“A lie becomes truth if it is spoken enough.”
~ from The Handbook of Modern Politics by Feror Delgado I3—2067
Day 201/365
Year 5 of Progress
(July 20, 2069)
Central Command
Third Continent
Prime Reality
“How could this happen?” Donovan asked, as Emir handed him the black band to wrap around his arm. “Commander Rose was always so cautious. For her to miss a jump is unthinkable.”
Emir’s face was set in a permanent scowl. “You are certain you gave her the proper coordinates?”
“Yes, sir,” Donovan lied. He secured the band in place. “I gave Senturi the new jump location, and he was in contact with Commander Rose the whole time.”
“Senturi didn’t come back either.”
Donovan tilted his head to the side, pretending to think. “I can’t think of a less likely pair of coconspirators, sir.”
The scowl turned to a sneer. “You aren’t kept around for your brains, Captain. Rose didn’t agree with Senturi’s politics, but they were a team. I’m not sure if the concept has ever crossed your mind.”
Donovan’s hands fisted at his sides.
Emir opened his office door without noticing. “Prepare your team for another jump in three days. This whole day was a fiasco.”
“But the iteration is gone,” Donovan said. “We’ve regained prominence.”
Emir looked at the ceiling. “Captain, if I ever come to you for advice, please do me the courtesy of taking me directly to the medic for a full mental evaluation. No. The iteration didn’t collapse. No. We are not in the Prime position. We’re rapidly slipping away from dominance. We are missing a node!” he shouted. “Do you know what that means? No, of course you don’t. You’re an infantile man whose only focus is on his own base need for approval from underlings.”
“You should learn respect, Doctor,” Donovan said. “Before anyone else realizes that the iteration that is the Prime is the iteration where you are dead.
The old man looked at him, and Donovan saw death in the man’s eyes. “Don’t test me, Captain. I don’t need you to survive, but you still need me.”
Donovan walked out, fear running down his spine like icy water. He’d seen Emir play vicious little games. He knew all the rumors about dead rivals and people who existed and were then erased from history. But he’d always thought that Emir had someone else do the dirty work. Now, he wasn’t so sure.
He looked over his shoulder, wondering if he ought to have left Emir behind and let Rose return.