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“YES,” KARA ANSWERED, her expression cold and drawn.
Zeph and Maktin gasped, the latter’s scales clicking in agitation.
“No, it can’t be.” Arlen shook his head again.
Kara flexed her jaw and rolled her eyes in annoyance. She slammed both hands on the table, making everyone jump, except Isra, who was quietly observing her.
“No? Are your eyes not working? Or are you so wrapped up in proving that both the Fleet and the Empire are worthless that you ignore what’s in front of you?” Kara snapped.
Arlen had no reply for her, his mouth working soundlessly.
“Fine. Then let me make it very obvious.” She turned to Tarsk her eyes still narrowed. “Stand up.”
“What? Why me?” Tarsk pressed back into his chair.
“Because those pockets on your vest make for convenient handholds.”
He flattened his whiskers, but stood up and flung his arms wide. “I’m ready.”
Compassion shone in his eyes, but she couldn’t accept it now, not without risking shattering apart. She had to remain focused; she had to see this through.
Reaching out with her right hand, she bunched the durable fabric of Tarsk’s utility vest in her grip and hoisted him up off the floor, holding her arm out straight. She held him there for a full minute, her eyes snapping to Arlen daring him to say something. When he didn’t, she released Tarsk. Absently, she patted his chest, flattening the pockets, feeling his steady heartbeat.
“Well? Is that enough proof?” She sat back down, folding her arms as she glared at Arlen. “Or maybe the abomination should perform some more tricks for you?”
He slumped forward, dropping his head into his hands. “Eternities,” he said, the word muffled and drawn out. He looked back up at her, wretchedness etched in the grooves and hollows of his face. “I’m so sorry.” He spread his hands. “I should know better than that.” He stared at her, his face going even more ashen and he swayed. He braced a hand on the table. “Eternities, the Dark Raiders did this to you, didn’t they?”
Kara inclined her head, not ready to forgive him.
“I should have saved you. All those times I was cursing them, I should have been trying to get you out.” He slumped forward again. “I failed you.”
She sighed and stared at the floor. As much as she wanted him to realise that he’d hurt her, she didn’t want him suffering for something he had no control over. “Arlen, there’s nothing you could have done to save me or change my fate back then. We were both children.”
“I should have rescued you that night we broke out,” he bit out, his eyes distant and unfocused, wrapped in the past.
“It wouldn’t have changed anything,” Kara said. Arlen jolted and stared at her.
“You wouldn’t be a bio-cyber if I’d stayed to find you. Instead, I ran off to save my own skin at your expense!” Arlen braced his elbows on the table, tugging at his hair.
“How would that have changed anything?” Tarsk asked mildly. “She’s modified, but it hasn’t changed her spirit.”
Isra and Daku nodded in agreement.
Arlen raised his head, and his eyes widened. “You all knew. All of you.”
“Yes,” Tarsk said.
“But you don’t know it all, do you?” He slumped into his chair, pressing both hands to his face.
“Know what?” Kara snapped, tiring of the half-truths, the half-answers.
Arlen dropped his hands and stared at her with clouded eyes.
Zeph finally squeezed his shoulder and spoke, “Bio-cyber’s have a very short life expectancy. You have a couple of years, at best, from when they changed you.”
“I’m sorry,” Arlen whispered again.
“Ahh, well that explains a few things,” Isra murmured. Kara nodded in agreement, then realised that both Daku and Arlen were looking at her in mingled horror and dawning loss.
Kara lightly shoved Daku’s shoulder. “Really, haven’t you realised I’m much too organised to have missed a little thing like dying and not fixed it yet?”
“Kara, when did they change you?” Arlen said urgently, shoving himself back up straight.
“They started within the first week of being on that base on the red planet.”
Arlen’s face turned more ashen, his eyes dilating in shock. “But that’s impossible. You couldn’t have survived this long.” He shook his head. “It’s not possible. How did you survive?”
“They worked on me for a very long time.” She tipped her head back staring up at the ceiling as memories re-surged. “I don’t think they ever meant me to leave their labs. They were experimenting with me. I guess that’s how I survived for so long in that base. Once I was rescued,” she lightly shrugged, “I was given medical attention.”
“We had a bio-cyber here a few years ago,” Maktin said. “She was near the end of her life already, though. We tried everything to save her, but nothing worked. So how did you?” his tone was accusatory and gaze full of suspicion.
She tipped her head towards Tarsk. “I told you, he’s a very gifted doctor.”
Arlen blinked, still stupefied. “So, you’re not dying?”
Kara shrugged. “I’m alive as much as the next person. We all must die at some point, but, no I’m not dying.”
He breathed out and shook his head, like he was clearing it of bad thoughts. Then he snapped his head up, as, clearly, he’d allowed other worries in.
“Why—how—were you working as an aide then?” Arlen rubbed his forehead, sinking back into his chair. “Surely one check by the Onyx Fleet would have revealed you?”
“I work for the Queen, and she made sure I was never subjected to random testing.”
“You mean worked, don’t you?” His eyes narrowed.
Kara looked at him for a while, before sighing.
“No.” It was time she revealed a few truths. “I still work for her. She saved my life. Gave me a purpose and reason to go on living when I thought I had nothing left.”
“How could you?” Arlen crossed his arms, his body tensing. “The Royal family were the ones that made augmentations illegal to start with.”
“And for very valid reasons. We can regrow organs and limbs, there’s no need for cybernetic enhancements, except by those whose intentions are not peaceful,” Kara replied. “Tell me, when do you use yours the most? While doing housework? Cooking maybe?” She paused and looked at the rest of the people in the room. “Or when you’re being violent?”
Reluctant nods came from all around.
“Arlen, what’s got into you? You know she’s right. I mean, you’ve said the same things yourself,” Zeph muttered. “We’ve even been removing the cybernetics from anyone that asks. Don’t argue for the sake of it, they could help us. Help Calli,” he pleaded.
Arlen clenched his jaw, shooting Zeph an annoyed glare. He drummed his fingers on his arms, starring at Kara. “They’re just augmentations. Kara, we can help you, we can get them out of you.”
Tarsk hissed, but Kara was already shaking her head. She lightly rested her hand on Tarsk’s wrist.
“You still don’t understand, do you? They changed my DNA, irrevocably. I’m not Kara Roth anymore. That child died. I’ve changed and been changed. You know I am not the little sister you remember. I haven’t been since the night the Dark Raiders abducted us. Accept me or don’t. I have people that do. I have love and friendship. And I will fight for the Empire and my Queen, if that is what she wants.”
“Forget them, like they forgot us!” Arlen cried out, his face pale.
“Nothing is ever that straightforward, that black and white. They rescued me, and welcomed me, full well knowing it could lead to this moment. And I would do it all again.”
“And yet here you are, fleeing with a man branded a traitor by them, just for helping Imperial citizens.” He leant forward, “Where’s your queen now, when you need her?” He shook his head and reached out his hand to her. “Join us, and we won’t disavow you and toss you to the side the second it doesn’t suit those damn royals.”
Isra raised both eyebrows and snorted. “None of them have been used and forgotten. You think that vid is the reason she’s here? On the surface, you’re right. But that’s not what we are dealing with. We are exactly where we’re supposed to be, and the Royal Family has great respect for Kara.”
Arlen glared at her. “Like you would have any idea what they think. Kara, we could really use your help. Tarsk’s help.” he reached for her hands. “Stay with us. Please.”
She shared a crooked smile with Isra; how wrong Arlen was. “I have people relying on me, just as you do. I cannot abandon them,” Kara said heavily.
“Your queen, stuck in some tower?” Arlen snapped.
“She’s doing everything within her power with the Council, and a few other things no one suspects, in order to protect all Imperials, and by extension, all of you.”
“You’re joking, right? Nothing she does would help us.” Zeph jumped up.
“The Dark Raiders are your main threat out here, yes?” Kara said, arching one eyebrow.
“Yeah,” Zeph replied, sharing a cautious look with Arlen before turning to Kara again. “They’re trying to destroy what we’ve created. Their attacks into Rhaslok space threaten to bring Fleet attention to us, and we don’t want that.” He shot Tarsk a worried look.
“Nothing that we say here will change what I do for Calli,” Tarsk said, picking up on his worry. “I will help her, when you permit it.” He shot a pointed look at Arlen. “Unless, of course, you don’t want any assistance offered by an Imperial.”
Arlen looked down at the ground and remained silent.
“With all these changes you have made in the Dark Zone, did you think once to contact the Council?” Isra asked, calmly leaning back in her chair. “Or even any of the other nations out there?”
“We don’t call it the Dark Zone,” Zeph snapped.
“No? But you treat it like it is, curtailing all contact with outsiders.” Isra crossed her legs and flicked a speck of dust off her pants.
“How dare you! The Empire cast us out and you go putting it on us?” Maktin glared at her, bracing his four hands on the table and leaning towards her.
She inspected her gloves. “How easily history is forgotten.”
“You think we’ve forgotten that the Empire shut us out?” Arlen snapped.
“This entire region earned its name because of what the colonists and dissidents of the time did,” Isra said, remaining relaxed. “They shut off all communications from Rhaslok after sparking the Colony Wars. Yes, there was bloodshed and atrocities committed on both sides, but it was a conflict the then Queen had not wanted. After all attempts at re-establishing contact failed, the Queen withdrew, and it became known as the Dark Zone, not because of the Empire, but because of the actions of the first people out here.”
“You’re making that up,” Maktin said, but his antennae shifted uncertainly.
Isra elegantly shrugged one shoulder. “For what reason? Look it up yourself, if you doubt me, but I can guarantee you that the Empire is not the source of all your problems.”
Arlen shook his head and stared at Kara imploringly. “You’re so blindly loyal to the Empire, you can’t even see it. They branded you traitors, and yet here you are, trying to justify it.”
Daku shifted forward, giving Isra and Kara a quick look. “I guess we’re putting our cards on the table now?”
“Go ahead,” Kara said, mirroring her brother’s stance and crossing her own arms.
“I’m not a traitor. Never have been,” Daku said.
Arlen jerked. “But that vid clearly states the Jade Fleet want you for questioning and even called you a traitor. How much clearer does it have to get before you accept the Empire is using you?”
Daku shook his head. “You should know that not everything is as it appears. That what we get labelled, what we get accused of, can be entirely different from the reality of the situation.” Daku reached out and brushed his hand over her cheek. “Even you were horrified by Kara.” He held up his hand to forestall their denials. “I saw your instinctive recoil. Believe me, I had to struggle to accept it as well, probably worse than you. Having her save my life helped.” He pulled Kara into his side.
“You were about ready to toss me out the airlock though,” Tarsk said, chuckling.
“Well, you are a massive, demanding pain in the rear. I swear you don’t know the meaning of no.” Daku shook his head at Tarsk.
Kara stifled her own laughter in Daku’s chest, feeling it vibrate along the side of his chest.
“But...how can you be defending the Empire when they’ve pronounced you a traitor?” Zeph asked, clenching and flexing his fists.
Daku sighed, and Kara rose and fell with the movement of his chest. She could feel his tension, and his uncertainty. They had, after all, told him not to say anything.
Kara patted her hand on his chest and straightened, her eyes meeting Isra’s as she moved.
“There are traitors in the Empire, but we aren’t them,” Kara said. She faced her brother noting his paleness.
“But everything is saying Nightwyn is a traitor. That’s coming from the Jade Fleet,” Arlen said, but he was subdued.
“We are known to be loyal royalists,” Kara said. “Daku’s association with me and Tarsk is being exploited to discredit us and undermine the Crown.”
“How would that affect the royals?” Maktin twitched his head.
“We are closely associated with the Royal Family.” Isra shifted and clasped her hands. “Kara, in particular, has worked consistently with several key councillors and Admiral Laxarn, and by extension the Royals.”
“Why do you know Admiral Laxarn?” Maktin frowned at Kara, crossing his arms.
“I worked with him several years ago making the Jade Zone safer,” Kara said.
“If you’re not traitors, why’d you leave the Empire?” Maktin’s antennae quivered.
Kara flicked her finger at the vid again. “You saw that. As soon as they identified me, my freedom would be over. But if they can’t find me” She shrugged eloquently, letting the silence be her answer. “However, anyone I’ve closely worked with would be suspect as well. I didn’t want to jeopardise the safety of any settlers in the Jade Zone, or destroy anyone’s career. More importantly, we’re trying to draw out the real traitors.”
Maktin chittered. “The Empire is falling apart. Why would we care?”
“Because the traitors are working with the Dark Raiders that you’re fighting as well,” Kara said.
“All I’m hearing is that the Empire was at fault the whole time,” Arlen snapped. “How can you still support them, when you know they killed our parents?”
“Tsk, one small group does not stand for the rest of us,” Tarsk said.
“Even though they’re behind it all?” Arlen clenched his hands.
“But they aren’t,” Kara said.
“Really?” He snorted. “Then who are?” He crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair, his jaw clenched.
“The Draldens,” Kara said. “They are trying to control the Empire. They’re using the Dark Raiders to create chaos and division and to drive a wedge between the Jade Fleet and the citizens, stirring up distrust and fear, all to undermine our stability and cast doubt on the government. But you don’t give a damn about what happens to Imperials, do you? You’ve washed your hands of the people you grew up with, the nation of your birth. So why would any of this matter to you—why would their suffering matter to you? You want to blame someone? Then curse them for destroying our lives, not the Empire.”
“The Draldens?” Arlen shook his head. “We were in Rhaslok space, which you’ve seemed to have forgotten.”
“You don’t think I know that?” Kara glared at him across the table. “Are you so wrapped up in your hatred of the Empire, so convinced that they are the source of all your problems that you won’t even consider you could be wrong?” Kara flung out her arm and pointed at Zeph and Arlen’s cybernetics. “They’re the ones that gave the traitors the ability to do this.”
“No, we know who did this,” Arlen said, but his voice cracked. He shifted sharing a confused and concerned look with Zeph. “The Dark Raiders were working with Imperials, we’ve seen this.”
“If you think the Empire has bio-cyber technology and the medical know-how to install it, you are sorely mistaken,” Tarsk interjected, all levity gone from his voice. “I struggled for years to find a way to stabilise Kara, and I spent quite a lot of it reverse engineering the techniques used on her.”
“The funding, the science, the technology, where do you think it came from?” She paused, letting them think about that. “You should know that the Dark Raiders don’t have those resources, and I can tell from the little I’ve seen aboard this mothership, that neither do you. Sure, you may have seen Imperials involved. We know that there had to be some, but what happened to us, to the others, was all backed by the Draldens. Without them, none of this would have happened.”
Arlen swallowed and his hands shook before he clenched them. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Kara said.
Arlen wiped his hand over his face and took a deep breath before he stood up. “You need to come with me.”
Maktin started, his scales faintly clicking together. “You can’t mean—”
“Yes. I do.”