arthur actually found himself having to keep at least half a mind on the passive effects of the woman¡¯s aura, much to his surprise. For her to be affecting him, she truly was gifted. Not surprisingly, the Kidem¨®nes were less able to deflect the effects. ¡°I did not intend insult,¡± Endymion said in a chagrined tone. ¡°It will not happen again.¡± ¡°Oh that¡¯s quite alright, Kidem¨®nas Chloros. I am rather used to the silly title by now.¡± The implied vulnerability to high density psions was still quite an interesting concept to Arthur, who considered the implications of soldiers as elite as the Kidem¨®nes being susceptible to such passive manipulation¡ªuntil he realized almost in the same moment that individuals with the capacity to affect such an influence on them were probably one in a million at best. Even in Graecia, the majority of Eidolon pilots that did exist were likely all too weak to have as profound an impact as Circe¡¯s. By all accounts of what he¡¯d been told, she was something of a prodigy¡ªnot unique, but certainly extremely rare. ¡°How long was I asleep?¡± Arthur asked into the silence that followed. ¡°Thirteen hours,¡± Perseus answered from his right and behind. ¡°We¡¯re in the final quarter of the day cycle on Hellas. The time is currently¡­ 3942 hours, as reckoned by the Hellenic timescale.¡± ¡°Forty-eight hour days are going to take getting used to,¡± Arthur admitted with a sigh. ¡°The nights are more manageable,¡± Perseus assured him, ¡°and the pseudo-suns help. Mix that with painstakingly light-proofed housing and you find ways to get used to it, despite the natural human proclivity to twelve hour cycles.¡± ¡°I suppose it would be worse for the lower class citizens that lack the gene-tailoring of the Aristocracy,¡± Arthur commented thoughtfully. Circe glanced at him in surprise when he said it, and her dark eyebrows furrowed. ¡°You speak so casually of that, Ser Magellan,¡± she pointed out with a questioning and mildly critical emerald gaze. ¡°Are such topics not considered taboo in the Aurelian Star Kingdom?¡± ¡°Deferring knowledge of the obvious for the sake of social niceties has never appealed to me, my lady,¡± Arthur responded without remorse. He had no use for obfuscation regarding the matter, after all, given he was likely more gene-tailored than anyone present. Not that he intended to share that fact. It was amazing how different he felt after the return of his memories, especially knowing how much of his personality had been wrapped up by Nataliya. The Inquisitor had not just locked away critical information, she¡¯d been as good as her word and locked fundamental parts of his identity away. The more of Zacaris that re-emerged, the more aware Arthur was of exactly how different and vastly opposed his worldviews had been when compared to his new companions¡ªor even, he admitted, his new self. ¡°I did not intend to commit a social faux pas, though, my lady,¡± Arthur added a moment later for the sake of courtesy. He was not going to apologize for speaking his mind, though adhering to some measure of social decorum seemed warranted given it was her home, and he was to be spending a whole week in her company with only a few hours apart. ¡°You¡­ did not,¡± she said as if considering it. ¡°I was simply taken aback, I suppose.¡± ¡°By the truth?¡± Arthur asked while following her when she turned left upon reaching a colonnaded balcony, and descended down a set of wide marble stairs. ¡°Gene-tailoring is a necessary practice for the advancement of mankind, and for the survival of the species,¡± Circe answered conversationally. ¡°That fact has been understood since the geneticists triumphed over the transhumanists and scoured every notable trace of the techno-cultists from the nascent Humanosphere, but for you to so glibly speak of it¡­¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Arthur noted with only a mild amount of challenge, ¡°so you were surprised that I don¡¯t consider eugenics a point of reverence?¡± ¡°You state it with such contempt, Ser,¡± Circe observed with a look at him that said she knew exactly what he was doing. ¡°Does the pursuit of human evolution offend you so much, despite you yourself clearly benefiting from the process?¡± ¡°She¡¯s got you there,¡± Perseus commented with amusement from his side. ¡°Well struck, Lady Circe,¡± Endymion rumbled in agreement. ¡°Traitors,¡± Arthur said absently while he considered a proper response, and Circe laughed appreciatively. ¡°I suppose,¡± Arthur said a few moments later, ¡°that I cannot be hypocritical and say I entirely disapprove of the idea of gene-tailoring thanks to the very accurate assessment that I myself have benefited from it, though I assure you it was by no choice of my own.¡± ¡°No one ever chooses it outside of micro-tailoring, Ser,¡± Circe said with a very unladylike snort of amusement. ¡°It¡¯s done in utero for a reason. How are pre-sapient babies supposed to have a say in anything?¡± ¡°And that doesn¡¯t strike you as unethical?¡± Arthur asked with genuine interest. ¡°Ethics and morality are relative to one¡¯s society and circumstance, no matter what anyone says,¡± Circe replied while they crossed the halfway point of the marble staircase. ¡°Do I think it denies agency? Of course I do, but the benefits cannot be denied. If given the choice, I cannot say that being able to live longer, having inherent immunities to almost every known form of illness, possessing the ability to control my fertility, having the durability to withstand all the world could throw at me, and being gifted with strength enough to crush metal is a bad thing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a very positive way of looking at it,¡± Arthur agreed conversationally, ¡°but what about the other side? What about being designed to appeal to the vainglorious societal ideals of beauty which are rampant upon whichever planet you¡¯re born, only for those standards to change on a dime at random moments, and leave you looking like a living example of outdated fashion?¡± ¡°So, you really are a bastard son of nobility?¡± Circe asked with a bluntness that surprised Arthur, and forced him to reconsider her insights when they reached the bottom of the stairs and entered a spacious foyer. The floor connecting to the stairs was marked by crimson carpet, and honest-to-the-throne tapestries were hung on the walls around the expansive area. ¡°I am not a bastard,¡± Arthur responded truthfully, ¡°though I am not eager to speak of my origins, if it¡¯s all the same.¡± ¡°Told you he was a Lord,¡± Perseus said out loud to Endymion, and clearly with the intention of being heard. ¡°That does not mean he¡¯s a Lord, Andino,¡± Endymion growled dismissively. ¡°It does not,¡± Circe agreed with an unblinking gaze on Arthur. ¡°He may simply be the ordained child of a lawful concubine. I hear that such practices are permitted in Aurelia, in order to secure the most worthy heir, irrelevant of the parentage being the lawful spouse of the title holder among the Star Kingdom¡¯s Aristocracy.¡± ¡°You know a lot about Aurelian tradition,¡± Arthur conceded with undisguised appreciation. Circe¡¯s intellect seemed to be as sharp as her wit and as keenly honed as her acerbic tongue, which only buoyed her in Arthur¡¯s eyes. The fact she¡¯d guessed at his true origins, even if her frame of reference had been wildly off, was actually impressive. It was a limited pool of options, he acknowledged, but she¡¯d still hit the nail on the head. Another trick of resonance, perhaps, or simply keen insight? Somehow he truly hoped it was the latter. He¡¯d always been a fan of intelligence over anything else. Especially in a Galaxy rife with gene-tailored attractiveness. ¡°Interstellar politics was part of my mandated education, Ser,¡± Circe continued while oblivious to his considerations. ¡°It was very necessary for the heiress of a House as old and prestigious as ours.¡± ¡°As was interrogation, apparently,¡± Arthur responded glibly. ¡°Perhaps,¡± Circe admitted with a sly smile as they stepped outside the massive double doors to the foyer, and into what appeared to be a beautifully curated garden courtyard¡ªone framed within the inner limits of the palatial residence, and occupied by a small group of people in the near distance. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. They had not been immediately noticed, but Arthur knew that would change quickly. ¡°In the interest of diplomacy, my lady, I¡¯ll admit that my view on the genetic manipulation of mankind as a standard practice is an ambivalent one,¡± Arthur said while choosing to affect nonchalance toward the waiting crowd ahead of them. ¡°My knowledge and education insofar as history goes tells me that genetic ¡®superiority¡¯ as a concept has been the cause of a considerable number of brutal, and ethically bankrupt regimes across the length of human history.¡± ¡°The Ascendancy is not like that,¡± she said while coming to a halt and turning to face him, her expression once again embodying the proud warrior princess ready to defend her honor. ¡°I believe you,¡± Arthur said while meeting her fierce jade eyes, ¡°and I didn¡¯t mean to infer it was. I know most star nations across the humanosphere are not inclined toward such narrow thinking¡ªbut neither can you deny that some are, and for all that we are taught from the cradle that the transhumanists were evil, degenerate, senseless monsters creating cyborg abominations and twirling evil mustaches¡­ well, it just isn¡¯t that simple in my eyes.¡± Circe searched his gaze for a long moment, and some of the instinctive anger seemed to leech from her eyes when she did. ¡°You aren¡¯t a transhumanist.¡± She phrased it as a statement, but the question was there, and the subtle shift of the Kidem¨®nes told Arthur they were interested in the answer too. ¡°I am not,¡± he confirmed truthfully, ¡°nor am I a sympathizer. I don¡¯t believe in what they were doing, but my point¡ª¡± he looked at all three of his companions while he spoke, to make sure that both Perseus and Endymion were paying as much attention as Circe herself ¡°¡ªis that a lot of atrocities can and have been justified for the purpose of advancing the genetic development of mankind. Forced breeding, exo-wombs, and even pseudo-cloning for organ development to name a few.¡± ¡°Disgusting and abhorrent practices,¡± Circe declared flatly, though he could see she was thinking and listening despite the automatic and vehement statement. ¡°True, but still practices that exist,¡± Arthur said with a confidence buoyed by even-then on-rushing memories. Arthur Zacaris had held many of the same frustrations and disagreements within himself¡ªdespite never necessarily vocalizing them, given the nature of his environment. ¡°That¡¯s my point, really,¡± he continued. ¡°I can see the benefits and necessities of the geneticist ideology. After all, who wouldn¡¯t? With the discovery of Callandium, breeding to increase psion density and Callandium compatibility for the purpose of creating a ¡®perfect psionic¡¯ to take the next step in human evolution is a very, ah, romantic goal¡­ but that doesn¡¯t mean everyone will pursue it within the unspoken moral or ethical confines within which much of the humanosphere operates.¡± Both Kidem¨®nes nodded slightly in agreement to his words, and he noticed that Circe appeared to be listening intently. She wasn¡¯t perhaps in total agreement with him, but there was a clear and present desire in the House Leos heiress to hear his words and¡ªmore than that¡ªto understand them. It was rather endearing, compared to his memories of most Aristocrats in Pendragon. ¡°The correlation between Callandium compatibility, psion density, and overarching power is irrefutable,¡± Circe admitted with a sigh, ¡°and even here on Graecia, far away from the Terran Imperator and his psionic autocracy, we still feel the pressure of the Academia Psionica and its ruthless pursuit of children born with desired capacities. The fact Terra wields its unilateral control of Callandium like a club only serves to sharpen the point of your argument, I suppose.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised to hear you say it so bluntly, my lady,¡± Arthur said genuinely. ¡°I am not blind, Ser,¡± she murmured with a quiet sigh. ¡°The Paladins provide the Callandium, under the auspices of the Imperator ostensibly ¡®aiding¡¯ human development, but we all know what it really is. It¡¯s control. No star nation will refuse Callandium. It would make them irrevocably vulnerable to their enemies, but¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s frustrating to see the positives and the negatives, and be able to justify the negatives even while despising them,¡± Arthur finished with a wry smile. ¡°Yes,¡± Circe agreed with a look back into his eyes, and a warm smile of her own. ¡°Yes. Exactly.¡± ¡°Glad to know we agree,¡± he said in a warmer tone. ¡°You do have a point. A good one,¡± she conceded with a chuckle before continuing, ¡°though I still don¡¯t think the Imperator¡¯s use of Callandium as a control mechanism, nor the evil scum that pervert everything genetic science stands for, should be a valid counterpoint to the benefits of what we¡¯re doing as a civilization.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s only the top percentile of the population that benefits from those programs?¡± Arthur questioned with genuine interest in her opinion. ¡°We both know that whether it¡¯s a constitutional monarchy like Graecia, a democracy, an autocracy like the Grand Imperium, or even a mega-corporate conglomerate that rules a star nation; it¡¯s always the upper crust of whatever society exists that reap the greatest benefits from gene-science.¡± He shrugged a little and gestured loosely at nothing in particular. ¡°Hell, the way that breeding impetus is approached, the gap between the upper and lower stratum only grows with the decades¡ªlet alone across centuries.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t always the case, however,¡± Circe pointed out after he was done, and with her hands braced thoughtfully on her wide hips. ¡°Advances in genetic science have led to innumerable cures for once-thought incurable ailments, as an example. Cancer has been all but eradicated, Xenoviruses are rapidly addressed by what is now an extensive comprehension of the human genome, and our ability to colonize different climates, environments, and worlds has been massively bolstered by the availability of immediate micro-tailoring to adapt people¡¯s biology for their chosen habitation zones.¡± ¡°Those are valid points,¡± Arthur conceded with a nod, ¡°though it does not rule out the glaring inequity present across many star nations in the Humanosphere, caused primarily by the hyperfixation around genetically superior breeding.¡± ¡°The Ascendancy is not one of those nations, though¡± Circe countered with a pointed emphasis on ¡®Ascendancy¡¯, as if she was acknowledging the others in the Sector may not share her perception of Graecia¡¯s enlightenment. ¡°Most star nations out there, in fact, aren¡¯t like that.¡± There was a certainty to her tone, and an implicit idealism within that certainty, which Arthur found both amusing and endearing. There was no way for her to know any such thing factually, but he wasn¡¯t about to undermine her fundamental optimism without very good cause. Truthfully, he could admit to himself, he was enjoying this exposure to the animated nature of her convictions¡ªeven if she spoke with some measure of naivety. ¡°Yes, there¡¯s some manner of dichotomy. I¡¯ll grant you that,¡± Circe continued passionately, ¡°but the overwhelming reality across much of the known Humanosphere is that people benefit from longer lives, universal healthcare, and the fact our species has all but eradicated disease and mental illness where it¡¯s possible to do so.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t account for every nation as a rule, though, nor does it speak to factual data.¡± ¡°No, it doesn''t,¡± Circe admitted with a small frown. ¡°Nor does your statement account for every ailment,¡± he pointed out casually. Circe sighed and gestured with a hand in acknowledgement of his point. ¡°Some injuries, some trauma, some mental illnesses are beyond the scope of human understanding¡ªbut even then,¡± she continued resolutely, ¡°psionic healing has bridged many of the gaps where science has failed us¡­ and that is only possible because of the Geneticists¡¯ legacy of understanding when it comes to Callandium and Psions, and the superior minds that curated breeding produces.¡± ¡°Which only circles back to the disparity between those with superior gene-lines,¡± Arthur pointed out, ¡°and those with more common bloodlines. It is only the superior that have the Callandium capacity to wield their powers and affect that relief for others, and only if they choose to dedicate part of their Callandium capacity to those sorts of sigils and spells.¡± ¡°Nobody should be forced to sacrifice their own pursuits for others,¡± Circe pointed out firmly and without missing a beat, ¡°which is why it¡¯s considered benevolent in the first place. Without it being a volunteer pursuit, it would just be a glorified form of slavery. Oppression and stratification are rarely the norm in most Human nations, Ser.¡± ¡°But it is the case often enough,¡± Arthur continued doggedly, and with a smile he tried to suppress. He was very much enjoying the rapidfire exchange. It was satisfying to debate with someone that felt passionately on such matters, and had the intelligence and courage to challenge him. ¡°Graecia is not entirely an exception either, my lady. Your own parents, while only distantly so, are cousins. It was seen as more acceptable for your family to engage in incest¡ªalbeit in name only, as far as genetics is concerned¡ªthan to seek a suitable match for your father outside of House Leos. I would wager there are more than a few Graecian Houses with first cousins, or even siblings of some capacity, that are wedded.¡± Both Kidem¨®nes shifted slightly to step subtly away at his words, but Arthur ignored them. His focus was on Circe. How she dealt with his admittedly inflammatory, but not inaccurate points would inform him quite heavily on her own personal convictions. What he received was a mix between a sound of discontent and a grimace of disgust, ¡°the idea of sibling marriage is not something I agree with, Ser, and my parents are third cousins!¡± Arthur chuckled and shook his head, and she favored him with a half-hearted glower. ¡°I¡¯m aware of the fact they¡¯re basically not related in any way that matters, but that doesn¡¯t change what it means on paper, my lady,¡± Arthur noted, while finally letting loose with a wry smile that seemed to ease her evident disgruntlement at his earlier laugh. ¡°My point is that there will always be a separation of privilege between the upper and lower classes,¡± he continued thereafter, ¡°and I would wager you never even considered the idea of marrying anyone that couldn¡¯t give you an heir more powerful than you¡ªor at least one with a good chance of power parity. I doubt you even like most of your peers among the Ascendancy¡¯s upper society, but the thought still never occurred to you.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Circe trailed off and sighed. A moment later she shook her head and laughed softly. ¡°It is unfair to have such discussions with your psion density at work, Arthur.¡± So he was Arthur now, was he? He decided to test and see if it had been intentional. ¡°Don¡¯t blame my psions for my being right, Circe,¡± he responded with a smile. Her eyes searched his for a moment, and a beatific smile spread across her lips. He had made the right choice by responding with her name in kind, it seemed. ¡°Is your psion count as prodigious as I was told?¡± she asked curiously. ¡°I have been told it is a rare density even among the Inner Sectors.¡± he admitted. Circe looked thoughtful at his words, and seemed to ponder the weight of them. ¡°I wonder if that is why we have such strong resonance¡­¡± she murmured half to herself, while watching him closely. ¡°Though I assume you, too, have felt it?¡± she asked in a more conversational tone. ¡°I have,¡± he admitted honestly, ¡°and I¡¯m not certain. I don¡¯t know what controls resonance.¡± ¡°Some people say it¡¯s the divine tether of predestined love,¡± she responded lightly. ¡°Some people are idiots,¡± Arthur muttered without missing a beat. Circe let out a warm and spine-tinglingly musical laugh at his words. ¡°Okay, fair enough,¡± she said with remnant mirth, ¡°I¡¯ll accept that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad we¡¯re in agreement,¡± he said with a smile of his own. He really did enjoy her laugh, for all that he wondered if it was him or her psions at play. In a lot of ways, he didn¡¯t think it mattered. It was just nice to enjoy a conversation with a relative equal, and one that was almost immune to his psion density in a way few others were. She was¡­ not unique, but certainly rare in her ability to engage him in discourse with little to no evident influence from his psion density. It strangely helped him feel normal in a way he usually couldn¡¯t. Even his Zacaris memories agreed it was a truly rare occurrence. ¡°And it¡¯s not as if I don¡¯t see your point, you know,¡± she said after a few moments of thoughtful silence. ¡°I do. I do. It¡¯s just¡­ Well, what can we really do about it? If any of us stop pursuing superior genetics for each subsequent generation, we¡¯ll lose all standing with our peers. Genetic perfection is one of the few universal pursuits across the Humanosphere. Not even the Grand Imperium is an exception, and certainly not your home system of Aurelia.¡± ¡°Of course they aren¡¯t,¡± Arthur said with a resigned sigh. ¡°After all, the Grand Imperium started the damn pursuit.¡± ¡°Well, yes. I suppose that¡¯s true,¡± Circe conceded with frown. ¡°And they painted the destiny of us all in the act.¡± ¡°Kingmaker theory strikes again,¡± Endymion rumbled from the side. ¡°Hard to argue with that,¡± Arthur said while Perseus nodded his agreement as well. A shout from the distance caught their attention, and Circe glanced back toward the distant group now fully looking their way, and then turned back to Arthur. ¡°Well, Ser Magellan. If you¡¯re done making me question the foundations of our reality¡ª¡± she tempered the words with a smile that warmed Arthur¡¯s cheeks ¡°¡ªand dazzling me with your intellect, perhaps we can finally go and meet with my father?¡± B1 | Chapter 20: House Leos
It is remarkable how easily he made me feel like clay in his hands. Even now as I reflect on those first moments, I wonder if I truly understood what manner of fate I was taking upon myself. By my own actions I tied my family¡¯s future to his path, and in so doing sealed the fate of all those I loved. Did he know even then what he would become? Did he already have an understanding of what he would do to us all? I have to believe he didn¡¯t, for if he did, then truly he was the greatest deceiver in the history of mankind.
Circe was nervous. Or perhaps a better term was that she was apprehensive. Uncertain. Unsure. The exact word escaped her in the moment, but as she led the way across the palace gardens toward her father, Atreus, and the senior staff of House Leos¡ªthere was an element of definitive unease that would not leave her. It had settled in her gut like a leaden weight, and nothing she did could move it. The source of it, of course, was the blond man walking at her side. The Kidem¨®nes, the Myrmid¨®n, not even the assassins after her since her birth unsettled her as much as Arthur Magellan, and not because of any fantastical, schoolgirl fantasy reason or any such nonsense. It was not his looks¡ªwhich she could admit were certainly sculpted in a way that made her unashamedly enjoy staring¡ªnor his intellect or composure, both of which fascinated her in a way that mere looks never could. No, the source of her discomfort was the feeling that she needed him. Not as a lover, or anything so simplistic and droll¡ªbut as an ally. Her resonance with Arthur was¡­ unprecedented. She could feel him even then, the way a flower might feel the touch of the sun, or the way that a bird might search for a hot draft upon which to elevate its flight. It was difficult even for her to understand, but she was aware of him¡ªaware in a way that defied all reason and logical understanding. They were complete strangers, and yet she felt as if she had known him for years. Circe had believed up until that very morning that she would need to eventually be the one to step forward and do what had to be done. That she would take position as both Heiress and Hetairoi and simply have to work to the best of her ability to avoid being crippled or killed as their enemies so desperately desired. She had resigned herself to it. Accepted it like a condemned woman accepted the executioner¡¯s ax. It was not merely an option, but an inevitability. Every overture to Eidolon pilots of note had been rejected, sabotaged, or outright defenestrated by their enemies. House Leos had been pushed to the absolute limit of its abilities. Even the Kings, for all their supposed magnanimity, were beginning to look upon them with calculation more than the favor they had purported in the past. House Leos had been on the precipice. And then, like an answer to her most fearful moments and desperate prayers, he had appeared. A stranger, a mercenary, a sellsword and honorless braggart intent on dethroning her sacrifice and making a mockery of her vows to defend and protect her blood as the only one capable of doing so. At first she hated him. Hated the idea of stolen glory. Hated the notion that a stranger would come and bear the mantle she¡¯d raged against, fought again, and then finally and with an embracing of doom resigned herself to. How dare this man, she had thought, this off-worlder with a fancy pedigree dare to presume the right to steal her duty from her and make her an invalid. Worse still, he had fainted in front of her and she had taken that for weakness. She had readied herself to protect her family as no one else could¡ªas no one else would. Her life had been a sick pattern of assassinations, attempted marriages by men far too old, or far too selfish, or¡ªeven when they were good men¡ªfar too weak and far too low-ranking. Nobody of worth would seek her hand, for fear of the enemies of House Leos ruining them before the marriage could even proceed. No one wished to tie themselves to what they saw as a poor bet, and a sinking ship. Circe had thought Arthur to believe he could rob her of a truly noble sacrifice. How wrong she¡¯d been. How incredibly, stupidly, single-mindedly wrong. Arthur Magellan was not merely a hope for a future where she did not end childless, crippled, and forced to surrender her birthright to a lesser family member. He was more than anything else someone she could rely on. Someone she could even trust. Not because he had power. Not because he had charisma. Not because he was handsome or intelligent. But because he was selfish. Because he was self-interested. Because he was completely pragmatic in his motivations. He was an honorable man, from all that she had gleaned and what her instincts told her, but so too was he unapologetic in his motivations existing for him, and for House Leos as an extension of that. And he had never once pretended otherwise. ¡®The only friend you can truly have is the one that is as honest in their cruelty as they are in their kindness¡¯. Her grandmother¡¯s words had returned to her in the moment he¡¯d all but eviscerated her with courtesy and simple logic within his apartments, even after she¡¯d attacked him, mock blade or not, like a mad woman. She blushed in embarrassment at the memory. How right her grandmother had been. How true her bitter wisdom had proven. And so, with all of that in mind, Circe was nervous. Because if her father did not approve of Arthur, she would lose him. The very thought unsettled her. She had already realized what her mother had seen in him, after all. House Leos needed Arthur. He did not realize, truthfully, how much they needed him. How utterly outclassed every other potential Hetairoi was in comparison. Even if she hadn¡¯t been told how gifted he was prior, she had felt it¡ªlike a chain around her neck, or an anchor hanging from her heart. When he spoke, it took all of her control not to be swept up by his effortless charisma. It was infuriatingly intoxicating, and that alone told her everything she needed to know. Arthur Magellan was powerful beyond anything she¡¯d experienced outside of the Myrmid¨®nes¡¯ Strategos himself. It was the only chance her family had, and she was unashamedly desperate to not let it go to waste. No matter what it took. No matter what he demanded. Nothing was too much if it meant alleviating her father¡¯s burdened soul. Nothing was too humiliating if it meant easing her parents¡¯ stress, and liberating them from the fear and worry that had been eating them alive in front of her. Even if he demanded her as payment by the end. The thought almost broke her, but she knew it was true. It was vile, and base, and utterly revolting to consider. Not because Arthur was unattractive, but because she was meant for higher things. But none of that mattered in the face of her family¡¯s suffering. Not pride, not breeding, not privilege, and not propriety. Nothing was more important than her House¡¯s legacy, or her parents¡¯ efforts being vindicated. She would do anything for her family. Even become a no-name Fringe noble¡¯s consort. In the interim, she had a week to convince him to help House Leos. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. She did not intend to waste it. Whatever it took. ¡°Is there anything I should be aware of?¡± Arthur asked while they walked, and drew Circe out of her internal monologue and circular anxiety. ¡°I¡­ regarding what, sorry?¡± Circe asked while she tried to recall if he¡¯d said anything prior. She cursed her wandering mind and forced herself to focus. ¡°Your father. His staff. I¡¯d rather not step onto a social landmine in the first meeting.¡± Circe glanced back at him with a grin she didn¡¯t bother to hide. ¡°Where was this reservation when meeting me?¡± ¡°You attacked me while I was basically naked,¡± Arthur pointed out with a damnably attractive wry smile, ¡°so I didn¡¯t think being reserved really mattered in that instance.¡± His body really was a work of tailored genetic art. The mental image conjured by her memory did not help, and she felt a traitorous blush spreading across her cheeks in a wave of heat. Especially when paired with the decidedly inappropriate and debased line of thinking she¡¯d only moments ago been following. She had no idea where the thoughts were coming from. She was by her nature largely disinterested in the idea of sex in general. Combat was what she loved, as well as art, and music. Sex had always been a thing people did, but which she had little active interest in. She was saving herself for marriage for her own values as much as she was for societal reasons. The fact that Arthur so easily interested her physically was, truthfully, bewildering. She wondered if it was the psions at play, or something built into his genetics. Focus, Circe! ¡°You make a valid point, I suppose,¡± she said with a deliberate clearing of her throat while she ordered her thoughts and ran over the possibilities in her mind. ¡°As far as my father and his staff goes, I cannot say there is anything too important to consider. Our Seneschal is a good man, and our First Captain is an honorable woman. I cannot think of much to say, truthfully. My father appreciates sincerity more than anything else.¡± ¡°Sincerity, huh? Are you sure?¡± Arthur asked with clear amusement. ¡°I¡­ yes. Yes. Despite your snarky disposition, Ser Magellan, I think he actually will appreciate your honest comportment¡ªeventually,¡± she concluded with a returned grin back at him. ¡°Oh? Then I can¡¯t wait,¡± Arthur said with another wry smile as they approached the waiting clump of four. Lord Atreus was recognisable easily enough. Tall, attired in black armor, and bearing his customary grim visage and curated beard. His plumed helmet lay mag-locked to his left hip, and his right hand rested habitually on the hilt of his xiphos. Other than Arthur, he was the tallest man present¡ªand would have towered as the sole exception were it not for Arthur¡¯s even more impressive stature. Beside Atreus stood her father himself. He was tall for a Graecian man at 6¡¯2, and had a head of striking silver-blond hair that complemented his lightly bronzed skin. Instead of the formal wear Circe had seen him in during Arthur¡¯s recent arrival, he wore a more comfortable attire. A flowing cloak crafted from the mane of a slain Laconian Lion was wrapped his shoulders, and swept down to his feet with a luxurious stylization that allowed it to glide upon the floor while the man walked, not enough to be dirtied, but enough to give the air of supreme confidence and wealth. It was something her mother had impressed upon him, she knew. He¡¯d worn a set of matching black leggings and overcoat beneath the cloak, with the latter buttoned in silver along the right side of his broad chest, and the crimson lion of House Leos emblazoned in bright silk over his heart. On his feet he wore knee-high boots made of dark leather that seemed to pair naturally with his cloak. The same Lion as the source, perhaps. A long xiphos was sheathed on his right hip, and a hand adorned in several elegant rings rested upon it. For all that the rings seemed a touch ostentatious, Circe knew all-too-well that he could wield the sword with great proficiency. His gaze was warm when it met hers, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile back in greeting despite a desire for professionalism. Her father had always been good at making people smile. Beside her father stood the short, jolly figure of the House¡¯s Seneschal¡ªhis ridiculously long and curled mustache and rotund figure a sharp contrast to the ruthlessly brilliant intellect that lurked behind his squat and cheerful exterior. He was attired in simple fare, with a charcoal waistcoat and pants both pinstriped, and a golden link for his pocket watch extending up toward his center torso. The cane he walked with rested idly at his side, and he watched their approach with a sharpness to his otherwise warm gaze that set Circe at ease. She had always trusted Stephanos¡¯ wisdom. The final person in the line-up was her favorite after her father. Daphne Bladebreaker had been the iron spine behind House Leos¡¯ safety for the better part of a century. She''d been recruited by Circe¡¯s Grandfather as a young soldier, trained by Kidem¨®nes, and had chosen to serve House Leos over the Kings themselves. She was a tall, muscular woman with a shock of blonde hair run through with gray streaks, and cut short into a manageable bob with braided ponytails at the rear. Her attire was armor, simple and efficient, with crimson lacquer across the powered suit and gold highlights to demonstrate her rank and authority. She wore her custom blade proudly upon her right hip, its length shaped around the blade-catching crescent above the crossguard that had given Daphne her moniker. Her shield was nowhere to be seen at present, though Circe knew she could deploy a plasma barrier from her left vambrace at a moment¡¯s notice. Her cloak, as black as the space around Hellas, was thick and fur-lined¡ªmarked by the pelt of an Hellenic Dire Wolf and emblazoned with the crimson sigil of the House Leos lion rampant upon the obsidian river of the cloak proper. The woman¡¯s features, which might once have been pretty, were now faintly distorted by a hare-lipped scar and similar wound over her left eye¡ªboth taken in defense of her family¡ªdown to the middle of her cheek. Daphne oriented toward Circe with a single welcoming smile, before defaulting back to neutral-bordering-hostile appraisal of Arthur¡¯s towering physique beside her. Another quick glance to her side showed the psion-dense offworlder in a state of utter ease, as if he were walking into a place of his control, at his choosing, and in perfect awareness that he was the one in charge. The confidence, be it psion-influenced or not, was momentarily baffling. She could almost sense the truth of it, vaguely, through their resonance. There were so many things about Arthur that just didn¡¯t quite fit. Her chance to dwell on the details however was robbed when her own quartet came to a halt at polite speaking distance from her father¡¯s, and she was forced to focus on the exchange at hand. ¡°Good afternoon, Father.¡± ¡°Welcome back, Circe,¡± Menelaus replied warmly. ¡°I take it from our guest¡¯s new attire, your spirited desire to speak with him, prior to his meeting us, bore fruit?¡± Circe cleared her throat subtly at her father¡¯s amused tone and affected a gracious smile while ignoring the flush of embarrassment that faintly warmed her cheeks. ¡°Yes, actually. Ser Magellan and I reached an equitable understanding, and I am looking forward to seeing him fight on our behalf¡ªpresuming he passes your inspection, father.¡± ¡°Oho!¡± Stephanos exclaimed with a raise of his bushy eyebrows. ¡°Lady Circe finds promise in another pilot? Now I truly have seen everything!¡± His smile, while jovial, never eroded the critical appraisal of Arthur that filled his eyes. ¡°I look forward to seeing your skills for myself, young man.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Daphne agreed curtly. ¡°I too wish to understand what manner of man has so impressed our lady heiress.¡± ¡°It would be my honor to demonstrate for you both,¡± Arthur replied with a courteous smile, ¡°after all, what is the worth of a skill that is not proven?¡± Both Stephanos and Daphne appeared faintly surprised by his words, and glanced once again from Circe back to the tall blond pilot, with expressions that were more thoughtful than before. Wondering, perhaps, at how exactly their conversation had proceeded. Circe felt her cheeks heat even more at what she knew was very respectful, but very clear¡ªat least to her¡ªprotectiveness on the part of both the Seneschal and First Captain. The fact they were already suspecting something might have happened only served to embarrass her further. Did they truly forget how many men she had outright and even physically rejected without hesitation? Surely they didn¡¯t think a mercenary would be any different. The memory of Arthur¡¯s naked, freshly showered body entered her mind and she bit her lip to dismiss the image. Damn her traitorous mind! Damn his bloody psions for exacerbating it! Circe instead turned her attention to Atreus and her father who both, interestingly enough, seemed far less inclined toward suspicion or concern. Atreus was observing Arthur with a passive implacability that seemed standard for the Myrmid¨®n, and her father meanwhile was watching with something approaching genuine interest mixed with an almost boyish excitement. It never ceased to amaze her how non-threatening her father could appear. ¡°I have heard fantastical things about you, Arthur Magellan. Things that, had they not come from my own wife, and been vouched for by Lord Atreus, may have given me cause for great skepticism. As it stands now, I simply find myself insatiably curious as to the reality of those tales¡ªand what such might mean for my family, if the stories are proven to be true.¡± ¡°I came here with intent to enter your service, my lord, with full awareness of what that means,¡± Arthur responded simply. ¡°And that is all you desire?¡± Menelaus enquired. ¡°No,¡± Arthur answered honestly, ¡°I desire my independence from the shackles of Graecian politics in the long-term, and that means proving myself as a Hetairoi and earning sponsorship to join the ranks of the Eupatridae. The fact House Leos aligned at least on paper with my values simply made the choice easier.¡± ¡°And now that you have enjoyed some measure of our hospitality?¡± the Duke asked. Circe turned to Arthur fully when the question was asked, and felt her heart rate spike slightly when he turned his eyes¡ªlike windows into the myriad hues of the skies above¡ªto regard her intently. When he spoke, his voice seemed to almost resonate within her very soul. ¡°After what I have exchanged with your lady daughter, your grace, I can safely say that I believe I will find what I seek here in House Leos.¡± Even knowing that it was the psions at work, Circe didn¡¯t mind. She allowed the feeling of relief to flood her, and the words to buoy her heart. It was a confirmation of her hopes, and a validation of her desires. Circe knew then that all six other people present were looking between her and Arthur once more in question. Even the Kidem¨®nes that had witnessed their true interaction. All were wondering. All were questioning. Unspoken was the curiosity as to what exactly there was between the lady and the strange out-sector mercenary. For the first time, though, she just couldn¡¯t find it in herself to care. B1 | Chapter 21: Sword-Saint Menelaus
I knew he was special from the first moment I saw my daughter¡¯s gaze, and the enraptured fascination that filled it. I had seen her scornful, dismissive, haughty, superior, and outright condescending¡ªbut I had never seen her so utterly transfixed. It was as if he were a star, and she was a planet caught in his orbit. If I had known what the future held, I might have pleaded with Atreus to slay him there and then. Yet I did not, and as a result, all that we knew as constant has been turned on its head. I wonder what my forefathers would say if they could speak. Somehow I know their spirits are howling while they watch this madness unfold, and the Humanosphere blazes all around us.
¡°I am glad you could join us today, Ser Magellan,¡± Menelaus said while drawing Arthur¡¯s attention from the depths of Circe¡¯s eyes, and back to the Duke of Pallik¨¢ri himself. ¡°I am very excited for you to tour our facilities. They are something of a point of pride for House Leos.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my honor, your grace. I hope that at the end of this week, I will be able to offer you validation for the hope you are placing upon me,¡± Arthur replied courteously while simultaneously berating himself mentally for letting the heiress¡¯ psions wiggle past his defenses. He found it hard to extricate himself from her aura when he lost focus on holding it at bay, even with his extensive experience in combating such things. His resonance with Circe Leos seemed to undermine his self-control with ease. The heiress herself looked away only a few moments after he did, and the faint flush of embarrassment on her cheeks seemed to confirm her own awareness of his attention. Making her uncomfortable was the last thing he wanted, and he chided himself mentally while focusing on the platinum-haired patrician observing them both. ¡°A week, Ser Magellan?¡± Menelaus asked curiously. ¡°I-It was my idea, father!¡± Circe spoke up while clearing her throat. ¡°I spoke to Arthur¡ªthat is, Ser Magellan¡ªat length and we came to an agreement. He will spend a week learning all he can about our House, our home, and our culture. In return I will learn about him and where he comes from, and by the end of that week, the two of us will duel.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Menelaus said with a glance toward Atreus, who met his eyes with a grunt. Arthur remained quiet while Menelaus seemed to consider Circe¡¯s words, and simply awaited the Duke¡¯s determination. He had thought that perhaps the Patriarch wanted him to demonstrate his skills sooner, given Atreus¡¯ comments on the shuttle in. He supposed now was when he found out. ¡°A week, then,¡± Menelaus said instead a moment later, ¡°that seems like an agreeable timetable to me, and it allows us to put preparations in place for your inauguration should you prove worthy of the position being offered, Ser Arthur.¡± Menelaus¡¯ use of his name seemed intentional, as did the small smile that accompanied it. The Lord of Leos seemed to both be acknowledging his daughter¡¯s use of it, while also using the ¡®Ser¡¯ moniker as a means of ensuring proper separation between a High Noble and potential vassal. It was as close to a welcoming embrace as Arthur might ever receive. He felt a tension he hadn¡¯t realized he¡¯d been holding melt away. ¡°You have my gratitude for your understanding, your grace,¡± he replied sincerely. ¡°Not at all. I defer to my daughter¡¯s insight in this case,¡± Menelaus responded warmly. ¡°She has been a very engaging conversationalist,¡± Arthur agreed with a wry smile. Circe glanced over and up at him, and Arthur turned his smile down to her in turn. She bit her lip and looked away in embarrassment, and he let his smile fade. Had he misread the friendship they had started cultivating? Or was it a matter of appearances in front of her father? He couldn¡¯t tell, and resonance was not helpful for such specificity. ¡°The training machine has been prepared for you as well, Ser Magellan, when you are ready,¡± the small and rotund man with the impressive mustache commented jovially, and took Arthur¡¯s attention in the act. ¡°Though before that, perhaps introductions are in order? We appear to have all been relieved of our senses by your impressive presence.¡± A chuckle from Menelaus followed, and Arthur inclined his head with exacting politeness. ¡°A fine suggestion, sir. May I ask your name first?¡± ¡°Oho. Turnabout is fair play, I suppose! Very well, my boy. I am Stephanos Stephanopolous, Seneschal of House Leos.¡± ¡°Seneschal? Then you both aid Duke Leos in balancing the accounts, and see to the comforts of all present I assume? I will be sure to endeavor to remain in your good graces, Master Stephanopoulos.¡± ¡°Ha! Smart boy,¡± Stephanos replied with a grin that Arthur noted never fully reached his eyes. ¡°Keep that attitude about you, my boy, and we shall get along well indeed.¡± Arthur returned the smile with a polite one of his own, and ignored the amused look of the Duke¡ªwhich was matched by the equally disinterested passive frown of Atreus¡ªwhile turning to the scarred and armored woman beside Stephanos. ¡°And if I may ask your name in turn, my lady?¡± ¡°I am no lady,¡± the woman replied in her gruff voice. ¡°I am called Daphne Bladebreaker, but Daphne is what most refer to me as. I stand as First Captain of House Leos¡¯ elite Lion Guard.¡± ¡°First Captain Bladebreaker,¡± Arthur confirmed with another bow of the head. ¡°As a potential Hetairoi of House Leos, I look forward to your tuition and guidance in matters of war, First Captain.¡± Daphne snorted, but something approaching approval glimmered in her eyes. ¡°I doubt I can teach you anything about Eidolon combat, Ser Knight-Errant. Of the more mortal martial forms, well, we shall see.¡± Her eyes raked over him with all the non-existent intimacy of a mechanic looking over an unknown machine, and something approaching interest entered her eyes¡ªthough it was the interest of a builder surveying as-of-yet unknown materials. ¡°You will not be the first Eidolon pilot that has sought to learn combat outside of the safety of a cockpit. Perhaps you will be one of the rare few that manages to pass muster, though. Eventually.¡± Arthur responded calmly at her subtle implication of an Eidolon pilot¡¯s failings, and did not rise the bait of her inferring the ¡®safety¡¯ of a cockpit. After all, Menelaus was proof that Eidolons were anything but safe¡ªand Arthur could tell almost immediately that the woman was trying to push him for a reaction. He would not be so easily riled, though. ¡°I will endeavor to prove your hopes justified, First Captain. I look forward to sparring with you to that end.¡± ¡°Mm¡­¡± Daphne responded with a grudging look of surprised approval. ¡°We shall see.¡± ¡°I already know Lord Atreus,¡± Arthur said with a glance at the dour Myrmid¨®n, ¡°and while his impressive sense of humor and jovial countenance remain a constant boon to me, I shan¡¯t impress upon him to pretend to enjoy senseless formalities.¡± All eyes snapped to Arthur in surprise at his words, and then immediately to the tall Myrmid¨®n with a mix of shock, bewilderment, and anticipation for his reaction. Atreus, however, simply snorted. ¡°Your confidence will be the end of you one day, Magellan,¡± the Spartan said in a disaffected manner. ¡°Not easily, while I have you and your Kidem¨®nes brothers to defend me, Lord Atreus. It¡¯s only thanks to your volunteering to look after my well-being that I can be so confidently glib, after all,¡± Arthur responded with a casual smile. The Myrmid¨®n snorted again, and Arthur heard laughter from Perseus behind him. ¡°Forgive me, my lords,¡± the Kidem¨®nas said through his helmet after Endymion¡¯s armored gaze swung toward him in an unspoken reprimand. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help it. Arthur¡ªah, Ser Magellan¡ªhas a way of making even these formal situations oddly entertaining.¡± ¡°No apology necessary, Kidem¨®nas Andino,¡± Menelaus said before anyone else could speak. ¡°I, too, found his comments most amusing. I suppose I am also the last person left from whom you need introductions, Ser Athur, though it seems rather pointless now.¡± Arthur smiled back at the Duke with a feeling of genuine relief at his subtle rescue of Perseus, and inclined his head in recognition of the other man¡¯s point. ¡°You are aware of our needs, I take it, from my wife¡¯s explanations?¡± Menelaus asked with a casual shift of his weight. ¡°I am aware of the need for a House Leos Hetairoi to remind the Ascendancy of your bloodline¡¯s honor and capability, your grace,¡± Arthur confirmed while carefully choosing his words¡ªespecially with Circe¡¯s jade eyes fixed on him intently. ¡°And while I understand both you and your lady daughter to be more than capable of filling the role with success and prestige, I also understand the importance your lives hold for the future of House Leos.¡± ¡°Hm. You truly are a careful man, aren¡¯t you?¡± Menelaus asked with a wry smile. ¡°Managing to dance around my shame while simultaneously building up mine and my daughter¡¯s capability, as if you yourself did not make us look like ungifted mundanes by comparison.¡± ¡°My lord¡ª¡± Daphne began grimly, only to be silenced by a lift of Menelaus¡¯ hand. ¡°No, Daphne. He meant no insult, and I will not have him punished for being honest¡ªespecially in a time when such courage is distressingly absent among many who would call themselves Knights,¡± Menelaus then lowered his hand and stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Arthur¡¯s while he continued. ¡°My failure and arrogance led to my sterilization and invalidity as a pilot of worth, and forced my daughter into an untenable situation. My House, ancient and prestigious as Hellas itself, is encircled by its enemies on all sides.¡± Arthur remained silent and attentive when Menelaus reached out and placed a surprisingly warm palm on his shoulder, and squeezed with a strength that spoke of decades of martial practice. For all his gentle demeanor, the long-haired Lord of Leos truly was as powerful as the lion he emblazoned upon his breast. ¡°You are hope, Arthur Magellan. Hope sent by my beloved wife under the guard of my oldest friend, and to the aid of my beset family and dwindling allies. You are the vindication of our resilience. I am not so foolish as to presume your loyalty, nor your care for our plight. Not yet, after so many mercenaries have failed us in the past.¡± the patrician smiled apologetically before he continued. ¡°But I recognize your resolve, and the commitment you have made to learn. If nothing else, that and the fact your self-interest aligns with ours is something I trust that more than declaration of fealty absent foundation or basis.¡± Arthur felt himself relax at Menelaus¡¯ words, and inclined his head in acceptance. ¡°I can¡¯t deny the unvarnished truth of your words, my lord,¡± he said while feeling the more elegant speech Zacaris had wielded like a blade coming to the fore. ¡°I will confess to some measure of desire to act on your daughter and wife¡¯s behalf, for the simple fact that both have shown me both a kindness and welcome that has merited my respect and appreciation¡ªand in Circe¡¯s case, my genuine and purely companionable fondness.¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. He saw Circe¡¯s eyes widen and watched her look up in slight panic at his words, and for all that he worried at her reaction, he couldn¡¯t help but feel amused by the girlish nature of the otherwise indomitable heiress¡¯ reaction. Her reaction, despite him having clarified the acceptably platonic nature of his fondness for her, inspired a surge of further endearment. ¡°I believe I will fight for you, my lord,¡± Arthur continued in a way that felt right, ¡°not because of romantic notions of honor and duty, but because I need you, and you need me¡ªand together, I believe we can achieve a mutual satisfaction that will see both our desires met.¡± He looked over the assembled others, and then refocused on Menelaus. ¡°The fact that my admittedly brief exposure to House Leos has already started to reveal a place of true honor, with bonds of loyalty and fidelity between a Duke and his subordinates; only serves to reaffirm my faith in Duchess Cassandra.¡± ¡°So you have made your decision even without my blessing?¡± Menelaus asked. ¡°On a preliminary scale, my lord,¡± Arthur confirmed boldly. ¡°Whether or not that is an insult enough to turn you away from me, I have. House Leos continues to impress, and I see no reason to obfuscate and pretend otherwise. I will fight for you, I believe, and in the act I will realize my own ambitions in turn.¡± Menelaus regarded him in silence for a moment, and then laughed quietly. ¡°Gods of Olympus!¡± Menelaus declared with a genuine smile. ¡°They truly have no idea what a monster is coming for them. If your skills in an Eidolon are half as prodigious as your charisma and way with words, Arthur Magellan; you are going to bring our enemies, both foreign and domestic, to their knees.¡± Arthur¡¯s reply was given in the form of a genuine smile of his own. Menelaus Leos was a man that understood, and that alone was enough. ¡°That, my lord Menelaus, is exactly my intention.¡± ¡°Then let us tarry no longer in this fugue of formality,¡± Menelaus declared with a clap of his hand on Arthur¡¯s shoulder, and a turn of his gaze toward Stephanos. ¡°The facilities are indeed ready for viewing?¡± ¡°They are, my lord,¡± the shrewd-but-jolly Seneschal replied cheerfully. ¡°Very well. Let us be off, then. We have a tour to conduct, and if my instincts are correct, the celebratory feast for a newly sworn Hetairoi to plan for in the coming week. Will you see to those arrangements, Stephanos?¡± ¡°It will be my pleasure, my lord,¡± the Seneschal replied with a bow, and a prompt access of the omni-comp on his wrist. ¡°Will you be joining us, Lord Atreus?¡± Menelaus asked with a glance at the taller man. ¡°Of course. It is my duty to ensure Arthur abides by the codices of respect while he is here. If he¡¯s lacking, I¡¯ll have an excuse to end him, and I would hate to miss that.¡± A moment of awkward silence followed the casual pronunciation of potential murder, right up until Circe broke it with a snort. ¡°If you suspected him of being a buffoon, non¨®s, he would already be dead.¡± ¡°She has you there, old friend,¡± Menelaus said calmly. ¡°Hmph,¡± Atreus grunted, ¡°you¡¯re too cheeky for your own good, girl.¡± ¡°As my godfather, you bear much of the blame for that, I should think.¡± The revelation of the relationship surprised Arthur, though apparently he was the only one. Menelaus simply smiled, Daphne and Stephanos exchanged knowing looks, and the Kidem¨®nes behind him seemed unbothered by the reveal. ¡°That makes a few things click together,¡± Arthur said with a sigh and a wry look at Atreus. ¡°No wonder you were so quick to answer the Duchess¡¯ call.¡± ¡°It is hardly my fault you failed to properly investigate my relationship with House Leos on our trip here, boy,¡± Atreus said flatly. ¡°Your error was assuming anything at all.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to learn from that,¡± Arthur responded with a grimace. ¡°Good,¡± Atreus said with a nod. ¡°Now let us be off in truth, before we get bogged down by another pointless conversation that none of us wish to have. This tour has been put off enough, and the watching gods are likely as frustrated by the lack as I am. Lead the way, Menelaus.¡± ¡°As you wish, my lord Myrmid¨®n,¡± the Duke said with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. Circe¡¯s gaze shifted to meet Arthur¡¯s, and the smile she sent him was approving. Without even thinking, he sent a matching one right back. Arthur fell into step behind the group as they set off through the gardens toward the western edge of the palace, his Kidem¨®nes escorts behind him while Menelaus and Atreus came together to speak quietly at the very front of their group. Daphne and Stephanos had gathered around Circe, and Arthur allowed some respectful distance while the trio conversed¡ªthough the Seneschal did so with half his attention on the holographic screen he was even then manipulating with rapid and intentional movements. ¡°You handled yourself well,¡± Endymion muttered quietly from behind and to his left as they walked, and were able to find some privacy of their own with which to chat. ¡°Thank you,¡± Arthur responded with a glance back and genuine smile. ¡°I felt at ease, though I suspect that¡¯s as much to do with the Duke¡¯s psions as it is my own confidence.¡± ¡°He was a gifted pilot,¡± Endymion confirmed, ¡°though his daughter reportedly outstrips him by the same capacity you outstrip her. It is¡­ Mm.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°What Endymion means,¡± Perseus elaborated from his right flank, ¡°is that you baffle us all still, Arthur. The sheer density of your aura is alarming. It¡¯s almost like it¡¯s growing in effect the longer we¡¯re around you. When we first met you, it was a more subtle thing. You also seemed somehow more subtle. More, ah¡­¡± ¡°Simple. Veiled.¡± Endymion supplied quietly. ¡°Yes. Thank you, brother,¡± Perseus said in agreement. ¡°More simple. It¡¯s almost as if you¡¯ve subtly become more complex the longer we¡¯ve known you, and not in the way of revelation, but more so as if you¡¯ve been waking up, in a way. It¡¯s difficult to explain. It¡¯s also markedly suspicious, if I¡¯m being honest.¡± ¡°Suspicious? I suppose I can understand that,¡± Arthur said with an honest nod. It was true, after all, in more ways than the Kidem¨®nes could likely ever understand without first hand experience. His returned fragments of memory had changed him, and he felt almost as if his psions had somehow been muted prior. It seemed as if Nataliya had not only wrapped his psyche in layers, but had also managed to somehow alter the nature of his psions¡¯ aura. Only now that he had started regaining his memories was that web unraveling, likely by design. The fact he did not remember whether or not he was currently at the true level of his natural psion density was in and of itself another cause for concern. It was like walking into a room armed with a sword he could neither see, nor feel the true shape of. ¡°It is only because Lord Atreus seems perfectly at ease with the changes that we have deferred our concern,¡± Endymion explained bluntly. ¡°Were it not for the Myrmid¨®n¡¯s confidence in what was happening, we may have reassessed your threat factor.¡± ¡°Well that¡¯s not worrying at all,¡± Arthur said with mild, but companionable sarcasm. ¡°It isn¡¯t meant to be a threat, Arthur,¡± Perseus said reassuringly. ¡°It¡¯s just the truth. You¡¯re strange. Very strange. We don¡¯t really have a precedent for this, and if not for Lord Atreus, we¡¯d have already probably spirited you off to the Fortress of Ares for the Myrmid¨®nes Strategos to interrogate. Truthfully, that may still be a possibility.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Atreus may send for him of his own volition, or another House might intervene and demand you be examined by the Strategos instead,¡± Perseus elaborated while the group stepped through another wide, open archway and into a long and spacious marble-lined hallway. ¡°I suspect the reason that Lord Atreus and Lord Menelaus are so intent on having you swear fealty is that it gives them some manner of legal avenue to oppose your subordination by the Kings.¡± ¡°And that doesn¡¯t bother either of you?¡± Arthur asked with genuine surprise. ¡°We serve the Kings, Arthur, but we serve the Ascendancy before any individual. Even them,¡± Perseus explained while they progressed through the corridor, and turned left at an intersection. ¡°House Leos is one of the oldest, and most fundamentally honorable Houses in the Ascendancy. They aren¡¯t without their own controversies and secrets, of course, but no Eupatridae family is.¡± ¡°But of the Great Houses, Leos is one of the few that has been truly good throughout the centuries,¡± Endymion added firmly. ¡°Which is why you took me to them.¡± Endymion grunted in response. ¡°They claim descent from Leonidas himself, actually,¡± Perseus continued when Endymion didn¡¯t. ¡°The original one. From Terra.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pretty bold claim,¡± Arthur admitted. ¡°And backed by genealogy, thanks to the colonists,¡± Perseus confirmed. ¡°It explains their prestige at least,¡± Arthur said thoughtfully. ¡°That and the Lion symbol makes them heavily scrutinized, given its importance to our culture. It¡¯s resulted in an unapologetically honor-driven culture within the House.¡± ¡°Which makes them worth bending the rules for,¡± Arthur surmised while listening. ¡°Only to a point...¡± Endymion muttered. ¡°It helps that House Leos has birthed three Spartan Kings,¡± Perseus added enthusiastically, ¡°and in every major conflict we¡¯ve faced, they''ve reliably sent out heroes when Graecia needed them most.¡± ¡°That explains your deference, at least,¡± Arthur said while the pieces started clicking together. ¡°I¡¯d read that House Leos had strong ties to the Spartan throne, but I hadn¡¯t realized they¡¯d actually produced Kings¡ªmore than one, at that.¡± ¡°Our Kings are selected differently based on which of the two capitals they represent. In Athenai it¡¯s all about intellect, debate, philosophy, and economic capability.¡± ¡°In Sparta, it¡¯s martial skill and proven honorable conduct,¡± Endymion cut in when Perseus finished. ¡°Spartan Kings are decided by duels. Always, these are to the death¡ªeither between the incumbent and the reigning monarch, or between the two most qualified candidates if the King announces a retirement prior to being legally challenged.¡± ¡°But Kings from both cities can only be challenged thirty years after their inauguration, right?¡± Arthur asked. ¡°Correct,¡± Perseus said with a nod. ¡°It stops things from being too chaotic. Every new King is granted thirty years to rule unopposed, as long as they don¡¯t violate the tenets of rule. In addition to that, every time a Spartan or Athenian King is installed their counterpart receives a ten year grace from challenges, so the more senior of the two can help the new Monarch find their feet and learn the proper balance between their roles.¡± ¡°That¡¯s both extremely complicated, and extremely simple at the same time,¡± Arthur said with a shake of the head. ¡°I can only imagine what your elections are like.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get him started,¡± Endymion warned. ¡°Andino is far too obsessed with our legislature.¡± ¡°Spoilsport,¡± Perseus said good-naturedly. Arthur opened his mouth to poke the can of worms just as Menelaus¡¯ voice carried back to him and drew their attention. ¡°Here we are,¡± the silver-haired patrician said with his gaze focused on Arthur, while standing before what looked to be a reinforced pair of starship-grade blast doors. ¡°The private hangar of House Leos. If you choose to swear fealty to me, ser Magellan¡ª¡± the fact that the patriarch was acting as if it were not a given spoke positively of his respect for procedure, if nothing else ¡°¡ªand become a member of my House, this will likely be where you spend most of your time. If you are at all like most of us who pilot Eidolons, you¡¯ll probably make more use of the quarters here than the ones in the residence.¡± ¡°I¡¯d deny that possibility, your grace, but I fear it would make me a liar,¡± Arthur said with an agreeing smile. Chuckles from Menelaus, Circe, and even Stephanos filled the quiet corridor at that. ¡°Normally we would have members of the Lion Guard stationed here, but for this, I have asked my First Captain to give us privacy. Once your inauguration is concluded, they will be installed here to defend you while you work. My understanding is that you will be building your own machine from the ground up?¡± ¡°That is correct, my lord. Ypon¨¢varchos Leos¡¯ offer to that effect is a large part of why I am here, after all.¡± ¡°Good. Then Daphne shall ensure you are given all the security possible while you commence your work.¡± The First Captain bowed her head at her liege¡¯s words, and fixed Arthur with another assessing stare in the same moment as both Circe and Stephanos did as well. It seemed that Menelaus had not until that moment made that part of the deal open knowledge. Judging from the hungry look in Circe¡¯s eyes, she was already thinking about the technological advancements a Fringe-born pilot might bring, and the unvarnished desire for the upgrades that filled her gaze almost made Arthur blush. ¡°If you are ready, Ser Magellan, we shall enter the hangar for the tour. In a week, this is where you and my daughter will prepare for your duel.¡± ¡°Will it be simulated, my lord, or live?¡± Arthur asked curiously. This time when Menelaus laughed, amusement appeared on the faces of everyone. Even dour Atreus and reserved Daphne. ¡°My dear Knight-Errant,¡± the Patriarch said with a sly grin. ¡°This is House Leos. We are the bloodline of Leonidas the Lion.¡± As if for effect, the massive blast doors started to rumble open while Menelaus spoke, and Arthur looked toward them with a heart-palpitating spike of anticipation. Menelaus¡¯ grin remained when he continued. ¡°We always do it live.¡± B1 | Chapter 22: Confessions of a Graecian Princess
They say words carry with them the weight of worlds, and that dynasties rise and fall from but a whisper. In the hangar before our bout, I saw the truth of that statement. He exposed us both. Drove home the reality of our investment. In his eyes, I saw the same need, the same hunger I saw in myself when looking at my reflection¡ªand yet he so easily found a way to explain it away. To divest us of it. If only his words that day proved to be true. If only they had been enough to prevent what came in the months that followed.
Arthur stepped out of the elevator to the secured subterranean House Leos hangar with an appreciative look at its expansive interior. Five towering cradles of scaffolding and cutting edge¡ªfor the mid-Rim¡ªmachinery built for Eidolons anywhere from the smallest fifteen meter models to the tallest twenty-five meter models stood waiting within, each occupied by what he recognized as the standard frame units produced for training and testing purposes. All save the one in the middle, which instead held what Arthur immediately knew was Circe¡¯s machine. It stood at perhaps twenty meters high, with a pair of folded wings at its back and a relatively short xiphos on its right hip. Its head was crowned by a metallic band akin to a crown above its dormant, unlit green eyes and the inverted chevron of its featureless mouth¡ªso like a warrior¡¯s mask. A halo of steel was mounted on its back, with its highest point visible above the machine¡¯s head. At first glance, it almost appeared as if it were a disc of light even while dormant. He could only imagine how it would blaze during battle. What its purpose, though, Arthur could only guess at. The Eidolon¡¯s main body was a decidedly stark shade of white, with solid pink adornment across its chest, biceps, and thighs. Articulated mechanical joints showed its capacity for mobility, and the faint thickness of internal thrusters marked its feet, arms, shoulders, and wings as points of primary mobility. A hoplon was mounted upon its left arm, and its surface was marked by a stylized pattern which Arthur recognized from his education as a medusa¡¯s head. The entire machine held a faint femininity of form, and its ¡®hips¡¯ even appeared ever-so-slightly widened as if to indicate it was designed to imitate a more female identity. He remembered Core Eidolons with aesthetic feminine builds¡ªlike breasts and similar hips¡ªpiloted by the nobility of the Imperium, but he hadn¡¯t expected to see the same aesthetic pursuits as far out as the Rim given the far greater need for function over form. ¡°The Pallas Athena.¡± Menelaus said into the silence of Arthur¡¯s observation, drawing his attention and giving him a moment of realization that everybody had been observing his reaction to the Eidolon. ¡°Your family¡¯s unit?¡± ¡°Circe¡¯s,¡± the Duke confirmed with a nod. ¡°My own, the one which I inherited, was destroyed. The Pallas Athena was built from the remnants of the Ares Martialis.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised you were able to secure two such meaningful names.¡± ¡°The perks of lineage, I suppose,¡± Menelaus said with a chuckle. ¡°Many families laid claim to Olympian monikers when Eidolons were first brought to the fore of stellar warfare, but my ancestors were shrewd. They secured these two while most were still hotly seeking rights over the more prominent names.¡± ¡°You gave up on Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades in favor of equally known but less prestigious monikers,¡± Arthur observed with his approval evident in his voice. ¡°Precisely,¡± Menelaus agreed with a smile. ¡°It is still a sore point for Athenian Houses that we claimed the name of their patron, but they have no legal means by which to challenge it outside of a duel, which they have historically declined to do. Though times being what they are¡­¡± ¡°That might change,¡± Arthur surmised, ¡°unless you can show strength enough to make your enemies think twice.¡± ¡°Exactly so.¡± Menelaus affirmed with a nod. ¡°And the other units?¡± ¡°Training models taken from the Navy, and rebuilt with the last generation¡¯s technology,¡± the Duke explained with a gesturing hand, ¡°and while I doubt they will pass muster for someone from the Fringe, Ser Arthur, they are as advanced as one can attain outside of a titled machine.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Arthur said while moving forward to join Menelaus without thinking, ¡°so named Eidolons have special privileges, here, as well.¡± ¡°Yes, that is part of the appeal,¡± Menelaus said with a companionable smile. ¡°We are permitted to build and upgrade them to as advanced a specification as Graecian technology allows. It is part of the privilege of the Eupatridae families, and one that is hotly pursued by those without such prestige.¡± ¡°Which is why inter-house duels are so frequent,¡± Arthur extrapolated with an understanding nod. ¡°The desire for the named models, or rather, the right to claim them.¡± ¡°Yes, and our claim to the Pallas Athena will expire in a year. Before your arrival, I was sure we would end up with no recourse but for my daughter to defend her title herself.¡± ¡°Well, that shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Twelve months is a tight schedule, but if your automated fabrication facilities are up to the task, your grace¡ª¡± ¡°They are as good as you will find, even compared to military facilities,¡± Menelaus stated with utter confidence. ¡°¡ªthen I believe I will be able to realize a machine that will quickly dissuade challenge for House Leos.¡± ¡°And convince those Parthian dogs to rethink their aggression, I wager,¡± Stephanos added enthusiastically. ¡°After all, we cannot forget that even with the tensions among the Houses, war looms on the horizon still.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Menelaus agreed with a nod to his Seneschal, ¡°a fact we all would do well to remember.¡± ¡°What is House Leos¡¯ expected contribution to the war, if it were to break out?¡± Arthur asked while running his eyes over the five filled Eidolon berths. Training Models and a single Elite model. The House really was in trouble. ¡°Usually when called to war, we supply a Hetairoi in a title unit, and an honor guard of twelve frontline models,¡± Menelaus explained while Arthur turned to listen respectfully. ¡°In our prime, House Leos boasted thirty Hetairoi and of those, two were powerful enough to give meaning to the names of Ares Martialis and Pallas Athena.¡± Menelaus said with a sad smile. ¡°Historically we have always had a male and female Hetairoi of great skill, with the former riding to war and the second defending the homefront. Now, though¡­¡± ¡°You only have Circe,¡± Arthur said with a look for the proud heiress, ¡°and she is too valuable.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the Duke agreed simply. ¡°And there are no Hetairoi you can find to pilot the Hoplites?¡± ¡°The Hoplites are part of why we cannot find Hetairoi,¡± Menelaus clarified solemnly. ¡°While we could invest in building new models if we had the pilots to justify it, the simple reality is that nobody will fight for us. The embarrassment of only having these units on offer is enough that our enemies can dissuade them before we even try.¡± ¡°Even good Laconians decline us,¡± Stephanos added gravely. ¡°I have made overtures to multiple promising young pilots in the Navy, and all have declined¡ªpolitely, in most cases, but declined no less. They are offered far more agreeable terms by Houses with far better machines.¡± ¡°And you cannot build the models to bring them?¡± ¡°A legal issue,¡± Menelaus elaborated with a grimace. ¡°You cannot build combat models without legally ordained Hetairoi to pilot them, but you also cannot recruit good Hetairoi without offering them models for use.¡± ¡°But the offer you made me was for a custom model, my lord,¡± Arthur pointed out. ¡°Yes, because we have yet to replace the Ares Martialis, and so we may offer you the slot for that machine. If we wished to do the same for another pilot, we would need to appeal for another title allowance and a third Elite machine¡ªand with no Hetairoi for our current machines, that would not even pass the vetting process.¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°House Leos is seen as a rotting giant,¡± Atreus said with brutal honesty. ¡°Hellas views the House as doomed, and so no young and promising pilots will take a chance. It is not a failing on their part, it is instead the artful manipulation of Menelaus¡¯ enemies.¡± ¡°House Drakos has been whittling us down for generations,¡± Circe interjected angrily. ¡°They are eels and snakes, and have managed to instill false perceptions of House Leos through their manipulation of the narrative, and steady poisoning of impressionable minds.¡± ¡°Their star has been rising, and ours has declined,¡± Menelaus clarified more humbly. ¡°That is the price of true honor,¡± Daphne growled as if the matter were an old sore point. ¡°House Leos does not debase itself and use the same despicable, vile tactics of its enemies¡ªbut that comes with a cost.¡± ¡°I am not unfamiliar with such costs,¡± Arthur said while his Zacaris memories surfaced, and informed him of Houses on Albion he had personally obliterated with tactics far more vicious than mere rumor and intimidation. Good sense told him not to reveal those facts, but he couldn¡¯t help but wonder as to what it would take to lift House Leos back to prestige. Killing people was an ambivalent experience for Arthur. He knew that in his life as Zacaris, he had been desensitized to killing at a young age. It had been a necessity of life for an aspiring heir of Pendragon, and his past self had taken to it with great success over the years. He had killed an untold number of people, he knew, to achieve his goals. It was a strange thing to feel both sickened by and dismissive of killing all at once. Magellan had killed in the memories Nataliya had crafted, but only in combat and only out of utmost necessity. It was a jarring juxtaposition, false recollection or not, when put up against his true memories as Zacaris. Finding where his new ¡®combined¡¯ self fit in would be a long process, he realized. He doubted that he would find the answer before he had to kill again. Not if his assessment of House Leos¡¯ dire straits was even half accurate. ¡°You, too, have suffered for the needs of honor?¡± Menelaus asked appraisingly. ¡°No,¡± Arthur said with a look at the honorable Duke, ¡°but I have witnessed such suffering,¡± he elaborated carefully. ¡°I have stood witness while good men and women were crushed ruthlessly under the weight of their own ideals, and have seen their legacies obliterated beyond any recovery.¡± ¡°That will not be our fate!¡± Circe declared boldly. ¡°I will ensure Arthur is prepared!¡± ¡°No longer looking to take the fate of our lives upon your shoulders, daughter?¡± Circe turned to her father fiercely. ¡°I will do so still, father, in my own way. I realize, and have always realized, that putting myself at the fore is our last resort. The difference is that I never saw a way around it. Until now.¡± ¡°You barely know this man, Lady Circe,¡± Daphne objected. ¡°I know him enough to hope,¡± Circe insisted stubbornly while turning to Daphne. ¡°I know what I have witnessed, with my own eyes, when I tested him with a blade and ambush in his quart¡ª¡± her eyes went wide, and she snapped her hands over her mouth. All eyes were fixed on the princess, and then slowly looked to Arthur. Endymion and Perseus appeared unwilling to get involved, either. Arthur sighed at his companions¡¯ admittedly wise silence, and spoke up. ¡°Lady Circe ambushed me with a training xiphos in my apartments¡­¡± Menelaus¡¯ eyebrows rose. ¡°...after I had stepped out of the shower¡­¡± he continued with a grimace. Daphne and Stephanos stared at the heiress. ¡°...while I was in a towel,¡± Arthur concluded with an apologetic look at Circe. ¡°I see,¡± Menelaus said neutrally, ¡°and how did this ambush conclude, Ser Arthur?¡± ¡°Father, it really wasn¡¯t¡ª¡± Circe began earnestly. Menelaus silenced her with a look, and she huffed angrily. ¡°It ended with her blade at her throat, your grace,¡± Arthur responded honestly, ¡°and a pair of extremely confused Kidem¨®nes entering after the commotion. To her credit, Lady Circe was an excellent opponent¡ª¡± he gave a nod to the heiress, who smiled at him in thanks ¡°¡ªbut I have been extensively trained in unarmed combat since my early years.¡± The look Daphne gave him at that admission was a mix between curious and suspicious. ¡°And you only disarmed her?¡± Menelaus asked carefully. ¡°I did not take any liberties with your daughter, my lord, if that is your concern,¡± Arthur assured the Duke firmly. ¡°As if any man could!¡± Circe said indignantly. ¡°He only barely pinned me because¡ª¡± ¡°That is enough, Circe,¡± Menelaus commanded, to which the heiress grimaced. ¡°I intended no offense, your grace,¡± Arthur said more confidently than he immediately felt, especially with Atreus staring at him. ¡°But I did not ascertain her identity until after I put her on her back.¡± Several moments passed after that statement, and Arthur¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Uh. I didn¡¯t mean¡ª!¡± Atreus snorted. ¡°We know what you meant, boy.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Menelaus said with what Arthur recognized as the ghost of a smile, though the patrician¡¯s features were not without weighted consideration while watching him. ¡°I am not sure how to satisfy this debt of honor, in truth. I cannot think of an adequate form of repayment to ask for, given the gravity of the situation.¡± Arthur grimaced. ¡°Whatever you feel is necessary, my lord. I did not intend to breach your¡ª¡± ¡°You mistake me, Ser Arthur,¡± Menelaus cut in firmly, but not impolitely. ¡°It is not your debt of honor, but my own¡ªthrough my daughter, perhaps, but mine regardless. You are our guest, and the sacred tradition of our hospitality was violated.¡± ¡°Father, it was not like¡ª¡± ¡°Circe,¡± Menelaus continued with a hard look at his daughter, who fell silent once again and bit her lip, ¡°is a very spirited young woman. Most women in their mid-thirties are, given they are only a few short years into the prime of their lives. I would wager you are no different, Ser Arthur.¡± ¡°I cannot say I am entirely very different, no,¡± Arthur admitted. Circe glanced at him with relief at his words. Menelaus nodded in approval. ¡°Then I hope we can move past this, in time.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see her actions as worthy of a fuss, my lord,¡± Arthur said sincerely. ¡°She only did what she thought was right, poor execution or not. I have no need to press a grievance against her. She has been a welcome companion in the short time we have spent together today.¡± Menelaus observed him with a weighing and thoughtful gaze, and Arthur was starkly reminded of the fact the Lion Duke was easily into his twelfth decade of life. For all that he looked barely a day over forty, the subtle laugh lines and streaks of gray in his platinum hair told the truth of his age. He might have had a long way to go, but he was definitely past his first century. It was very easy to forget, sometimes, given how well the truly elite aged. ¡°Your words are kind, Ser Arthur, and do your honor credit. Still, there is a debt here to be paid. How that will be done, I am not yet certain. I will think on it.¡± ¡°If I come up with anything, your grace, I will let you know,¡± Arthur said in kind. ¡°Good,¡± Menelaus responded with a smile. ¡°I would appreciate that, Ser Arthur.¡± ¡°Does that mean you aren¡¯t angry, father?¡± Circe asked carefully. ¡°You violated our hospitality, Circe,¡± Menelaus said sternly while turning back to her. ¡°I thought it would be the best way to test his preparedness for assassins!¡± ¡°Without consulting me, or even Daphne. How do you think your stunt might have made our Lion Guard look, had it gone awry?¡± ¡°I would not have let that happen,¡± Circe insisted with a guilty glance at Daphne. ¡°You are the pride of my life, Circe, but gods help me if you aren¡¯t three times as impulsive and five times as brash as your darling mother ever was,¡± Menelaus proclaimed with a father¡¯s frustration. ¡°You seem to have inherited her personality entirely, with no temperance from my own.¡± ¡°Not entirely true,¡± Atreus cut in with a casual tone Arthur had never heard prior. ¡°You were every bit the overproud idiot she is now when you were her age, Sword-Saint Menelaus.¡± Everyone gathered, including Arthur, widened their eyes at Atreus¡¯ words. Menelaus, for his part, simply stared at the Myrmid¨®n¡ªand then laughed abruptly. ¡°Very well,¡± the Duke said, in a concessional voice still filled with mirth, while turning to look at Circe. ¡°I admit, perhaps you inherited some of it from me.¡± Arthur watched Circe¡¯s expression shift slowly from embarrassment to something more akin to a wary hope, and Menelaus stepped closer to her when it did. While those present watched, Menelaus lifted his right hand to gently knock his knuckles against her forehead. Her eyes rose to watch his hand without fear, her nose scrunched at his tap, and then she looked once again into her father¡¯s eyes. As close as they were, the height difference was barely noticeable. Circe was very tall for a woman. Powerfully built, with muscles as defined as her curves were generous. It amazed Arthur still that someone so beautiful existed outside of the Core. It defied everything his memories as Zacaris had instilled in him about genetic elitism. Arthur couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly at the interaction after the gentle knock to her forehead. Menelaus and Circe¡¯s relationship was¡­ easy. Warm. Natural. It was a true parent and child relationship in the healthiest way. One he had never personally known. If Uther had approached him that way, Arthur would have steeled himself for a broken jaw at the least. His father had never believed in anything other than a firm hand, his memories readily reminded him. ¡°Next time,¡± Menelaus said fondly, ¡°please use your better judgment.¡± ¡°Nai bamp¨¢,¡± Circe murmured with a chagrined smile. B1 | Chapter 23: Dress Up Knight-Errant
I never thought something as simple as proximity could drive me mad, and yet like everything else I had held as a fact, he eroded it as easily as breathing. It was infuriating as much as it was exhilarating, and in those earliest days I genuinely could not decide whether I wanted him close or needed an escape. He threw my perspective of normalcy out the window, and looking back, I spent as much time trying to hold on to my sense of propriety as I did lamenting his refusal to adhere to cultural norms.
Following the tour of the hangar and another hour or so of polite discussion with Menelaus and the others, Arthur had been released to his own devices by the Leos Patriarch, who had been called away to a meeting he could not put off. As a result, Arthur found himself some thirty minutes later standing in his seemingly freshly cleaned apartments while Circe Leos eyed a set of new attire he had been ostensibly bullied into modeling with the look of a woman on a mission. For the sake of propriety, she was not alone. Instead, she had a small army of staff with her. Most of them were maids, to Arthur¡¯s understanding, though there was a blonde woman in an ankle-length one-shoulder dress who served as the official stylist and wardrobe manager¡ªwhich was not nearly as insane as he might have initially thought, his Zacaris memories told him¡ªfor Circe herself. ¡°Turn around, Arthur,¡± Circe commanded. Arthur swallowed an objection and did as she bade. She had dressed him in a black loose-fitting shirt made of some kind of breathable and soft material, which felt pleasantly weighty on his frame without being stifling. The hem went down to his hips, where it met the waistband of a pair of dark gray jeans with a silver-buckled black belt holding them up. A pair of black combat boots laced halfway up his shins completed the look. ¡°Definitely the loose long-sleeve, my lady,¡± the stylist said approvingly. ¡°It defines his muscles well when it catches, and the wind will tease it across his frame most excellently when you¡¯re out and about.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not certain if it¡¯s not almost too casual, though...¡± Circe muttered. ¡°We could try a tighter fit, my lady, or perhaps an overcoat and breeches over a body-sleeve.¡± ¡°In black?¡± Circe asked with a glance over when Arthur turned back around. ¡°Of course,¡± the blonde-haired stylist responded primly. ¡°It¡¯s important that he be associated with House Leos at a glance.¡± ¡°He isn¡¯t sworn to us yet, though.¡± Circe murmured while turning to peer at Arthur without fully seeing him. ¡°Not to overstep, my lady, but from what we¡¯ve all heard it¡¯s largely just a matter of time, is it not?¡± ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Circe hummed without answering, and while still regarding Arthur critically. ¡°Does the mannequin have an opinion here?¡± Arthur asked with a twinge of impatience. ¡°Not really,¡± Circe commented cheerfully. ¡°Your only duty is to stand there looking handsome while we make sure you won¡¯t embarrass me this week.¡± Arthur raised his eyebrows at her words. ¡°So, you think I¡¯m handsome?¡± he teased her. Circe didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°If you weren¡¯t, your gene-tailoring would have been an immense waste of money.¡± Arthur sighed at her complete dismissal of his teasing and folded his arms across his chest, while pointedly ignoring the appreciative looks he could see coming from the maids in his periphery. ¡°You¡¯ve already had me try on multiple togas¡ª¡± ¡°Chitons,¡± she corrected with a thoughtful look while he spoke. ¡°¡ªalong with tee shirts, blazers, formal tunics, overcoats, dinner shirts, some nightmare of ruffles I will burn before I wear, and several other things besides,¡± he continued without missing a beat. ¡°Pick something, if you insist on me adhering to your preferences, and let us be done with it.¡± Circe sighed at his words and turned to look down at the almost comically shorter stylist. ¡°I¡¯ll send you a list of what to fill his wardrobe with. These apartments don¡¯t have a walk-in, so make sure it¡¯s arrayed properly. We¡¯ll be out visiting the village for a few hours, so you and the maids will have time.¡± The blonde and the maids curtsied to Circe elegantly at her words. ¡°It will be as you desire, my lady,¡± the blonde assured her. Arthur sighed heavily, and waited while the women trooped from the room before turning back to Circe. ¡°That was painful, I¡¯ll have you know.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being dramatic,¡± she chided while moving closer to idly pluck at the fabric of his shirt with narrowed eyes. ¡°This isn¡¯t what I imagined when you talked about teaching me your culture,¡± Arthur said wryly, while he tried not to think about her fingers brushing down along his shoulders, or the fact he could feel the heat of her body at their current proximity. ¡°I somehow envisioned more books and time spent lounging under trees overlooking the water, or burying my head in books in the library.¡± ¡°How naive you are, oh mighty Knight, if you fail to appreciate the importance of fashion!¡± Circe said with a mock-pitying smile. The memories of Zacaris within his mind told him she was absolutely correct. Arthur pointedly and studiously ignored them. ¡°Yes yes,¡± he declared airily, ¡°I am a profound degenerate, my lady.¡± When Circe ignored him and continued fussing with his shirt, his patience ran out. She was hyperfocusing, he knew. He lifted his hands to lightly grasp hers by the wrists, and she froze while looking up at him, like a deer caught in headlights. She was remarkably beautiful, he realized a moment too late, and she was extremely close. Her lips were slightly parted in a surprised inhale. Arthur felt his pulse quicken and focused on her eyes. Her wrists were warm and smooth and deceptively delicate despite her physique. At such proximity, he could smell her. She was like mint, lilacs, and vanilla all in one. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Now,¡± he asked far more calmly than he felt, ¡°can we go?¡± Circe drew in a sharp breath and then stepped back, simultaneously freeing her wrists from his hands at the same moment as she turned away from him quickly. ¡°Very well!¡± She said after an audible breath, and while spinning back around to pin him in place with a smile. ¡°But!¡± She noted with a raised forefinger. ¡°You will allow me to show you as much of Pallik¨¢ri as I wish.¡± Pallik¨¢ri was the name of the town built around the palatial Leos Estate. In English, the name translated best to ¡®Stalwart¡¯, which seemed like an apt name for a place inhabited by diehard Laconians with Spartan ideology baked into their DNA. ¡°Of course, my lady,¡± Arthur said while trying to put the image of her parted lips firmly out of his mind, and focus only on what was to come. ¡°Good. Come along, then,¡± Circe said without preamble. ¡°We¡¯ll collect your Kidem¨®nes and be off.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think Perseus and Endymion will be a little¡­ obvious?¡± He asked while watching her. She seemed supremely unaffected by what had happened, and though Arthur knew that was probably a very good thing¡ªespecially since he really shouldn¡¯t have taken ahold of her¡ªin general, he couldn¡¯t help but feel quietly disappointed. It was an idiotic and stupid thought, but it persisted. She was the Heir of House Leos. He was to be their Hetairoi. Even the hint of something more was absolutely untenable, he knew. It would have helped, though, if she hadn¡¯t been so easy to spend time with. It¡¯s the psions and resonance. He reasoned while he followed her from his quarters. And you know how to deal with that, so stop being an idiot and focus. The reminder helped him to some extent, though the way she walked threatened to upend his mental chastisement. Circe naturally combined a noblewoman¡¯s sashaying glide with a straight-backed martial stride, and the way it came together was¡­ distractingly nice to watch. So instead, he stepped toward to stride alongside her to remove the temptation, and returned her smile politely while they made their way through the corridors of the estate. Perseus and Endymion, who had been until then in counsel with Atreus, joined them as they reached the end of the expansive hallway that marked the entrance to the Hetairoi wing Arthur¡¯s apartments were in. ¡°Apologies for not being with you, Arthur,¡± Perseus said while they walked. ¡°No problem,¡± Arthur said with an easy smile. ¡°Did everything go well with Atreus?¡± ¡°Our brother simply wished to explain the long-term arrangements going forward,¡± Perseus said in a tone that Arthur recognized as ¡®professionally vague¡¯, and so he did not press for more details. An itch of suspicion made itself known between his shoulder blades, but he didn¡¯t pay it active mind. His memories as Arthur Zacaris screamed something was wrong. Arthur Zacaris, however, had grown up in a nest of vipers, and his new self was stronger than his past self¡¯s lingering traumas. ¡°Will the two of you be staying with us, Kidem¨®nas Andino?¡± Circe asked politely. ¡°We will be, my lady,¡± Perseus confirmed with a smile Arthur heard through the tall Graecian¡¯s helmet speakers. ¡°Though Lord Atreus will be accompanying your father on his trip to Attica this evening, so it will just be us for a short while.¡± ¡°My father is going to Attica?¡± Circe asked a little sharply. Perseus and Endymion glanced at one another, and then Perseus spoke again. ¡°My apologies for speaking out of turn, my lady. I assumed you knew.¡± ¡°No, I¡­ it¡¯s quite alright, Kidem¨®nas Andino,¡± Circe said with what Arthur recognized as a more forced smile. ¡°The fault is mine. He was just likely too busy to inform me. It is not uncommon.¡± The Kidem¨®nes glanced at one another again with a faint whir of their armor servos, but neither spoke in reply. Arthur took a careful look over at Circe, and decided to mimic their choice. Sometimes silence was for the better. It was in that same silence that the four of them made their way through the Leos palace, passing Lion Guard and various staff members that bowed or curtsied to the quartet. Circe, Arthur noticed, greeted every single person where she could. Even if it was just a simple nod, a wave, or the rare smile; she made the effort to acknowledge as many of them as possible. She didn¡¯t stop to speak with them, of course, but he also understood the pragmatism of that choice. If she had stopped even for a few seconds, it would have added the better part of an hour to their walk to the estate¡¯s outer bailey. The sheer scale of the Leos estate was staggering. It was big enough to house thousands of people comfortably, and judging by the staff he saw, that might not have been a far off assessment. When they eventually did reach the walled front gardens of the palace, and the two hundred meter driveway leading to the distant high-walled gates, Arthur raised an eyebrow at what awaited them. A long black air car set on six wheels¡ªtwo at the front and four at the rear¡ªwith the Leos Lion emblazoned on the doors, and what looked like the shielded dome cover for an autocannon on the roof. It looked like a sleeker version of a presidential limousine from the 21st century. ¡°I take it your father doesn¡¯t mess around with security.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had assassins after me since my birth, Arthur,¡± Circe said with a laugh. ¡°This was his compromise for letting me go out with a minimal guard.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see any of the Lion Guard, though,¡± Arthur said with a glance around. ¡°The driver and footman will be, but we¡¯re also with two of the Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes,¡± Circe pointed out with a smile for Perseus and Endymion while the four of them descended the steps. ¡°Their presence will actively dissuade attack, because attacking them is attacking the Kings, and that would end very, very badly for anyone even suspected of such.¡± ¡°But if they can¡¯t be incrim¡ªAh. Myrmid¨®nes.¡± ¡°Myrmid¨®nes,¡± Circe confirmed with a grin. ¡°I see your point,¡± Arthur chuckled. ¡°The thought of someone like Atreus hunting me is not a pleasant one.¡± ¡°If one of the Kidem¨®nes are attacked, their entire Hexaron will show up as well,¡± Circe said conversationally as they reached the air car, ¡°and that is a level of force that not even the bravest of our enemies wants to rouse. The Kidem¨®nes have their own Eidolon pilots, and they are not known for their mercy, nor a deficiency of skill.¡± Arthur reached the air car first and reached out when he did to open the passenger door, which slid sideways into the car¡¯s framework while he turned to offer Circe his hand. ¡°Allow me, Lion Maiden,¡± he said with a sly smile. ¡°As your potential attendant knight, this seems like the proper thing to do.¡± Circe took his hand with a decidedly amused smile and let him help her into the red leather interior of the car. ¡°My thanks, Ser Magellan,¡± she replied with sarcasm dripping from every syllable. Arthur laughed and joined her within the car a moment later. Perseus and Endymion joined them a moment later, exchanged introductions with the two Lion Guard seated in the driver and front passenger seats¡ªseparated by a deployable black screen of opaque glass¡ªand the air car set off moments later. On its wheels. ¡°We aren¡¯t flying?¡± Arthur asked in surprise. ¡°We avoid doing so on the island, because we like to keep the airspace restricted. It helps us track traffic coming and going, and it makes it harder for people to target our family.¡± Circe explained while the car¡¯s engine pushed them along at a muted roar. ¡°My extended family all have quarters within the palace, and with the emphasis on trying to end the main bloodline, it seemed prudent that everyone avoid air travel where possible. With the Island¡¯s seaport and starport both heavily controlled by the local police and Lion Guard both, it makes it a lot safer for us to go everywhere by ground.¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Arthur said while examining the red leather interior. ¡°What does it run on? That doesn¡¯t sound electric.¡± ¡°Hydrogen,¡± Circe said with a grin. ¡°It¡¯s for if we need to make a quick getaway. It can get up to supersonic speeds in the atmosphere, just in case.¡± ¡°Not fast enough to escape a fighter or Eidolon, but fast enough to get away from just about anything else,¡± Arthur noted with a nod. ¡°I doubt that was cheap.¡± ¡°Father has one for every branch family in the palace,¡± Circe said with a shrug. ¡°He believes safety doesn¡¯t have a price.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re starship builder rich,¡± Arthur responded wryly. ¡°Well, you¡¯re not wrong,¡± Circe grinned. Their journey from the palace to Pallik¨¢ri took the span of a short half hour, and Arthur was content to spend it in comfortable silence with his companions while perusing the HoloNet on his omni-comp. He hadn¡¯t really had time to mindlessly scroll through Graecia¡¯s version of the ¡®Net since coming to the System, and once he found the memes, he settled in to ¡®absorb the culture¡¯ with a grin while they made their way to the town. If one thing had remained constant through the thousand odd years of human expansion, it was that every human culture¡ªwith only a few exceptions¡ªfound a way to create and share amusing images and comedic anecdotes. Arthur suspected the practice would outlive all of them for centuries to come. B1 | Chapter 24: Pallikári
I had known from my talks with Endymion that the Lion Maiden was popular, but I had never imagined to what extent. Seeing her then, standing among the people and receiving their greetings, I finally understood. Even Arthur, a titan of presence and psionic charisma, seemed more like a passenger held aloft by her grace. I knew, in that moment, that we were seeing something profound¡ªand that the two of them, together, would change the fate of our world. I simply never could have predicted to what extent.
Pallik¨¢ri was, in a word, ambitious. The immense town that surrounded the Leos Palace and spanned the entirety of their island home wasn¡¯t classified as a city solely due to the definition of the word no longer holding the same meaning. Had they been on Terra prior to the stellar age, Arthur knew, then the ¡®town¡¯ of Pallik¨¢ri would have numbered among some of the greatest cities of mankind. Over ten million people lived, worked, and went about their lives within the expansive island metropolis. When they drove down from the palace toward the city, Arthur noticed through the holographic displays layered over the solid steel of the doors they were approaching what appeared to be a suburban area of very expensive houses. ¡°The wealthier residents of the town prefer to live near the palace.¡± Circe explained before Arthur could ask. He turned to her when she spoke, and saw her casually leaning against the right side door while she looked out of the false window. ¡°And where are we going?¡± Arthur asked while observing her. ¡°We¡¯ll go a little of everywhere,¡± Circe answered with a smile, ¡°but we¡¯ll end up at my favorite restaurant. It¡¯s built on the beachfront, at the southern peninsula of the island.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be dark in a few hours, won¡¯t it?¡± ¡°The sun sets at around forty-six hundred hours LST,¡± Circe confirmed with a nod. ¡°LST?¡± Arthur asked automatically while thinking it over. ¡°Laconian Standard Time?¡± ¡°Laconian Southern,¡± Circe said with a wry smile. ¡°Sorry, I forgot you didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You clarified it,¡± Arthur said with a smiling shrug. ¡°So we¡¯ll be in town until sunset?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± Circe confirmed with a nod. ¡°We¡¯ll spend about four or five hours showing you the town, and then we¡¯ll finish at the beachfront for an early dinner.¡± ¡°Toured, Wined, and Dined. What a lucky man I am,¡± Arthur said with a chuckle. ¡°And don¡¯t you forget it!¡± Circe noted with a pointed finger and a laugh. From there, the day proceeded precisely as Circe had dictated, to no surprise of Arthur¡¯s. She first took him to the bustling metropolitan heart of the town, where painstaking effort had been made to ensure that anything a consumer of any wealth bracket could desire¡ªwithin the limits of mid-Rim technology¡ªwas available. Everything from basic toiletries to interstellar starships and more besides. Swords, guns of ballistic, plasma, and beam varieties, air cars, personal shuttles, and even things as mundane as hydroponic vegetables. The first thing Arthur noticed was how easily Circe was recognized. Even among the crowd she stood a head above most of the people in the streets and within the shops, and in the rare instances she didn¡¯t, it was usually either off-worlders or the rare native with clear gene enhancement at play. The second thing he noticed was the keen interest people paid to him. At multiple points during their outing, the heiress quite literally dragged him around to look at things, or playfully shoved him into shops or entertainment venues, all with the comfort of two people that had known each other for years. It did not go unnoticed by passersby, all of whom seemed to recognize the tall, strong, and beautiful Leos Heiress on sight. The looks he received were equal parts curious, suspicious, scandalized, envious, and even jealous at some points. Men and women, young, adult, or elderly, and even some AI¡ªnone of them were exceptions. They looked at him, the tall blond stranger with the gene-enhanced features and martial bearing, and they wondered. He only held their attention for so long, however. It was nothing compared to how they reacted to Circe. She was, in Arthur¡¯s assessment, utterly beloved. More than one person every so often stopped to request a photo with her, or to shake her hand, or simply offer her good fortune and the gods¡¯ blessings. Some pleaded with her to bless their children, or offer up a small prayer for an unwell loved one, or simply look at some manner of tribute they¡¯d made for House Leos, or for Circe specifically. And yet through it all, nobody ever violated her space. Nobody ever acted entitled to her time, or her attention, or her presence. They treated her with respect, with adoration, with reverence. There was an almost sacrosanct manner to how the people of Pallik¨¢ri, in their many and myriad forms, reacted to the presence of their heiress¡ªtheir princess among them. Beloved, Arthur considered in the midst of it all, didn¡¯t do the people¡¯s ardor credit. From his observation, they seemed to worship her as a goddess made flesh. Circe¡¯s psionic aura no doubt played a heavy part in it, but Arthur couldn¡¯t lay the adoration of the masses solely at the feet of the esoteric power Circe had been born with. Psions only enhanced what already existed, and Circe¡ªdespite her elite breeding, high station, wealth, and exclusive upbringing¡ªwas a princess of the people through and through. Throughout it all, he found himself surprised to be having a genuinely enjoyable time. It was something he hadn¡¯t expected, and even with the memories of his time as Zacaris contrasting the ¡®backwater¡¯ technologies of Pallik¨¢ri to places like Camelot or the immense Ecumenopolis City-World of Mars, he found that he enjoyed his time with Circe, Perseus, and Endymion more than he ever had visiting the ¡®stellar age wonders¡¯ of the Core. Circe, especially, captivated his attention as the hours raced by. Be it their psionic densities, their resonance, or simple chemistry¡ªhe couldn¡¯t deny that there was an ease to being around Circe. Even his memories of Zacaris failed to bring up a similar instance of such overt and immediate familiarity with another person, resonance or not. It wasn¡¯t a romantic kind of ease either, though the back of his mind certainly felt a certain tension with the untitled princess. There was just something easy about spending time with the woman that Arthur could not fully pinpoint. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. It was a mix of many things, in truth. It was her general love for life, and the way she would stop to fawn over children, or go out of her way to make room for the elderly, or even pause in the middle of the street to soothe the tempers of aggrieved pedestrians engaged in disagreements. All of these things and more comprised the image of a woman who was as sincere as she was headstrong, as kind as she was passionate, and as warm as she was ferocious. Circe Leos was the warrior princess trope he¡¯d read about so often as a boy brought to life. What was more, she embodied it effortlessly. It was impossible not to like her. It was impossible not to find himself caught up in her aura, aware of it or not. The chemistry between them hardly helped matters, either. It was manifested in the subtle palpitations that took hold when she touched his arm, or the faint warmth in his body when she laughed, or the way he could drink in her eyes and smile with no sense of limit to the enjoyment. He worked hard to suppress the reactions, knowing they could lead nowhere good. Basic attraction, however, was one of the few things the geneticists had not managed to develop a reliable means of controlling. Their legacy allowed mankind to shape itself to appeal to those attractions from culture to culture, be it the willowy and tall preferences of Eurasian peoples, or the more robust and stoic preferences of ethnic Polynesians. The examples of varied preferences were as numerous as there were ethnicities and cultures of mankind, and in all cases attraction was a culturally and societally subjective measurement. Still basic attraction remained, and all Arthur could do was try to suppress it. After the stores, entertainment venues¡ªincluding a particularly amusing karaoke stop-over¡ªand spending enough drachma that even Perseus commented in amazement at the sheer amount of stuff Circe had insisted on buying; they organized transport for her purchases back to the estate, and finally piled back into the air car. The farewell they received, or rather that Circe received, was riotous. It was an emotionally charged mix of joy at seeing her, and heartbreak at seeing her depart¡ªand Arthur was reminded once again of the sheer power of psions when interacting with people with little to no notable density of their own. When at last the final farewells were given and Circe and Arthur were driving away from the metropolitan heart of Pallik¨¢ri, he turned to the heiress and quietly observed her while she stared out of the window. Her smile was somber while the car moved through the town. ¡°You seem melancholy,¡± he said carefully. ¡°Did you not wish to leave?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that,¡± Circe denied without looking at him. ¡°Pallik¨¢ri is thriving, and we are providing for our people¡¯s growth exactly as we should, but with what¡¯s looming¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re worried about what will happen if you¡¯re unable to keep ruling them.¡± ¡°Not ruling them,¡± Circe said immediately and with a frown while turning to him, though her tone wasn¡¯t recriminating¡ªonly firmly corrective. ¡°It may be that way on paper, but we don¡¯t rule them. We protect them. We guide their development.¡± She turned back to look out the window, and continued more quietly. ¡°We aren¡¯t their masters, we¡¯re the highest level of public servants there are¡ªand unlike the elected ones that run the day to day affairs of the town, of which there are many; our duty is inherited through the blood. We have a sacred responsibility to Pallik¨¢ri, and all of Graecia.¡± His memories as Arthur Zacaris almost made him scoff at the sentiment. If nothing else, that reaction alone was justification for what Nataliya had done. Arthur did not want to be the kind of man that scoffed at noble convictions. ¡°You were right,¡± he admitted while looking out of his window in turn, and thinking over the events of the past few hours. His smile, when it came, was genuine. ¡°Today was fun.¡± Circe glanced over at him again, and he caught her grin out of his periphery. ¡°Arthur Magellan, did you just admit to having fun?¡± she asked teasingly. ¡°Enjoy it while you can, Circe,¡± he responded lightly. ¡°It won¡¯t happen again.¡± The heiress laughed warmly and snapped her fingers. ¡°Challenge accepted.¡± The drive to the restaurant was a quiet one after that, and Arthur quietly appreciated the views and sights of Pallik¨¢ri while they drove. With the island having a central elevated plateau and descending land all the way to the sea, the town was built in ¡®levels¡¯ ranging out from the undeveloped perimeter of the Leos estate, which also marked the upper limits of the immense island habitation. Driving to the beachfront took them ¡®downward¡¯ steadily as the car navigated through a respectable amount of evening traffic, though the vast majority of people were either on grav-bikes or driving electric vehicles. True to Circe¡¯s words, there were no air cars visible in the sky above Pallik¨¢ri, and when Arthur did witness sky traffic from the window, a quick tap of the screen doubling as his window zoomed in on a transport shuttle descending toward the main starport built toward the western edge of the island. Traffic to and from the spaceport was about the only exception to Circe¡¯s statement, and even then, it was largely limited to back and forth transport flights or the occasional merchant vessel descending through the use of a special license. It raised questions about why they would choose Pallik¨¢ri, and what significance the island held to justify a House as prestigious and ostensibly powerful as Leos remaining there. Logically, they should have sought out land in Sparta generations prior. The Ascendancy was one of the oldest Rim nations, after all, with Hyperion having been settled by the dispatched deep-space Ark-class terran colony ships three hundred years prior. Comparatively, the youngest Fringe nations were each five hundred years old, and many of the dominant Verge and Mantle nations were even older at six and seven hundred years old, to say nothing of the oldest nations in the Core. Human expansion, for whatever reason, had encountered a notable gap of two hundred years between the colonization of the Fringe and Rim that nobody could provide an adequate explanation for. His memories from his life on Albion shed no light, either. It was a mystery many had tried to solve, though none had succeeded. Given the Grand Imperium¡¯s attitude toward its secrets, the silence was no surprise. The worlds in Sol were leagues older than even the oldest extrasolar nations. But that was, naturally, to be expected. Mars had already been halfway toward becoming an industrial juggernaut of military production and consumer manufacturing before the first extrasolar colonies had even truly developed. The Grand Imperium, and specifically Terra, had unquestioned primacy for a reason. Arthur¡¯s thoughts were disturbed by the slowing of their transport, and a warm hand on his arm. He turned to find lightly tanned feminine fingers on his bicep, and followed them up to Circe¡¯s smiling face. She was leaning toward him from the other side of the car, and her grip on his arm was like the heat of the sun. Arthur worked to fight through the fugue of her psion density, and the intensity of their incredible resonance while it overwhelmed his better sense. He willed himself to focus with every iota of his mental discipline, and smiled at Circe politely in turn. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± she said warmly. ¡°Follow me, Arthur.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll follow you anywhere.¡± he said without thinking. Circe¡¯s expression flickered, and then she laughed. ¡°Tease.¡± she said while turning away. Arthur could only smile back and, while his Zacaris self mentally snarled at him for being so easily influenced, followed her out of the car into the orange-gold light of the Hellenic dusk. B1 | Chapter 24: Duty versus Desire
I looked into his eyes, and in them I saw destruction. At the time I couldn¡¯t tell for whom, be it my family or our enemies, and truthfully a part of me didn¡¯t care. I was taken in by his charisma, his presence, and the force of his existence. For the first time in my life, I felt vulnerable¡ªand in that vulnerability, I felt safe in a way nobody had achieved before him. It is impossible to explain, perhaps, but it is the truth. Now the red-gold of that sunset is the same hue as the power that burns the worlds of the Humanosphere, and truthfully, I cannot say I regret a thing.
The restaurant Circe had brought them to was named the Lion¡¯s Pride, and Arthur couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the name when they walked under the proudly hanging sign. ¡°The name?¡± Circe guessed from beside him. ¡°Guilty,¡± he said with a wry smile. She laughed in kind and together they entered the premises. The Lion¡¯s Pride was an open-plan restaurant built from three storeys of treated wood of various origins, and lit by standing braziers and hanging lanterns that were even then coming to life in the wake of the gradually approaching sunset. Its bottom level was designed evidently as a dance floor and bar, though the former was presently unoccupied. ¡°It stays basically full during the night hours,¡± Circe explained while they passed the lightly armored security at one of the many open areas of the bottom floor, and made their way toward the stairs to the upper levels. ¡°I take it we¡¯ll hear some bass-heavy music soon?¡± Arthur enquired while following her, hands in his pockets casually and eyes instinctively sweeping for threats. ¡°Of a sort, yeah,¡± Circe said while taking the steps one at a time in a way that threatened to break his focus entirely. He instead focused on the interior of the restaurant, and reminded himself that Circe¡ªlike him, in fact¡ªhad been designed to draw eyes. Her height, her curves, her natural grace, her power, her stunningly symmetrical features; all of it was intended to engender a desire in others. Add in a prodigiously dense helping of psions and a lifetime of training to accentuate every one of her most attractive features while simultaneously commanding every room she entered, and Arthur was able to take some solace in his self-diagnosed weakness. It wasn¡¯t an excuse not to control himself, of course, but it helped him rationalize his reactions to her, and the way she had been making him feel. Arthur was not a man prone to being unable to control himself, he knew that, and so the experience of flustered attraction resulting from his exposure to Circe was even more disconcerting because of it. He had to master himself. Arthur, those thoughts in mind, followed her up the stairs while very determinedly not looking at her lower body while she ascended above him. Several moments later they passed through the family-oriented setting of the middle floor¡¯s large tables, and reached the third level¡¯s more formal and intimate dinner seating. He looked up from his extremely focused stare at the smoothly polished wood of the stairwell¡¯s banister to see Circe looking back at him with an approving smile, and what he almost thought might have been a glimmer of disappointment at the same time. Before he could do more than frown in confusion, she was walking away, and Arthur was left feeling conflicted by the heiress¡¯ strange expression. The uncertain idea that perhaps Circe had been testing his decency filled his mind. He dismissed the thought as vanity and paranoia, and followed after her. ¡°Your highness!¡± a warm woman¡¯s voice greeted them upon emerging onto the top level. ¡°Welcome back to the Lion¡¯s Pride!¡± Arthur¡¯s eyes searched for and located the voice¡¯s source when he stepped up behind Circe. The speaker was a redhead of average height, with a light smattering of freckles on her cheeks, full lips painted a light shade of pink, and an elegant white chiton cinched above her hips and extending down just past her thighs. She¡¯d combined the traditional garb with a pair of shin-high sandals with golden straps, and nothing else visible above her knees. Though from Arthur¡¯s experience, it was very likely she was wearing some manner of shorts or sportswear undergarments to preserve her dignity. Hopefully. ¡°Hello, Nika,¡± Circe greeted the redhead with a fond look. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re doing well.¡± ¡°Business is booming, princess, and it only booms more when a member of the Leos clan patronizes our establishment. The fact it¡¯s the Lion Princess herself, this time, is worth more than your impressive weight in gold!¡± Arthur¡¯s eyebrows rose in surprise at the words, but Circe seemed to take the inference about her weight as a compliment, and even placed her hands on her hips to show off the musculature of her arms¡ªsomehow managing to combine feminine elegance and a warrior¡¯s sculpting all at once. Several other faces among the dining guests turned their way, and then promptly faltered and looked away upon what Arthur assumed was the recognized presence of two Kidem¨®nes. ¡°You¡¯re flattering me, Nika. You know how I feel about flattery,¡± Circe chided without ire and seemingly without noticing the looks from the other patrons. She seemed in her element when in public, and her easy comfort despite the crowded room only affirmed Arthur¡¯s respect for her comportment and sheer presence. ¡°Only when you¡¯re in a good mood?¡± Nika asked slyly, and slipped forward to take one of Circe¡¯s arms in one of her far daintier ones. ¡°Though, your highness, I have to know¡ª¡± she glanced back at Arthur with appreciative appraisal and then turned back to Circe ¡°¡ªwhether or not it¡¯s true that the hunk of out-sector meat behind you is really the new Leos Hetairoi.¡± Endymion and Perseus shifted at Arthur¡¯s sides when Nika spoke, and he glanced at both Kidem¨®nes in question. It was Perseus who spoke, quietly, through his helmet while Circe laughed at Nika and leaned in to speak quietly to the buxom redhead. ¡°It¡¯s up to Lady Leos what she says, but it¡¯ll complicate matters if she admits to it. We¡¯re just assessing exits in the worst case scenario.¡± ¡°The worst case scenario?¡± Arthur asked warily. ¡°Assassination attempt,¡± Perseus replied simply, before stepping away to perform what Arthur interpreted as a security sweep, following a muted click of communication from Endymion. ¡°Come on, your highness!¡± Nika said in a voice that pulled back Arthur¡¯s attention, and drew him to follow in the two ladies¡¯ wake. ¡°You know I can keep a secret.¡± ¡°No you cannot, Nika,¡± Circe laughed fondly. ¡°But you know we adore you anyway. I can¡¯t say what Arthur is, anyway, because that hasn¡¯t been decided yet.¡± Nika¡¯s blue eyes snuck another glance at Arthur, and she grinned. ¡°Ohoho. Arthur is it, princess? Not Kyrio?¡± Circe flushed at Nika¡¯s words, and very lightly smacked the much shorter woman¡¯s arm. ¡°Nika, stop, you¡¯re embarrassing me.¡± The redhead giggled and actually wiggled in excitement when she replied, ¡°I think your red cheeks are doing that themselves, your highness, but I shan¡¯t add more fuel to that particular fire. The rumor mills are already raging all over the ¡®Net.¡± ¡°Artemis help me,¡± Circe said with a groan, ¡°I can only imagine.¡± ¡°Everything from him being the bastard son of Leonidas XIV, to a Fringe noble, and even speculation he¡¯s a True Core Lord in exile, if you can believe it!¡¯ Arthur¡¯s heartrate spiked at Nika¡¯s words, and he narrowed his eyes slightly on the redhead. Had that simply been a rumor, or was she dropping hints he needed to be wary of? Preparation and paranoia warred with forced relaxation and rational restraint, and Arthur re-assessed exits himself just in case. If he and Circe did need a quick exit, he wanted one at hand. ¡°I¡¯ll have the kitchen prepare your usual fare, and I¡¯ll throw in our best bottle of retsina,¡± Nika said while she and Circe came to a halt near what appeared to be a sectioned off section of their level, and apparently led to a balcony marked by two black drapes bearing the crimson lion of House Leos. ¡°I¡¯ll also make sure nobody disturbs your date.¡± ¡°Nika!¡± Circe said with a very visible look of mortification. ¡°It is not a date!¡± ¡°Sure it isn¡¯t, your highness. Just like I¡¯m not a gossip, right?¡± Nika winked at Circe, stood on her toes to plant a light kiss on the woman¡¯s cheek¡ªwhich Circe returned automatically¡ªand then stepped away with a respectful curtsy and flounced past Arthur, to whom she gave a decidedly and shockingly sudden cold look. ¡°If you let anything happen to her or hurt her in any way,¡± Nika said softly when she passed, ¡°all of Pallik¨¢ri will ensure you live just long enough to regret it, Fringer.¡± Arthur¡¯s eyebrows rose into his hairline at her abrupt change of demeanor, but the woman was already smiling and laughing with one of the other guests before he could do more than watch her go. ¡°Arthur?¡± Circe called out to him warmly, and stole back his attention. ¡°Are you coming?¡± Arthur peeled his eyes from Nika and turned to look at Circe, at which point he smiled and nodded while moving to catch up to her. The Kidem¨®nes arrived at the same time as he did. ¡°We¡¯ll remain behind after we check the location,¡± Perseus stated when Arthur rejoined Circe. Both Arthur and Circe came to a halt outside the drapes, and Endymion stepped inside to inspect the small balcony-set dining area. Several seconds passed, and then the Kidem¨®nas stepped back out with a polite nod to them both, and took up a sentinel position on one side of the three-meter wide black-draped entrance. Perseus mirrored him, and also nodded to them both. ¡°You guys sure you don¡¯t want to eat anything?¡± Arthur paused to ask the Kidem¨®nes, and caused Circe to stop mid-stride as a result. ¡°We¡¯re fine, Arthur,¡± Perseus said with a warm intonation. ¡°We¡¯ve got a nutrient mix for when we need on-the-go sustenance.¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°That sounds gross,¡± Arthur said with genuine apprehension, and memories of something similar from his time on Albion. Circe glanced between them with an unreadable expression, but didn¡¯t interrupt. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Perseus said reassuringly. ¡°Mine tastes like vanilla.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± Arthur asked with a glance between both men. ¡°Go eat dinner, Arthur,¡± Endymion growled. Arthur smiled wryly and nodded. ¡°Alright, alright. Thanks, guys.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be here if you need us,¡± Perseus assured him before joining Endymion in a rapidly statue-still vigil of the dining area. ¡°Thank you both,¡± Circe said warmly in turn and, with another assessing glance for Arthur, stepped elegantly through the thick drapes into the sectioned off dining area. Arthur took a breath and joined her a moment later in stepping through, before pausing at what he saw. They stood on a private balcony overlooking the raging surf of the Hellenic beachfront, with a clear view to the west where the white radiance of Apollo had taken on a more golden-red hue as it sank toward the horizon. The A0V-type white star was immense compared to Pendragon or even Sol, and Arthur drew in a short breath of naked appreciation for its beauty. ¡°It¡¯s your first time seeing a Hellenic sunset, right?¡± Circe asked from where she stood beside one of the elegant, high-backed dining chairs at the opposite side of the large table. The table itself was made of black marble-topped pine, with the Leos lion proudly emblazoned upon the center. ¡°It is,¡± Arthur said while stepping around toward her, and instinctively taking hold of the high-backed chair to draw it out for her. He had been raised in the True Core. Fragmented memories or not, he understood dining etiquette like he did breathing. Circe turned to him when he moved the chair, and her jade eyes regarded the red leather of the padded chair, and then moved back to observe him. Her eyes tightened slightly around the edges, and then she brushed her hair back behind an ear and turned to smoothly sink into the chair. Arthur pushed it back in while puzzling over her expression, and then turned to take his own seat thereafter. ¡°How often do you make your way here?¡± ¡°Now and then,¡± Circe said in a slightly distracted tone, ¡°but mostly whenever I need to think, or when Mother comes down from Asfal¨ªs. She loves it here. It was where my parents had their first real date.¡± ¡°That explains why that woman¡ªNika?¡ªseemed so confident around you, at least.¡± ¡°Nika¡¯s mother owned the Lion¡¯s Pride before her, but left to open up another restaurant in Sparta a decade or so ago,¡± Circe explained with a little nod. ¡°Nika is about fifteen years older than us, but that means little even here in the Rim. Unless you¡¯re close to your first century, we don¡¯t really think about age.¡± ¡°It¡¯s much the same in the Fringe and inner Sectors,¡± Arthur agreed. ¡°Another thing to thank the geneticists for, even if other legacies of theirs are incredibly frustrating,¡± Circe half-muttered while staring out at the slowly encroaching sunset. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Arthur asked with a hint of danger pinging his senses. ¡°Do you really not know?¡± Circe asked with a look toward him. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I, uh¡­¡± Arthur said while trailing off at the intensity of her stare. ¡°For a smart man, Arthur Magellan, you certainly can be an idiot.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure that I¡ª¡± ¡°You confuse me so much I want to hit you, Arthur,¡± Circe cut in flatly. Arthur blinked for a moment, and then stared at her with surprise. ¡°I do?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Circe said with a sudden exclamation of frustration, and clear embarrassment at her own outburst. ¡°One second you¡¯re comfortable and relaxed around me, and the next it¡¯s like you¡¯ve put up a wall¡ªlike right this instant, in fact! One moment you¡¯re admiring my body, and the next you¡¯re doing anything else. It¡¯s maddening!¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t appropriate for me to¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s a body, Arthur!¡± Circe cut him off again, with a slap of her hand to her upper chest. ¡°It¡¯s flesh, and sinew, and tissue, and fat! I know I¡¯m beautiful. I¡¯m not being vain when I say that. I know it. I was designed this way. My mother was one of the most sought after women in the cluster, and I know I¡¯ve at least equaled her¡ªI know what I am!¡± ¡°Then why would you want¡ª?¡± Again she cut him off, though strangely Arthur couldn¡¯t find a reason to be upset by it. ¡°Because! I don¡¯t know! Just because! I¡ªyou¡ªwe¡ªugh!¡± Circe leaned back in her chair and looked out at the sunset in frustration once more, her lower lip caught in her teeth, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and what he assumed to be anger as well. Arthur remained silent, and simply let her take the time to think. His mind was racing, of course, and his heart was thundering under his ribs. Despite that though, he knew that what she needed was time to think and process. He understood that well, after all. ¡°My whole life,¡± Circe finally said after almost a minute of silence, ¡°I¡¯ve been surrounded by inferior men. I don¡¯t mean that to make me sound like a snobby bitch, but it¡¯s true.¡± She wrapped her arms around herself, played with the golden bands on her biceps idly, and still didn¡¯t turn to look at him. ¡°They were all weaker, vain, self-entitled, and less capable than me in every way that mattered. I¡¯ve been fending off their advances since I was fifteen, in some awful cases, and learned to guard myself against anything as stupid as girlish infatuation¡ªuntil you come along.¡± Arthur listened in silence, and she turned to him with a look of anger mixed with hopelessness. ¡°Intelligent, and tall, and strong, and funny, and lethal, and controlled, and handsome; with psions to give my self-control a run for its money, and enough good looks that even I took notice.¡± Circe¡¯s cheeks warmed as if in evidence, and she sighed in resignation. ¡°I never wanted to use my psions to influence you,¡± he said to her seriously, and with genuine apology in his tone. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to think I¡¯m trying to manipulate you somehow, Circe.¡± She was silent when he finished, and when next she spoke, her voice was almost strained. ¡°Gods, Arthur, you¡¯re so perfect it¡¯s sickening and enrapturing all at once, and the greatest joke of it all is that you¡¯re completely off-limits to me.¡± ¡°Circe, I can¡¯t be your family¡¯s Knight and be involved with you,¡± Arthur said quietly. ¡°I know, damn it!¡± Circe growled back at him, while smacking her hand against the marble table. ¡°I know! That¡¯s why this¡ªyou and me¡ªis so infuriating! Gods, Arthur, I want you with a level of intensity that is embarrassing, and I never want anybody!¡± Her voice turned strained, and she continued in a tone that was sad and angry all at once. ¡°I have been a controlled, disinterested maiden for thirty-five years, and in one fucking day you¡¯ve made me so enticed I shook my ass like a common harlot, and did so while walking up the stairs of a public bloody restaurant!¡± ¡°So that talk with Nika¡ª?¡± ¡°She saw through me like I was made of glass,¡± Circe confirmed with frustration. ¡°She knew the moment she looked at me that I was feeling something, something I¡¯d never felt for anyone. It¡¯s not like I never had options, Arthur, but nobody has ever twisted me up like you did¡ªnobody has ever manhandled me like you did, and for all that the proud woman in me hates to gods-damned admit it, the way you so thoroughly defeated me drove me crazy. True prowess is everything to a Spartan. It¡¯s intoxicating. I¡¯ve never met a warrior my age with your level of raw talent.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Arthur said with an echo of guilt. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize how much distress you were in.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not distress, Arthur, it¡¯s just confusion¡ªconfusion, and embarrassing hormones.¡± Arthur took a breath, and spoke as soothingly as he could. ¡°If you want to go¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave, Arthur!¡± Circe cut in immediately and with another look of frustration. ¡°Gods damn it, why are men so dense? I¡ªI like this. I like being with you. I mean, I hate it,¡± she said with a low growl, ¡°but I adore it too. I like this. I like us. I like the ability to feel like¡­ like I¡¯m just a normal woman with a man that can protect her.¡± Circe seemed to be searching for the words while she spoke, and Arthur refused to interrupt. Instead he just swallowed back his own nerves, and let her speak. ¡°It¡¯s like you could just, I dunno, throw me down and do whatever you wanted! I know¡ªI know that sounds depraved and absolutely mental, but it isn¡¯t like that, I¡­ you¡¯re strong, you know? Stronger than any man I¡¯ve ever met, and not just physically,¡± she said while looking at him with her intense, focused jade eyes. ¡°Your presence is more impactful than Atreus, or my father, or any of my relatives or peers. I feel vulnerable with you, Arthur, and I feel safe because of it. I feel like you could fight off a dozen assassins and hold me close at the same time, and I know it sounds completely delusional, but that¡¯s how I feel.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Arthur said, and then winced the moment he did. That had not come out the way he¡¯d intended it to. Circe, however, smiled at him when he said it. It was a resigned smile, a sad smile, and a pained one all at once. ¡°You just don¡¯t get it, do you? I guess you can¡¯t. You¡¯re here for a reason, and I¡¯m making this complicated. I thought maybe, because of how you looked at me, we understood each other. I¡¯m an idi¡ª¡± ¡°We did. We do! You aren¡¯t an idiot,¡± Arthur blurted out impulsively when his self-control finally eroded. ¡°Throne of Terra, Circe, you¡¯re everything a man could want! You¡¯re smart, you¡¯re brave, you¡¯re kind, you¡¯re proud, you¡¯re warm, you¡¯re strong, you¡¯re beautiful, you¡¯re elegant, you¡¯re a warrior, I¡­¡± Arthur sighed and reached up to clasped his hands together and lightly tapped his forehead against his interlocked fingers. ¡°Then why¡­?¡± she asked with an expression torn between desire and frustration. ¡°Circe, this¡ªus¡ªwhatever this is? This isn¡¯t just us. This is more than just chemistry. It¡¯s psions. It¡¯s resonance. It¡¯s everything we are.¡± ¡°This is more than just¡ª¡± she began hotly. ¡°I know,¡± he cut her off again. ¡°I get it. I know. You¡¯re incredible. You make my head fuzzy sometimes. Any man would want you, I just¡­ I¡ªWe don¡¯t have the luxury of choice. I¡¯m a nobody from Aurelia, Circe, and you¡¯re the heiress to House Leos. You may not have the title, but you¡¯re a future Duchess, and these people worship you!¡± Arthur held up a hand when she opened her mouth to cut in, and her jaw audibly clicked shut in what he thought was surprise. ¡°More importantly, Circei, I¡¯m going to be your family¡¯s Hetairoi. Possibly its Strategos! I know you¡¯ve said this already, in your own way, but you need to hear this from me.¡± Arthur took a breath while Circe watched him intently, and he could almost feel her nervousness and trepidation reflecting his own. ¡°If we were just two people, Circe Leos, I¡¯d throw you down on this table and do things that would leave you breathless¡ª¡± Her eyes widened, and her cheeks flamed to a bright red at his words. ¡°¡ªuntil the sun set and rose again, but we aren¡¯t. We¡¯re not just two people. We¡¯re not even just a Lady and a Knight. We¡¯re Eidolon pilots.¡± Arthur stressed the words before he continued. ¡°Moreover, we¡¯re elites. We both know it. We¡¯re so psionically gifted we can change the perceptions of entire populations just by moving through them, speaking to them, and letting our aura wash over them.¡± Arthur took a steadying breath and then continued. ¡°The reality is, Circe, that what we feel is as much our psionic resonance as it is actual chemistry. It¡¯s playing with our sense of reality.¡± Arthur¡¯s mind focused on his words while he spoke, and he drew strength from them. A small, contradicting part of himself said that he was actively deceiving his own sense of fact and fiction, but he crushed that voice as ruthlessly as Arthur Zacaris had crushed his rivals to the title of Heir. ¡°You are the Lion Maiden of Laconia, Circe Leos, and I will be the Knight that defends your family¡¯s honor,¡± Arthur said with definitive finality, and hid the defeat in his own voice. ¡°And we¡­¡± he sighed sharply to rid himself of a curdling feeling of disappointment and self-inflicted pain in his stomach. ¡°We have to accept that, and not let this¡ªwhatever it is¡ªdistract us.¡± Arthur leaned back when he finished, and took a moment to let his mind latch onto his own words. In the silence, Circe spoke. ¡°Thank you, Arthur,¡± she said quietly. Her eyes met his, and then drifted away to look toward the sunset. ¡°Thank you for being honest. I¡­¡± her lips trembled for a moment, and after a few seconds she looked back at him, took a breath, and smiled. ¡°Just¡­ thanks.¡± Arthur swallowed the lump in his throat, ignored the voice calling him a fool and a liar, and smiled at her with all the warmth he could muster in turn. ¡°Well, with all that said,¡± he began as casually as he could into the silence that followed, and with as upbeat a tone as he could muster, ¡°lesson time: why keep House Leos in Pallik¨¢ri?¡± Circe¡¯s eyes searched his own after the question, and she chuckled softly. When she replied, Arthur listened while drinking in her eyes. Apollo set long before they finished talking. B1 | Chapter 25: Blood in the Streets
They came expecting a mewling lamb, incapable and overstated. They came with hate and envy, and they sought to blunt our sword before it could be drawn¡ªbefore it could be wielded. I wonder what they thought when he disabused them of their presumptions, and the lamb they thought to slaughter was revealed to be a sleeping dragon. I still remember the crunch of bone, the smell of blood, the screams of the crowd. I still remember him, standing there, unfazed and imperious¡ªand surrounded by the building blocks of what would become his legend. Gods of Olympus, he was beautiful, and I knew I was lost.
Arthur stepped outside of the Lion¡¯s Pride while waiting for Circe and the Kidem¨®nes, both of whom had remained behind to ensure her safety after ensuring he remained near the restaurant entrance, and nodded companionably to the line of people queuing near the entrance. The popular restaurant had been almost full when they had arrived, and its popularity had only grown through the night. With Hellas¡¯ particular timescale, the ¡®night¡¯ lasted far longer than many worlds, and that meant that nocturnal visitation was far more common than elsewhere. During his discourse with Circe, he had learned that Pallik¨¢ri enjoyed a very lively post-dusk economy, and much of its money circulation occurred during its night time periods. Something about the cool air, the views, and the alluring ambiance of the town at night drew in far more crowds than even the beatific views during the day¡ªand even the beaches saw an uptick in activity. Arthur could imagine why. There were few things more romantic than a midnight meal by the waterfront. ¡°Hey there! You happen to have a lighter on you?¡± Arthur turned at the sound of a voice and the appearance of a friendly-looking brunette man in a flowered shirt and casual pants, and shook his head. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not much for tobacco or otherwise,¡± he said with an apologetic smile. ¡°Maybe you could try inside?¡± ¡°Damn,¡± the man said with a sigh while reaching behind to scratch at his lower back. ¡°Alright, thanks anyway!¡± Arthur nodded and turned away. His psions screamed before he had completed the rotation. Every inch of his gene-enhanced body tensed as he dropped into a combat crouch, and the barking discharge of a military-grade sidearm cracked into the night. Screams erupted from the crowd near the doors, and Arthur moved instinctively¡ªnot to get away, but to close distance. His mind, already aware he was disarmed, wasn¡¯t simply going for the attacker. He was going for a shield. Arthur slammed into the man with speed and force that clearly took him completely off-guard, and unlike with Circe, he saw no need to hold back. His right knee rose in a viper-quick movement, and he slammed it into the left side of his assailant¡¯s smaller body hard enough to break the ribs. The man gasped out a heave of air from the blow, and Arthur grabbed him by the shirt and spun him around¡ªlifting him to drape over his body as two more cracks filled the air a moment later. The body of the man he was holding spasmed twice, and then Arthur felt him shaking in his grip and glanced out to where the shots had come from. More screams echoed from the waiting guests as he did, some of whom had barged into the restaurant and some of whom were sprinting for their lives, while others were pulling up recording software on their omni-comps. I hate the fucking ¡®Net sometimes, Arthur groused in his mind. His psionic awareness identified a nebulous web of hostility and danger coming from the southern side of the street, and Arthur bent to collect the sidearm his assailant had been carrying before shoving his dying body forward and diving behind the car he and Circe had arrived in. More gunshots barked into the night against the reinforced vehicle, and Arthur quickly checked his new weapon, ejecting the magazine to look it over while familiarizing his hand with the shape, trigger, and weight. The safety he kept off, and the muzzle he kept pointed straight at the asphalt. High caliber, twelve round magazine, armor piercing rounds, and is that a fucking penetrator muzzle? He must have underestimated the durability of his now-dead first enemy if the shots hadn¡¯t punched through the man. More gunshots barked out, but Arthur ignored them. Two more targets, potentially more. High population area. Eleven rounds. Arthur took a breath, and closed his eyes. Instead, he reached out with his senses. With his psion density, it was not hard to lock into the emotions around him¡ªa trick that allowed him to create a kind of bubble of awareness that steadily expanded out from him in a radius. What it was difficult to do, without practice, was to isolate which peoples inside that awareness were threats and which were just caught up in what was happening. Had he been even a normal Knight-Errant, that kind of information overload would have killed his attempts there and then. But Arthur, for all his newly crafted humility, was not a normal Knight-Errant. Spatial awareness melded with long-honed empathic outreach, and Arthur quickly filtered out the panic, the excitement, and the rising tension of the non-aggressive civilians around him. Some off-duty law enforcement and military pinged his senses, but he ignored those as well. They were of no help to him against professional assassins. More gunshots hit the car, and Arthur frowned in annoyance at the distraction. He picked up on Circe easily enough, she was inside being sheltered by Perseus and Endymion, and all three were furious. The trio wanted to be outside with him, but without the Lion Guard to properly cover Circe, and with the two that had come with them having been sent to escort back the items they¡¯d bought¡­ Arthur took a breath and his awareness expanded further until it brushed over the minds he sought. One, two, three, four, five targets. Two on the street, two more trying to flank from the opposite side without him noticing, and one on a roof beside the restaurant. Arthur smiled grimly and glanced behind him, where his senses told him the other two were moving. They¡¯d probably get a bead on him within seconds, and at that point, crouching behind the car was just asking to die. It also explained the inaction of the two firing from the street: they were suppressing him. Against anyone else, it would¡¯ve been a relatively solid tactic. Move, Arthur. Training, experience, and a low snarl of bloodlust came to the fore and Arthur exploded into motion with every iota of his gene-enhancement in play. Not toward the three nearest him, but instead toward the two encroaching. His collected sidearm was held in his right hand and he blitzed across the street faster than any human in Graecia could think to move, launching himself over a parked car in a blur of motion. Crack-crack-cracks heralded pursuing gunshots, but Arthur was moving too chaotically for them to bead him¡ªguided by his psions and their prescient gifts. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. The pair attempting to flank him barely had time to look up in surprise before he was on them. The first tried to raise his gun, gene-enhanced mind processing a threat was nearby, but it was too late. Arthur slammed the gun into his temple hard enough for bone to crack, and then followed his own motion with a pivot off his right foot to smash a spinning back-kick into the man¡¯s torso with his left foot. He felt the leather of his shoe tear from the impact force, and the man died on impact¡ªwith his chest caved in by Arthur¡¯s strike. The entire encounter took barely two seconds, and then Arthur was dropping low to avoid the crack-crack of two gunshots from the second flanker. To the credit of the assailant¡ªa woman, he noticed distantly¡ªshe didn¡¯t panic, but instead moved backward with military efficiency to try to build distance. Instead, Arthur launched himself forward faster than she could react, dodged to the left to dodge a third penetrator round, and then closed distance and snapped a lightning roundhouse into her side. The woman tried to block with her own gene-enhanced arm, and Arthur saw and felt the moment of terrified realization as her arm broke into pieces, her ribs shattered, and she was slammed into the side of the car he¡¯d vaulted over hard enough to indent the plasteel. Arthur exhaled a breath, ducked so as to not expose his head, and approached the spasming and bleeding woman quickly. ¡°You are going to die without medical attention,¡± he said to her calmly, and glanced down at the mangled remains of her arm. ¡°I probably collapsed your lung, your heart will be compromised, and there¡¯s fragments of bone all over your insides. You can still live, but you¡¯ll probably never get full use of your arm back.¡± He reached out, collected her dropped sidearm, ejected the magazine, and ejected the loaded round before dismantling it smoothly. ¡°Wh-what are you?¡± she gurgled through a jaw that didn¡¯t seem to work quite right. ¡°House Leos¡¯ new Hetairoi,¡± he answered with a little shrug, and ejected his own magazine to load the liberated round into it, before slapping it back into place and tucking her magazine back into his belt. ¡°Is saving your life worthwhile?¡± A moment passed, and then she smiled brokenly at him. ¡°No,¡± she answered with sincerity. ¡°Thanks,¡± Arthur said simply and reached out to snap her neck with a sickening crack. Her body slumped the moment he did, and he turned toward the first man that he had struck. A few moments later, with a second gun dismantled and another magazine in his belt, Arthur turned away from the man¡¯s corpse and extended his senses again. The first two assailants seemed to be aware something had gone wrong, but they weren¡¯t taking chances. One was trying to cross the street to get a view of him, and the other was sheltering inside the alley between the restaurant and the building beside it, under the cover of the potential sniper. Arthur clicked his tongue in annoyance, glanced at the autocannon hidden atop Circe¡¯s family car, and dismissed the thought. The chances of collateral damage were too high, and besides, it would be overkill for two mid-Rim assassins. He¡¯d faced far worse on Albion. Old instincts and buried training were flooding back to him every heartbeat, and Arthur quickly assessed the tactical situation: three targets, both in a position of advantage, and no immediate available reinforcements. The entire engagement had lasted barely more than a minute thus far, but he knew he couldn¡¯t let them escape¡ªhe had to capture at least the first two alive. An exhale left his lips, and Arthur burst into motion. Another staccato pattern of gunfire lit up the night, and asphalt and pavement exploded as penetrator rounds slammed into them in an attempt to hit him. It was futile, thanks to his battle precognition, but they didn¡¯t know that. Shouts echoed from the other side of the street, but Arthur paid them no mind and bore down on where his psionic awareness told him one of the assassins had separated to pursue him. A hoverbike was parked just ahead and Arthur grinned to himself, transferring his gun to his left hand and mentally locating the hiding assassin behind a vehicle parked ahead of the next car. Arthur lifted his gun, sighted, and fired two rounds through the car toward where the assassin was hiding. His right arm hooked the hoverbike, and Arthur flexed every iota of his gene-enhanced physical strength. The bike lifted from the ground, and he flung it toward the car the assassin was sheltering behind. The bike crashed down a second later, and Arthur felt the man¡ªwho had been expecting more gunshots and sheltering, ripple with shocked surprise at the impact of the vehicle. Arthur, meanwhile, used that opportunity to come around the now-bullet-holed car and slammed his split shoe into the man¡¯s head hard enough to knock him out instantly. ¡°Stay right there,¡± he quipped even while already moving. More gunfire tracked him as he sprinted serpentine and unpredictable across the street, and vaulted over a van to approach the alley. ¡°Who the fuck is this guy?!¡± one of the assassins finally shouted, to no answer. Arthur dodged left when his psions roared at him, and dodged a double crack-crack of gunfire while ducking smoothly to avoid a third crack from the sniper above. Arthur laughed at the question and the hilarity of them only sending six to kill him. He was a Knight of the Round Table. He¡¯d faced down Core Assassins naked. Arthur crossed the intervening distance between him and the second-last assassin in an eyeblink and didn¡¯t waste time with fancy movements. His gun lifted, and he put a round straight through the man¡¯s chest, and another into his skull when he spasmed backward. He didn¡¯t even stop to watch the back of his skull explode outward as the front turned concave. He had another target to kill. His feet carried him toward the wall, and Arthur put on a burst of speed before running up the masonry. Gravity and physics wept in disbelief as he ascended, kicked off the wall to slam into the Lion¡¯s Pride, and then kicked off again before he could drop to catch the lip of the sniper¡¯s roof and haul himself over. Psionic prescience saw him roll to avoid another patterned crack-crack of gunfire, and Arthur heard someone shriek as glass shattered below him. That wasn¡¯t his immediate concern though, and he couldn¡¯t afford it to be. Power and fury roared through him, and an old bloodlust he hadn¡¯t enjoyed in what seemed like a long time snarled to life in his heart. Arthur approached the final assassin with a grim smile, and dodged another two shots from him when he drew his sidearm. Bullets whined past his ears, and Arthur reached the man fast enough to kick the gun from his hand, and break his fingers in the process. The assassin gave a strangled cry, turned, and sprinted toward the edge of the roof. Arthur lifted his gun, and then lowered it and watched the man launch himself over the edge of the roof. The twang of a wire caught his attention, and he walked to the edge to see the last assailant rapid-sliding down a pre-placed descension wire. ¡°Now that¡¯s just annoying,¡± he said boredly, and glanced at the Lion¡¯s Pride, and then back to the fleeing man, who had hit the pavement and started running. ¡°Wrong way, buddy.¡± Arthur smiled and moved back three steps. His eyes tracked from the fleeing assailant, sprinting for the crowds and the cover the represented from Arthur¡¯s theoretical bullets¡ªa smart move, since he in fact would not fire at the Duchy¡¯s own citizens¡ªlike a bat out of hell. It was a good plan, if not for the fact that he wasn¡¯t facing a Graecian. Arthur sprinted forward and launched himself off the rooftop toward the Lion¡¯s Pride, landing on its roof and darting right toward its lip, where he vaulted over without hesitation. His downward descent saw him catch one of the banners as he descended, and Arthur used it to truncate his descent just enough that his enhanced bones and muscles could absorb the impact of a drop without issue. ¡°Look out below!¡± he bellowed. The banner was released and Arthur crashed down as the crowd scrambled out of the way. The assassin¡¯s eyes widened in shock, but he was already too late to react. The last of the assailants started to try to slow himself down, but Arthur was already moving. The crowd staggered backward when Arthur intercepted the man by the chest with his right hand, dug his fingers into him and raised him high, to then promptly smash him into the ground hard enough to break the duracrete. Screams and gasps radiated through the onlookers, and Arthur stood up from the remnants of what had been an assassin¡ªhis limbs splayed at improper angles, and blood already pooling out from under his genetically engineered body. His eyes rose when the doors to the Lion¡¯s Pride burst open, and Endymion, Perseus, and Circe piled out¡ªthe Kidem¨®nes with blades in hand, and the heiress with a large pistol in her grip and a look of fury on her beautiful features. The crowd looked between the trio and Arthur at the same time as they spotted him, and Arthur blew out an amused breath. ¡°Hey, guys,¡± he said wryly. ¡°You missed all the fun.¡± ¡°The enemy?¡± Endymion demanded. ¡°Handled,¡± Arthur assured him confidently. ¡°Three KIA, one unconscious across the street, and this one is¡ª¡± he glanced down for a second ¡°¡ªmessed up but alive. I didn¡¯t crush his ribcage, unfortunately. I think the angle was off.¡± Silence greeted his words, and Arthur looked up just in time to catch a blur of motion. His psions screamed at him, but he registered the warning and ignored it in the same instant as Circe slammed home into his arms. ¡°You idiot,¡± she hissed. ¡°You should have come back inside.¡± ¡°Sorry, Princess,¡± Arthur said while flashes of light marked the output of multiple pictures being taken simultaneously, and his heart thundered with excitement against his ribs. ¡°I needed the exercise.¡± Circe laughed and buried her head against his chest. Nothing short of another attack could have made him let her go.