The Phoenix Requiem (The Phoenix Conspiracy Series Book 7) (60 page)

“None of this is making you sound very good,” said Calvin.             

“I did what I had to do, whether you are capable of understanding it or not.”

Calvin did not reply, other than to stare at her with eyes of contempt.

“To counter this new threat, I encouraged the rise of a group, diametrically opposed to the Phoenix Ring, which would become the Organization. Although I originally incepted the idea of such a group, and instated White Rook—who was to be my eyes and ears—I had very little control of the Organization as it rapidly grew into becoming a serious player in the game.”

“You were behind the Organization
too
?” asked Calvin. He then thought back to what Ozumire had admitted to him, and denied. “I thought ENIGMA—as you call them—had nothing to do with the Organization?”

“Only initially,” said Kalila. “My version of White Rook was soon replaced by a stronger leader—one without any ties to me. And yes, I incepted the Organization. But I lost any control I had nearly straightaway, and I did this without ENIGMA’s knowledge, as a means of…insurance…in case thing with the Martels went too wrong—as they did.”

Calvin shook his head. “Unbelievable.”

“The truth is what it is.”

“What about the replicants?” asked Calvin. “Did you know about them?”

“No,” said Kalila. “ENIGMA never told me about them, nor used them in any of our bargaining. Your information about them was the first I ever had regarding them, but it explained much of the strange things I had observed—particularly with the Fifth Fleet.”

“I’ve heard enough,” said Calvin. “In the name of the Empire, the spilled blood of Hisato Akira, and—”

“So, that’s it then?” asked the queen.

“Yes,” said Calvin. “You did what you claim you thought was best, but you still did it alone, taking on a great risk for the safety of the Empire—which ultimately was compromised because of you—and you committed treason,” said Calvin. “Give me one good reason why you should be allowed to live?”

“If you wish to kill me, I will not stop you. Neither will I scream nor call for my guards,” said the queen. “If it is my life you require, in order to satisfy some notion of justice, then you may take it. But first, make certain you understand the full consequences of doing so.”

“What consequences?” asked Calvin. “That your people will hunt me, and, eventually, probably kill me?” He thought of Miles, Rain, Nimoux, and everyone else who had been lost. “I think I’m ready.”

“Ready to die?” asked the queen. “Perhaps. But what of your mother?”

“I
knew
you had her,” said Calvin. “Where is she? Release her, immediately!”

“I cannot release her immediately. I will release her; I promise you that much, but I can only do so if I am alive,” said Kalila. “You should also understand that, unlike what happened to my father and siblings, I have held your mother in the most luxurious form of captivity imaginable—her every need has been catered to. Which was supposed to be what happened to my family!”

Calvin wasn’t sure whether or not he believed her, on either count. That his mother was in luxury or that the queen hadn’t given the order to execute her father and siblings. He closed his eyes for a moment, clenched his teeth, then said the most difficult words he had ever had to say, knowing that it was what Olivia would want. “No matter what happens to me, no matter what happens to my mother, justice must be fulfilled.”

“And you think spilling my blood will accomplish this
justice
?” asked the queen.

“It’s a start,” said Calvin, readying himself to squeeze the trigger.

“And the consequences, are you
sure
you have considered them
all
?”

“I will die. My mother will die. Yes, I know,” he said. “But I cannot allow a tyrant to sit upon the throne.”

“I am no tyrant,” said the queen. “But even if I were, better for the Empire that a tyrant sit upon its throne than the chair remain vacant. If you would not have me rule as monarch, who do you suppose will take my place, once you squeeze that trigger?”

“I don’t know,” said Calvin, having thought very little about this. “You have no heirs. So…I suppose whomever the Assembly chooses. I’m sure they will find someone to do the job.”

“Will they?” asked the queen. “You have seen how inept the Assembly is, and what that ineptitude can lead to; are you so sure that it is worth it, your
justice
, to end my life, in order to fracture a fragile Empire that, only just barely, has managed to achieve peace and unity after so much suffering? Yes, you may kill me. But would you plunge the Empire into the chaos and mayhem that would follow?”

Calvin truly had not considered this. It made him waver, at least for a moment, and he was not so sure what the right course of action was. Still…surely
this
queen could not be allowed to retain the throne, could she? But, if he did eliminate her, with no one standing by to ascend to the monarchy, would his shot be the first in another blood-filled civil war, one that, perhaps this time, would fracture the Empire permanently?

“You claim mayhem and chaos and civil war would follow in your absence,” said Calvin. “And maybe they would. But what about the alternative, your presence, what would follow from that?” His eyes met hers when he asked; she did not seem afraid. “A corrupt leader, like a corrupt tree, must only bear corrupt fruit, is that not so?”

“It is not so,” said the queen. “History has been built on the backs of the corrupt. The strongest leaders are often those most willing to make the vilest of deals with the darkest of elements in order to procure the peace and prosperity they wish for their people.”

“Even if that were true,” said Calvin. “It is hardly any justification for—”

“You are in a unique position, Calvin Cross,” said the queen. “For my life, I am willing to bargain with you. From this bargain, I am certain, we can both emerge satisfied. But, should you take my life, as I admit is your right, you would not only be killing us both, you would be killing millions, perhaps billions, as chaos re-erupted throughout the Empire. Make your decision, but do try to make it wisely. There is far more at stake than perhaps you realize.”

Her words, the last ones, about what was at stake, made Calvin think of the warning Summers had given him.
Perhaps I have not thought this through
, he wondered inwardly.

“What sort of bargain?” asked Calvin, unsure if he could actually trust her to live up to her end, should he lower his handgun.

“For starters, I shall immediately order the release of your mother from my custody,” said the queen.

“Okay,” said Calvin. “What else?”

“I will elevate you to a high position, and, from there, you can oversee my actions, and defend the Empire from any future corruption that concerns you.”

Calvin did not wish to hold such a position, neither did he want the responsibility of supervising the queen, or holding a position where he was fooled into believing he could even do so when, for all he knew, that too was an empty lie.

“What position?” he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

“The Chief Director of Intel Wing,” said the queen. “From there, you shall know everything about everything; you will be able to discover anything you wish about anything. Does this appeal to you?”

“No,” said Calvin honestly. “But I know just who I would choose for such a position.”

“Give me the name and I promise to see it done,” said the queen.

“Okay,” said Calvin. “And I want more than just that. I want to name the top Fleet Admiral over the entire Fleet.”

“Done,” said the queen. “Just give me the name.”

Calvin nodded. Thinking,
the right people, trustworthy, committed to the empire, incorruptible, and with attention to detail, and also cautious, such people could, perhaps, keep a sufficient eye on Kalila that she would be limited in her ability to engage in any future corruption
…He knew exactly whom he would nominate, too.

“And I want a ship,” said Calvin. “Another phantom-class ship, exactly like the
Nighthawk
. If you don’t have one, then one must be constructed, as quickly as possible.”

The queen nodded. “One more exists. The original. The IWS
Phantom
, currently mothballed, but it could easily be made ready for action—for you.
Captain
Calvin Cross. That’s right,” said the queen. “A promotion would come with it.”

He had to admit, it was a tempting offer. Provided the queen actually could be trusted to deliver on her terms. But then some other part of himself rebelled.
No, I did not come here to be bought
, he reminded himself.
I came here to deliver justice!

“So, Mister Cross,” said the queen. “What is your decision? These generous terms I have offered you, along with the assurance of a unified Empire without any more chaos, civil war, or bloodshed? Or do you choose death, destruction, and despair—and not only for you and me, but for billions of others, throughout the Empire?”

He had to think about it. His arm, now tired, began to feel shaky as he kept the handgun trained on the queen. He tried to weigh it all, tried to calculate the probability that the queen was right—that her death would cause more harm for the Empire, along with the probability that the queen could even be trusted to honor any of the promises she had just made him…It was a difficult calculus.

Eventually though, uncertain if it was the right thing to do or not, Calvin lowered his handgun and holstered it. Unsure if, by so doing, he had signed his own death warrant.

“You have chosen wisely,” said the queen, pleased.

Calvin merely nodded, feeling uncertain what would happen next. And wondering whether or not he should have chosen differently.

CHAPTER 25

His reunion with his mother had been brief, but, at least now, Calvin knew for a fact that Olivia Cross was safe and unharmed. He would continue his loyal service as an investigator for the Empire, both because it was the only thing he was good at—it called to him like nothing before, but also because he knew, so long as he remained useful, Olivia would be safe.

Calvin still had mixed feelings regarding his encounter with Kalila. Had he done the right thing for the Empire? Had he done the right thing for himself? Had done the right thing at all? He had always believed that the corrupt, ultimately, enjoyed their just desserts in the end. But Kaila, as near as he could tell, was going to have everything she wanted, and without consequence. Perhaps that was part of the unfairness of life, he supposed. Yet still, he had had the power to end her. To make her pay for her actions and misdeeds, for all the blood her dealings and orders had led to, under false pretense after false pretense. But he had stayed his hand. Allowed her to live, and rule, and now he had to deal with the reality of that choice. Because, one thing was certain, Kalila would never give him such an opportunity again.

She knew that he knew her darkest secrets—that meant he could never be fully trusted again, not completely. For that matter, Calvin had probably put his own life in jeopardy by confronting Kalila at all. Still, he had felt it necessary. At the time, he believed he was going to end her, no matter what the personal cost to himself was; he wanted her to experience justice for the blood that was on her hands. It had never occurred to him what kind of destabilizing effect that action might have on the Empire itself. And, in turn, would that mean future blood, a civil war re-erupted, would be on Calvin’s hands? He just didn’t know. He would make the same decision again, he knew, so he didn’t regret it. But neither did he feel comfortable about it.

Now Calvin stood in the starport orbiting Capital World, awaiting his new ship, the IWS
Phantom
, to be docked and ready for boarding. But, before he took the reins of his new starship, he had one more item of business to handle.

Like clockwork, they arrived, Summers a minute or two early, and Rafael on the dot. Calvin led them to the privacy of a vacant office and then sealed the door.

“Awfully nice of you to say goodbye to us once more, before departing,” said Rafael. Something in his expression gave away the fact that he knew this meeting, which Calvin had discreetly called, was about more than simply that.

“So, why did you bring us, really?” asked Summers. Her eyes probed his and, for a moment, it brought him back to the first time he had ever gazed into them. So perfect. So green. Such a long time ago…

“I’ll get right to the point,” said Calvin. “Very soon, each of you is going to be offered a very high-ranking, important position within either the military or Intel Wing.”

They both began to speak, but he cut them off abruptly.

“I am urging you, here and now, to accept those positions. No matter what else you want to do, no matter whatever other plans you have, you must take those positions. For the good of the Empire, and…it will help me to sleep easier at night,” he admitted.

“What positions?” asked Summers.

“For you,” said Calvin, “You will be the senior Fleet Admiral of the navy.”

“
What?
”

“You heard me right,” said Calvin. “It was part of the deal I made. The…uh deal I made when I…uh…refused to…you know…”

“Commit regicide,” said Rafael.

Calvin nodded.

“I can’t accept such a lofty assignment,” said Summers.

“You can and you will,” said Calvin. “I beg you.”

“Why is it so important to you that I do?” asked Summers.

“Because I
trust
you,” said Calvin, looking at her then shifting his eyes to Rafael. “I trust
both
of you.”

“You want us to keep an eye on the queen; that’s it, isn’t it?” asked Rafael perceptively.

“In a word, yes,” said Calvin. “I know you will be limited; I understand that, but it will also be very, very hard for her to keep major secrets from getting discovered by either one or the other of you. If she uses the military, Summers will know, if she uses Intel Wing, Rafael will know.”

“Oh, I will, will I?” asked Rafael, sounding intrigued.

“Yes,” said Calvin. “You will be asked to take upon yourself the responsibility of the Chief Director of Intel Wing.”

“You mean Jack’s old job?” asked Rafael.

“Yes,” said Calvin, “Except higher and more expansive.”

“Wow, you really did do some bargaining on our behalf didn’t you?” asked Rafael, sounding unbelieving.

“Turns out, Kalila values her life quite a bit,” said Calvin.

“So, how did you choose who for what?” asked Rafael.

“Well, isn’t that a bit obvious?” said Calvin. “Summers is acquainted with the navy, as a naval officer, and you with Intel Wing.”

“No, I meant, why us two?” said Rafael. “As opposed to say…someone else you trust. We can’t literally be the only two candidates, can we?”

“You two are the right people for the jobs,” said Calvin, “Of that, I’m one-hundred percent confident. Summers, I’ve never met a more unimpeachable, less corruptible person in my life—no offense, Rafael.”

“None taken,” replied Rafael.

Summers blushed.

“I trust you to manage the Fleet with the kind of integrity that the Fleet needs.”

Summers nodded. “If given that honor, like you say I will be, I promise to do just that.”

Calvin smiled at that. “As for you, Rafael, I chose you to have the top job at Intel Wing for very similar reasons. I would also add in the fact that, when taken by the enemy, you faced and endured unspeakable torture, yet you never broke, you never betrayed me, and you never betrayed the Empire. That shows incredible strength of character and determined force of will; for those reasons, I nominated you.”

Rafael wasn’t the type to blush, but Calvin could tell the eye-patched man was flattered.

“Which brings me to my one great request from each of you, well, two actually,” said Calvin.

“Yes?” asked Rafael.

“Anything,” said Summers.

“As soon as the two of you each take full control of your respective departments, I ask that you do a full, complete, and intensely thorough audit of the entire Fleet and all of Intel Wing,” said Calvin.

“That was already my plan,” said Summers.

Rafael nodded. “I’ll make sure it gets done.”

“Good,” said Calvin, “Because, however much corruption still remains, it’s important that those dead branches are ripped from the tree and cast into the fire; do you understand?” He looked each of them in the eyes with intensity, hoping to communicate just how important this request was.

“Of course we will,” said Summers.

“You can count on us,” agreed Rafael.

Calvin nodded.

“What was the second request?” asked Summers.

“I suppose it’s really two more requests,” said Calvin.

“Wow this list of orders just keeps getting longer,” said Rafael, “Even though I’m about to be your boss, not the other way around.”

Calvin ignored the joke. “First of all, keep a close eye on the queen. I mean, watch her like a hawk. Now that we know she is capable of anything. If you suspect she is ever, at any point from now, up to something nefarious again, then we, the three of us, will have to deal with it somehow.”

“I agree,” said Summers.

“Make that two of us,” said Rafael. “Now, as for your final request? Or is that one split into two as well?”

This time, Calvin smirked. “No, just one. But it’s as important as any of the others.”

“Well, then, let’s hear it,” said Rafael.

“Watch your backs,” said Calvin. “Beware of any shadow, sleep with one eye open, do
whatever
it takes—but stay safe!”

Summers smiled when he said that. “You too, Calvin,” she said. “It’s a dangerous galaxy out there, you know.”

“I know,” said Calvin. “One or two experiences have given me that impression. But, speaking seriously again, while I am out there, chasing star after star, you two will be here, in Capital World, in the thicket of the politics, the corruption, and possibly be thrust into—or become aware of—future conspiracies. As dangerous as it is out there, it is far more dangerous here.”

They seemed to take his warning with the sobriety that he had hoped.

“I’ll be careful,” said Rafael.

“As will I,” said Summers. “I promise.”

Calvin nodded. “Thank you. Thank you both.” Then, without any warning, he embraced each of them, in turn. “Thank you so much for your help, for keeping me alive, and for doing all you could to help save our Empire. To help save humanity.”

“We couldn’t have done it without you, Calvin,” said Summers.

“That’s right,” said Rafael.

When finally he had let go, he felt the beginning of a tear form in his right eye. He subtly wiped it away. “Well…” he said, looking once more at each of them. Dear friends who had managed to walk the journey of fire with him, and each make it through. Despite the odds, despite the dangers, despite everything… “I suppose this is goodbye, then.”

“I suppose so,” said Rafael. “But only for now. You’ll be hearing from me plenty,” said Rafael, “Once I take over as Director of Intel Wing, I’m sure there will be mess after mess I will need to send you to clean up. So much and so often that you’ll get sick of this ugly mug.”

Calvin smiled. “Goodbye, Rafael. Goodbye, Summers.”

“Goodbye, Calvin,” they both said.

Then, together, they left the office, at which point they immediately split and began walking their separate ways. Each with a new destiny ahead of them. Their journeys no longer intertwined.

After Calvin had walked about ten meters, he heard footsteps scampering behind him. He whirled around to see Summers. She threw herself at him, taking him into such a tight embrace he could scarcely breathe. He hugged her back.

After a few seconds, they each let go, somewhat hesitantly. Calvin then saw that Summers’s beautiful eyes were brimming with actual tears.

“Who would have thought,” she began to say, then took a moment to regain her composure. “Who would have thought…after all the trouble you were to me…oh, God, I’ll just say it,” she smiled and let a few tears streak down her face. “I’m going to miss you, Calvin Cross. I’m going to miss the hell out of you.”

Calvin smiled, feeling touched. And knew that he was going to miss Summers equally as much.

“I’ll still be around,” said Calvin. He pointed to the huge deck window which brimmed with stars. “Just look at the night sky and find the brightest star,” he pointed toward the window, at the view of the stars. “Then count three to the left,” he moved his finger, “And you’ll have found me,” he said with a smile. “Because that’s probably where I am.”

She resisted, but let out a small laugh. “Oh Calvin, next time you are on Capital System, please give me a message so we can meet for a cup of coffee and you can update me on your latest adventures.”

Calvin nodded. “Yeah, that sounds nice,” he said. And he meant it. Even though he didn’t particularly like coffee.

“And,” said Summers. “This had better not be one of those goodbyes where two people pretend they are going to see each other again—even though they both know it isn’t true—
this
, this is not like that,” she stared into his eyes, as if in search of any sign of deception.

“Of course not,” said Calvin. “This is for real.”

“Promise me,” demanded Summers. “Promise me this is not our farewell.”

“I promise,” said Calvin.

And with that, they exchanged goodbyes one final time, and parted ways.

***

Kalila sat upon her throne in the Ancient Palace, feeling a sense of regal calm like never before. The struggles were over—at least for the time being—and the end result had been achieved. It hadn’t been a bloodless victory, and indeed there had been much more sacrificed than she had hoped or planned, but, ultimately, she was where she was supposed to be. On her throne. On Capital World. Guiding and governing the Empire.

She thought briefly about Calvin. He could prove a danger at some point. Or, just as likely, he may continue to prove useful. During their confrontation, when he had made his choice—and lowered his weapon—she had made her choice, to trust him, at least for now.

Kalila had made good on her promises to him. She would instate Calvin’s recommended people to the leadership of both the Fleet and Intel Wing, people on whom Kalila would keep a close eye. Kalila had also released and returned Calvin’s mother—who, unlike Kalila’s family—had been taken to isolation gently and held under luxurious conditions. Whatever Kalila was, she was no barbarian. Since then, too, Calvin and his mother had reunited. That must have won her
some
credibility with Calvin, at the very least. Finally, she had, by royal decree, delivered directly to Intel Wing, granted Calvin Cross the official rank of
Captain
, and given him command of the IWS
Phantom
, the original and last remaining of the phantom-class starships. She had even had several improvements and additions made to it before turning over control.