Chapter Three
Vyken
I wake up unclothed, covered only in a thick and warm fur in Tyr’s apartment in Paxia. I know immediately where I am because the Admiral’s home is minimalistic, to say the least. The only furniture is purely for practicality, since the couple spends most of their time on their ship.
My mouth is painfully dry and my forehead feels bruised, though I have no idea why. I cannot remember the last time I drank that much … at least not since my adolescence.
It was the look in Tyr’s eyes that drove me to look into the bottom of several glasses. That utter fulfillment. That pure, unbridled happiness.
I was jealous.
And then it comes back to me in a rush. In the space of just a few minutes (in my unreliable memory, anyhow) I accepted a life-threatening mission, the details of which I cannot recall for the life of me, and I also signed up for the Earth Lottery.
I quickly scrabble for my holo tablet and check, and then wince to see that my memory was correct about the latter, at least.
With the fur blanket wrapped tight around my waist, I pour myself a huge glass of water and drink more angrily than I have before. At that moment, Alyssa, dressed in Earth sleepwear and looking groggy but glowing with happiness, walks in and stops short when she sees me.
“Oh, Vyken!” she laughs, and shakes her head with surprise. I avert my gaze out of something akin to embarrassment … but not quite. She can see my bare chest, but I have nothing to be ashamed of, other than the crisscross of needle-thin scars that run over my left side. Battle scars. Being mated with Tyr, I know she understands things like that.
“Congratulations,” I say gruffly. I am sure she will interpret my tone as uncaring, and I don’t intend to correct her. Actually, I am a little jealous still. It seems the effects of the drinks last night haven’t quite worn off.
“Thank you,” she says, and I note how serene she seems.
I finish my water and she returns to her bedroom to give me the space to dress myself again. Once I am decent, Tyr slips out of the bedroom with a smile on his face that almost annoys me.
“Thank you for last night,” he says, and the contented rumble of his voice gives away that he is nowhere near as affected by the evening as I appear to be.
“Sure,” I say dismissively, and then I look at him sideways. “What are you thanking me for?”
“You accepted the job I gave you without your trademark tirade of questions,” he says.
I pause, regarding my old friend.
“Remind me,” I say, “what exactly I agreed to?”
He laughs as if I am joking. “You are to take a ship and a crew to the planet Fera. You will seek out our old allies, the Ferathorns, and ensure that they will still uphold their promise to fight by our side in the upcoming war against the Suhlik.” He pauses, and seeing nothing light up in my eyes, carries on. “We haven’t had any contact with them in five years so it’s a recon mission. It’s safe, Vyken.”
I scoff at that. “I am not worried about th--”
“Of course,” he cuts in. “It’s a necessary mission, and probably a boring one. We need to ensure they are still our allies. That they are still able to fight. I see no reason why not. That’s why this is laughably simple,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder amicably. “Your first real mission as General. I assure you, this will be the easiest thing you’ll ever have to do in your long career.”
I smile. “Absolutely,” I say. “Laughably simple.”
With that, I gather my few things, and leave to catch a hovercab to my own accommodation.
Hopefully this mission won’t be too boring.
*
I come back to consciousness with a start.
It’s impossible to explain, but I feel as though I have been walking around, a zombie, for some time, but I can’t quite grip onto any memories since that morning at Tyr’s house.
Cara, the mate of the king of Paxia and the woman responsible for the reformation of our justice system, paces in front of me.
I realize I am in some sort of booth, on a seat, staring out at a sea of sombre purple faces. I feel very on display. Cara is speaking and it takes some time for the ringing in my ears to subside, and the beating of my heart to slow enough that I can hear what she is saying to me.
“... guilty on one count of genocide.” She stops pacing and turns to me, her eyes wild and her hands on her hips. “How do you wish to answer, Vyken?”
I clear my throat. “What … what do you mean?”
She flicks her eyes to the ceiling and then back to me, clearly angry. But why? “Like I said, Vyken … you stand accused of wiping out the entire Ferathorn race.” The venom in her face falls away for a moment and she just shakes her head slightly. “We just want to know why. How did the Suhlik convince you?”
I fight to think of a single word to say, but I find nothing.
What is going on here?
She presses a small button on the panel around her wrist and behind me a moving image appears on the wall. I crane my neck to see.
Sound fizzles in to join the picture, and I see what it is I’m looking at -- and it’s impossible.
It’s me, arms folded in defiance, mouth upturned into a smirk, in Tyr’s office.
“It was me,” the me on-screen says, with pride and with malice. “I killed them all. They’re dead.”
Poor Tyr, my friend and my ally, pinches the bridge of his nose and bends over. “Not you too,” he says from behind his desk, and knowing the betrayal he must have experienced feels like a heavy punch to the chest. “Vyken … why?”
The video ends and I turn back with wide eyes to Cara.
“If you have nothing to say, I’ll move to put you back in jail until you’re ready,” she says calmly.
She has no idea to what extent I have nothing to say.
“Th-that wasn’t me,” I find myself forcing from my throat.
“What a weak defense,” someone in the large audience splutters. They all look so angry at me. This isn’t what I want. I joined the Firosan military to serve. To protect my people with everything I have.
What in the name of Paxia and her moons is happening here?
I know one thing, if I don’t know anything else. As I’m led away in handcuffs, bewildered, and ignoring the glares from people I know and people I’ve never met, I know one thing for sure.
I’m going to break out of jail tonight, and then I’m going to figure this out.
Even if it takes me the rest of my lifetime, I am going to clear my name.