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THE GREATER GOOD
By
Susan Kelly
© copyright July 2007, Susan Kelley
Cover art by Eliza Black, © copyright July 2007
ISBN 978-1-60394-059-7
New Concepts Publishing
Lake Park, GA 31636
www.newconceptspublishing.com
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.
HISTORICAL FOREWORD
The asteroid measured quite large by any standard. For the tiny green planet, called Earth by those ancients, the huge frozen rock hurtling toward them meant death. Fortunately, the people of this world knew something of technology. They set out to cheat fate and escape the extinction which so much of the planet’s life had suffered the last time such an event occurred.
The cataclysm zooming toward them united them for the first time ever into one people and they won. They weren’t entirely decimated. The asteroid didn’t crash into their sphere of rock, but rather was turned enough, slowed enough, so that the instrument of death was instead killed itself. Caught in the gravity trap of the very planet it would have destroyed, the space traveler was forever imprisoned in orbit around the Earth.
No one celebrated in joyous triumph on the planet surface. The addition of the new moon caused natural disaster after disaster. A desperate struggle to survive began.
The asteroid, large enough to have its own gravitational pull, tilted its captor enough to change the Earth’s entire climatic scheme. Ice caps melted and tropics froze. Floods inundated cities and farmlands alike. Earthquakes knocked down mountains and lifted up new ones. The dual moons raised huge storms and lifted waves on oceans gone mad. Within months of the bitter victory over the asteroid over ninety percent of animal life perished as man relearned a lesson he constantly needed to be taught. Nature was and is the most powerful of forces despite man’s arrogant assumption of dominance over all things.
Continents were cut off from each other. All technology was lost or destroyed. The survivors sought only to live, and so they did. Slowly, over centuries, small settlements established societies. Each community, unaware of the others, worked to recover civilization from the depths they’d fallen backward in history.
Inevitably, dissatisfaction and curiosity, ever the bane and the hope of mankind, motivated some to explore. After twelve centuries of isolation the seas were once again crossed.
The explorers discovered strange societies with odd customs but ultimately with the same goal. Survive and grow. To do so, sometimes sacrifices had to be made. A personal sacrifice for the greater good of the world has always been an honorable way to spend one’s life. One such example, recorded here, led to the rapid expansion of the western continent.
Maria Celibria
Official historian for the University of Parlania-1527P.A.(post asteroid)
THE BEGINNING: BARGAINS AND BETRAYAL
CHAPTER ONE
The wind howled and whistled through the trees. The nerve jangling noise combined with the crashing, foaming surf to block all other sounds. The man watched the tide swirling closer with each wave to the rocks where he stood. Even through the darkness he saw the whitecaps as they crashed against the large boulders thrusting toward the moon brightened sky.
Herma checked up and down the desolate stretch of beach he’d chosen for this meeting. The body of water protected his back from the approach of spies and the white sand would reveal anyone stalking him from the land side.
Stifling a shiver of distaste, Herma admitted he wanted to see this creature he planned to meet before it came upon him unexpectedly. He didn’t trust it, but he needed it.
Herma wrapped his cloak a little tighter as another strong gust of wind blew in off the violent water. He hated the sea. The dark seething mass of water kept him trapped here with five hundred or so plebeian colonists. He sickened of the struggle to bring culture and order to the rough edged masses. He despised his long deceased parents for ever embarking on the exploratory journey that resulted in them being stranded on this barbaric continent. The most despicable thing about his existence here was the second generation of Realm dwellers he attempted to rule. Some of them actually seemed to thrive in this hellhole. Only a few, such as himself, longed for the leisurely life their parents had left behind. Why had his parents traveled to this saint’s forsaken colony giving their young son no choice in his future? Damn them.
The warrior and hunter group disgusted him the most. They protected the population from the native humans like barbarians. The warriors were little better than animals themselves with their big muscles and animal grace. Worse yet, some of them actually believed they could think on their own. Talk of one of them moving into a place of leadership as a member to the Realm Council filtered to him with each report of his own spies. Murmurs of discontent with his policies circulated to his ears. As if the common laborers had the intelligence to know what was best!
A brief flash of anger warmed Herma in the chill air as he recalled how one of the warriors had openly denounced his handling of exploration. He smiled as he contemplated the fate he planned for that upstart. Personal revenge and the removal of a popular leader who might someday challenge him would be quite a coup. With Juston Steele out of the way, Herma could place his own loyal man as leader of the warriors. The sweetest part of his plan would be the appearance that he acted for the good of all the colonists.
First he had to get through this meeting. Herma needed the mineral he could only get from this fiend. So despite his disgust, he waited in this awful place, alone and cold.
He shivered and scanned the tree line again. Nothing moved that he could see, but the twin moons created shadows under the tall pines that edged the sand. He pulled his cloak tighter against the tug of the unceasing ocean breeze and returned to his dreams and plans. If he collected enough redak crystals, he could reconstruct the power units needed to propel a ship across the vicious untamable sea.
Herma only felt gratitude to his parents for one thing. The books they’d left him contained all the scientific information he needed to build the redak engines. The original settlers had given up on returning to Pernia shortly after arriving on this revolting land mass. His parents had described their birth land as overcrowded and violent, rich in technology, but poor in morals and peace. They saw this new land as bountiful and beautiful instead of seeing it as a barren landscape of ignorance.
Something scraped against a stone nearby. Herma spun toward the noise. He suppressed his instinct to flee and waited for the creature to approach. It swung its long, heavily muscled arms as it lumbered toward him. Matted hair covered its arms, legs, and chest almost as thickly as the dirty mane on its large head. It wore no clothing so that even in the dark he could see its shrunken privates hanging between its legs. As if it fathomed his disgust with its nakedness, it used one of its large hands to scratch at its groin area. Though it appeared awkward and clumsy on the sandy beach, Herman knew the beast could move deceptively fast when it attacked.
The cloud cover scattered much to Herma’s regret. Now he would be able to see the Savage’s face when he spoke to it. “Good evening, Zar.”
It grunted in reply, pulling its thick protruding lips back in a semblance of a smile. Its face was a hideous likeness to a man’s features but for the large brow overshadowing its vicious, cunning eyes. That look of cunning had first led Herma to try and communicate with this animal. He had stumbled onto Zar on this very beach while searching for a secure place to start his project.
”I saw your sign for a meeting. What’s the problem?” Herma wondered where he had ever found the courage to stand his ground and speak to Zar on that fateful day. It had led to this distrustful partnership.
“Your patrols hunt us. You were to slow them down. Many of my clan have been killed. The Blue Blade has taken many victims.” The guttural voice was difficult to understand, but not the anger and accusation coloring the words.
“I have done the best I can for now. Some of the warriors go out on their own to hunt. I can’t control them completely.” A drop of sweat slid down Herma’s back. He knew he walked a dangerous path, but he needed Zar. Zar could find him enough redak to power his engine. All Herma had to do was sell out his fellow colonists and the healer bitches that lived in the mountains. A small price in his opinion.
“If you can’t control them, I have no use for you.” The foul one stepped closer.
The swirling wind carried his rank odor to Herma. The moonlight exposed the telltale glassy sheen in the Savage’s eyes. Knowing it had eaten some of the vinefruit before it met him started a ripple of fear crawling up Herma’s spine. Ingesting the fruit caused these merciless beasts to become even more aggressive. Herma’s hand tightened on the blade hidden beneath his cloak. A useless gesture as he had no chance of surviving if the beast turned on him.
Showing fear could be fatal. “I’ll do as I promised. I already have a plan in place that will remove the one you call Blue Blade from the hunt. None of the other leaders will be able to replace him.”
Some of Herma’s fear dissipated as he pictured the moment and the aftereffects. Juston Steele, the sword slinger with the famous blue steel blade would be gone, and there would be no more talk of electing him to the council. “I have a meeting with the Solonians set up. They’ll help us be rid of the Blue Blade.”
A feral gleam appeared in the animal’s eyes at the mention of the Solonians. A hunger. Saliva dripped from the corners of its wide mouth. A long thick tongue slipped out and licked at its rough lips.
Herma shuddered and his stomach roiled with distaste. The creature laughed, a sound more horrifying than its appearance.
“Did you bring me more redak?” Herma asked, hoping to gain control of the conversation and put the beast on the spot.
“No more until you fulfill your end of the bargain.” The cunning glinted in Zar’s small evil eyes. It reminded the man that though this creature appeared to be nothing more than an animal, it possessed an unknown level of intelligence. “Get rid of the Blue Blade that kills us, and I’ll bring you more of that useless rock.”
“Very well, Zar. Meet me here the next time both moons are dark. Blue Blade will be gone by then.”
The creature grunted before lumbering away. Herma watched it go, pleased with his night’s work. He lifted his medallion from inside his shirt where he had hidden it from Zar. It marked Herma as the Head Councilman of the Realm colony.
His smile remained as he contemplated how his side of the bargain would destroy his people’s warrior hero. * * * *
Juston Steele straightened from his leaning position near the rear exit of the Realm Council chamber. The Solonian delegation entered from one of the side entrances near the front of the large room. Their presence had instigated this unprecedented session of the Council.
Selected private citizens, mostly wealthy ones, sat by invitation in the public seating facing the Council’s tables. Few of these people, he among them, had met the Solonians before today.
Just and other members of the Realm Security Forces stood about the room. He tugged on the collar of his dress uniform, feeling stifled in the rarely worn outfit. He nodded at one of the Realm guards and frowned as he realized he didn’t recognize the young man. He glanced around the room. He didn’t know any of the other guards.
“What do you suppose this is about, sir?” the guard closest to Just asked.
Just glared at the youngster.
“None of your concern.”
The man swallowed hard enough for Just to hear it. He bobbed his head and moved away from Just a few steps.
“Damn.” Just cursed his short temper. Fatigue drained what little patience he usually had. He and his small band of security forces had only returned last night from protecting another scientific research team exploring the north coast. He should have had a few days of down time. Why had he been ordered here? The purpose of this meeting remained a closely guarded secret.
Just watched the Solonians filing into the room. They filled the first three rows facing the Council platform. Strange that they were all women. But they were fine looking.
Blonde hair cascaded down the back of each lady. Some shades were dark enough to be almost brown while others looked pure white and every shade in between the extremes. The women of the Realm tended toward lean builds, but the Solonians’ long tunics hinted at generous curves. Just liked a bit of roundness in a woman.
The last two Solonians entered. Gold bands around their foreheads marked them as the leaders. Just’s curious stare caught and was trapped when he looked at the younger of the regal pair. Her hair reminded him of golden sunshine as it shimmered and reflected the light. She turned and stared right at him with the darkest brown eyes he had ever seen. Warmth sparkled in the intelligent depths as she continued to return his stare.
“By all the saints, I would give my last trade cent to wrap myself in one of those women. Imagine all that hair and soft woman beneath you.”
Just spun to face the young guard who had joined him. He didn’t know this one either. The strangeness of the fact flitted across his mind before irritation crowded out the thought. That the young man’s voiced opinion mirrored his own improper imaginings only increased Just’s anger.
“Keep your mind on your duty.” Just read the young guard’s name insignia. “If you need a woman there are whores at the pleasure house to take your trade cents, Cadet Wilan.”
Cadet Wilan actually shivered as Just glared at him. Sighing inwardly, Just imagined the thoughts rushing through the boy’s head. He heard the things the cadets said about him. No soul, no mercy, no warm emotion of any kind.
“I ... I meant no disrespect, sir,” Wilan whispered, his voice gone raspy.
Disgusted that the kid was so obviously frightened of him and disgusted at himself for having similar inappropriate thoughts, Just shook his head. He’d been on the trail too long.
“What you said sounded derogatory to me. The Realm wouldn’t even exist if not for the medical aid the Solonians offered our parents when they landed here. Keep in mind you’re alive today only because of their benevolence. Now go do whatever job you’re assigned to today. Keep your thoughts to yourself.” Just congratulated himself on the patience he had shown the young pup. His friend, Sky, wouldn’t be able to accuse him of frightening the kids again.
Just turned away from Wilan and heard the cadet’s sigh of relief.
“Actually, um, Leader Steele, sir?”
Just turned his best glare on Wilan, intending to frighten the boy into leaving him alone.
“I, um, was given the honor of escorting you to your seat. If you’ll just come with me, I can show you where you’ll be sitting.” Wilan sounded deferential, probably hoping for cooperation.
“No, thank you, Wilan,” Just said, waving his hand in dismissal. “I can see everything I need to see from here.”
“No. I ... I mean I’m sorry, sir. You must come with me. I’ve been ordered to make sure you sit in the correct seat.”
Just wasn’t even listening any longer. He stared at the Solonians, wondering what was so important that the Queen and Princess had traveled to the Realm. He assumed they were the royal family although they called themselves by some other title. Just hoped to catch the eye of the princess again, but then Wilan touched him.
For a few seconds, Just was back in the jungle. The screams of his men and those of the soft scientists drowned out the gentle hum of the council chamber. The grunts and growls of the Savages intermixed with the screams and shouts of his men and the scientists they protected.
Reality crashed back into Just. They were out in the hallway and he had Wilan pinned against the wall. Just’s forearm crushed against the poor kid’s throat, the strength of the hold keeping the cadet high on the wall so his toes brushed the floor.
Wilan’s breath wheezed and his eyes widened to the size of the giant moths that fluttered in the swamps at night.
Just concentrated on the present, slowing his breath, calming his racing heart. “Don’t ever touch me again, kid. You’re half a breath away from spending the next lunar cycle in the mediward.”
“Steele, stop terrorizing my cadets. I have enough trouble getting them to stick it out through training. I don’t need you scaring them half to death. Wilan, go back inside. I’ll take care of this,” Head Trainer Sky Turan ordered.
Just eased Wilan down so his feet touched the floor. The cadet scampered sideways until he was clear of Just. Wilan nodded at Sky before speaking to Just.
“I’m sorry, Leader Steele. I was only trying to do my job. Counselor Herma told me to use whatever means necessary to get you in the correct seat.”
Just felt Sky’s glare on him, and he heard Wilan’s honesty in his explanation. Just groaned inwardly. Tonight the barracks would circulate another tale about the cold unfeeling bastard, Steele.
“My apologies also, Cadet,” Just lied between his teeth. He didn’t owe the kid an apology. “I don’t like strangers to touch me, and I’m still a little edgy from being in the bush this past lunar cycle.”
Wilan looked a bit shocked by the stilted apology, but he nodded at Just before slipping back into the meeting room. As soon as the door closed behind the cadet, Sky let loose with a booming laugh. He stepped forward and took Just’s hand in a crushing handshake and slapped his shoulder. The two of them had fought side by side many times.
“Wilan’s not a bad recruit, Just,” Sky said, his eyes still twinkling with his mirth.
“He looks like he should still be in basics school learning his reading and math.” Just thought Sky looked tired. His gray eyes carried the ghosts of lost comrades and desperate battles. Probably the same ones Just would see in his own eyes if he cared to look. Sky’s silver hair, unusual in a man only thirty-six years old, looked in a need of a trim. “You look the worse for wear yourself, Sky. Something going on here while I’m off on useless adventures?”
Sky’s expression lost its levity. “I’m not sure, Just. I can’t put a finger on it. Maybe I’m getting too old for this. Or I’m getting as paranoid as you.”
A tiny niggling of uneasiness tickled at Just’s instincts. When this little diplomatic function ended he and Sky would have to sit down and have a long chat.
“How about if you join the girls and me for the evening meal tomorrow?” Sky asked as if he read Just’s thoughts.” The girls are asking about you, and Claudia might be home from patrol by then.”
Just accepted. He enjoyed time with Sky and his three younger sisters. Claudia was only one year younger than Just. She was one of their finest warriors. Sky had taken on the care of his youngest two sisters when his parents passed away two years previously. Sky had stopped going into the field and taken over the training of the recruits. “How are my girls doing?”
“They’re growing up so fast it’s frightening. Soon I’ll have to protect them from guys like you.”
Just laughed along with Sky. “Not if they’re like their big sister, Claudia.”
“She’s right behind you in rank, Just. She might be your superior one day.”
“If she doesn’t give in to one of her suitors.”
“They’re all afraid of her. Seriously, Just, you need to think about settling down yourself. There’s many fine women that would be glad to join with you.”
“You’re going to replace me with some cadets like Wilan? Can you see him the first time the Savages come screaming from the trees? He’ll mess his pants.”
“Maybe, maybe not. He had the courage to face you, didn’t he? If you knew what those young guys say about you ....”
“Don’t exaggerate, Sky.”
“You’d be surprised. They’re always shocked to see you’re not the tallest guy in the world. Of course, they think that sword you inherited from your father shoots lightning bolts at your enemies.”
They laughed again. Cadet Wilan opened the door, his mouth dropping open when he saw them. Just wondered what tale the young man would tell in the barracks about the two battle hardened sword slingers actually laughing.
Wilan cleared his throat and spoke to Sky. “Sir, Counselor Herma is waiting for Leader Steele to be seated before he speaks. He demands his presence.”
“Thank you, Wilan. I’ll bring him in myself. Come on, Just.”
Just hesitated before following Sky. “What’s this about, Sky? Why a special seat for me? Why was I ordered here at all? I’m not a security guard, and I’m due some down time anyway.”
Sky frowned and ran his fingers through his silver hair. Just’s uneasiness blossomed when he saw Sky’s similar disquiet. Just recognized some of his restlessness was the natural feeling all men of action felt in the unfamiliar circus of politics.
Wilan still held the door open and listened to their conversation.
“They probably want your pretty face up front to entertain all those Solonian women.” Sky’s tone was light, but his eyes held a warning. Few of the experienced warriors cared for Herma or agreed with his policies.
“Right, Sky. I’ll see you and my little darlings tomorrow night.”
A familiar itch started at the back of Just’s neck as he followed Wilan to the front of the hall. He often felt that little warning when he was on the trail, but why now? He trusted his instincts, but why did they warn him of enemies here?
Just noticed all the Solonian women watched him as he took his seat. He sensed a trap closing in on him as introductions started. The Deomo Sinda, what they called their queen, nodded regally to the polite applause. An attractive woman still in the prime of life, she carried herself with a style that spoke of a long lineage of royalty.
The muscular, serious looking woman beside the Deomo was introduced as the Solonian Security Captain, Vilicia. As she rose and nodded curtly at the crowd, Just noticed she stood at least as tall as he did.
Just’s stare locked with the Lady Katerina’s as she rose in turn. His heart stumbled then raced furiously. The white straight tunic she wore couldn’t conceal her full breasts and rounded hips. Made to cradle a man, he thought as his gaze lingered on her hip length golden hair swinging loose beyond her waist. Golden and precious, it swayed as she nodded. Her eyes, so dark he wondered if they were black instead of brown, contained the warmth he had noticed earlier. A light blush tinged her cheeks as she stared back at Just. His lower body tightened, shocking him with the sudden burst of lust. Had he been in the bush so long a simple look from a woman aroused him?
What was he doing? Just blinked and looked away. Damn! He was ogling Lady Katerina as if she were a common whore. Thinking he would have to come up with his second damn apology of the day, Just glanced back at Katerina. She nodded as if acknowledging the spark he had felt between them. Puzzled and suspicious, Just returned the nod. She smiled at him and looked toward the podium where Herma droned on about the contributions of the Solonians to the Realm.
Just reminded himself what important allies these women were to his people. Someone should kick his butt for the thoughts he was having about the Lady Katerina. The big brute guard, Vilicia, stared at him like she wanted the duty. His body still throbbed with arousal despite his self castigation.
Just scanned the room out of habit, trying to turn his thoughts away from the forbidden. He again noted he didn’t know any of the guards personally. Even Wilan was gone as was Sky. Why was he here? Just felt very alone.
* * * *
Katerina hoped her face showed more composure than she felt. She’d used all her courage to meet the intense stare of the handsome male. Handsome didn’t properly describe him. Magnificent! He glided rather than walked. His lean muscles, obvious under the tight clothing he wore, bunched and extended beautifully. A hint of a wave gave his night black hair the appearance of being recently mussed. His blue eyes matched the color of the sky at high noon. All Solonians had various shades of brown eyes, making his unusual color even more fascinating.
She glanced at him again, but he stared now at Counselor Herma. His gaze was intense enough to be unnerving. The strength of will behind it seemed monstrous. He was perfect. He was the one. * * * * Just wondered why Deomo Sinda seemed so tense as she rose to speak at the podium. His own misgivings grew as he noticed a number of the Solonian women stared at him.
“Thank you, Counselor Herma. The succor we’ve extended to your people has given us benefits, as well. The time has come when we must ask the Realm for assistance in an important matter. Your leaders have agreed to our plea with the good will and honor of true friends and allies. I thank them and all of you for saving Solonia in our time of need.”
The Deomo returned to her seat as puzzled applause followed her. Just noticed she cast a concerned look at her daughter, Katerina.
Herma took the podium again, his smile triumphant and eager. The crowd seemed to lean forward in anticipation, but Just wanted to move away. His instincts screamed.
“As you know, good people of the Realm, our Solonian friends have few men among them. They fear the continuation of their people as their numbers decrease each generation. Deomo Sinda has proposed to us a joining of our two races for the betterment of both peoples.” Herma paused as excited chatter broke out in the crowd. The Solonians remained quiet.
Herma’s thin lips curled in a gloating smile. He stared at Just as he raised his hand for silence. “Of course, in joining two separate races, we must take precautions. We need to move slowly as we attempt to merge our two cultures and people into one. On the physical level, we have no way of knowing if offspring can result from the mating of a Solonian woman and a Realm man.”
Every Solonian stared at Just now. They knew something he didn’t. Trap! He sensed it, but what was it?
“To give our hopes the best possible chance of success, each race has chosen one of their finest individuals to be joined as a formal mating pair. If and when they have produced healthy offspring, we’ll conduct more joinings between our peoples.” Herma paused and gestured toward Sinda.
Sinda stood and spoke to the gathering. “To show our strong desire to make this mating a success, Lady Katerina has been chosen to represent our people. We ask that the joined couple reside in Solonia since they will be my heirs.”
Herma smiled and led the applause as Sinda sat once more.
Suddenly Just saw it clearly. Very clever of Herma. The walls closed in on Just. He looked around, measuring the distance to the exits and freedom. No less than twelve guards blocked every door. Just looked back at Herma. The counselor’s malevolent stare greeted Just. A shiver of dark foreboding crept up Just’s spine.
“The Realm is proud to have one of our finest volunteer for this important duty. “ Did only Just see the hatred and triumph in Herma’s eyes? “Please rise and accept this honor, Squad Leader Steele.”
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