Dark Empire Four: Revelations - Chapter Three, Scene One

 

 

When the enemy can be anywhere or anyone, whom do you trust?

* * * * 

After they left Hobato in his hospital room, Tranis, Piras,and Emperor Bevau went to Fleet Headquarters and locked themselves in Tranis’office. He switched on his sound blocking device and nodded to indicate theycould speak without fear of being heard by potential spies.

“Here’s what we know,” Bevau started after politely refusingthe chair Tranis offered. Action-oriented Nobeks, even of the royal bent,weren’t much for sitting. “A few of us can detect these Darks in our peripheralvision.”

“I’ve already begun testing personnel for the supposed brainconfigurations allowing those who possess it to catch sight of the enemy.”Tranis had done so days before despite Hobato, under the control of the Darkrider, countermanding his order to test the entirety of the fleet.

“What were the estimates on how many could see them?”

“One to five percent of our population. The same percentageof Earthers may have the ability as well.”

“Our other means of exposing them come from Earther women.They hear a strange voice-doubling when a Dark-ridden person speaks,” Pirasadded. “We’ve checked a sampling of fifty female and twenty-five male Earthersusing audio files of Admiral Hobato while he was under the All’s influence. Wecross-tested the speech of volunteers who weren’t contaminated. Every one ofthe women identified Hobato’s…and only Hobato’s…voice as having the doublingeffect. The human men heard nothing strange.”

“It’s a start,” Bevau said. “What of infrared or thermalvision devices?”

“They pick up nothing,” Piras said.

“Admiral Hobato was certain more Darks are on Kalquoritself, possibly in positions of power.” Tranis kept his gaze steady on Bevau.

The Nobek smirked. “Go ahead and call in an Earther woman torate my speech. Though I’m certain my empress would have raised an alarm if Iwere ridden already.”

“Unless your entire clan has been compromised.” Tranis wenton before Bevau could respond. “I have no fear that’s the case, my emperor. TheDarks can apparently access our memories and information well enough to pass asnormal to the distant observer, but to those who know the victims best, it’sobvious something’s off. The Imperial Clan has too many aides, Royal Guards,and legislators they interact with on a regular basis for the Darks to subvertthem unnoticed.”

“Hobato has no clan, but he has regular staff meetings,”Bevau said.

“He’s always been entirely professional in our company,”Piras said. “He’s kept the sort of distance required by a commanding officer.”

“He must have friends outside the fleet.”

“He may have begged off visiting them since the Dark grabbedhim,” Tranis guessed. “In his position, it would be easy to claim his workdoesn’t allow him to break away.”

“Dramok Mereta is also unclanned.” Piras tapped his fingersagainst his thigh. A nervous gesture, but at least he wasn’t grinding his teethyet. “Depending on who might be under the All’s control at the GC, it may havegone unremarked.”

“We have to set aside our concerns regarding the GalacticCouncil for the present,” Bevau said. “Send a spy contingent to check on itsstatus, but keep in mind Hobato said the All was specifically targetingKalquor. We need to shore up our defenses and keep our leaders from beingcompromised, as hard as the Darks may find it to do so.”

“They’re aware of our defensive capabilities, thanks toHobato’s knowledge. Those in the GC will spot our phased operatives too,judging from what happened when we confronted Hobato’s rider. This will takecareful planning.” The idea set Tranis’ stomach churning. How could the spydivision watch what would easily spot them?

“I’m imperial commander of the ground forces, but the highcommanders under me must be tested for influence,” Bevau said. “They couldeasily go rogue under the circumstances.”

Heavy thudding startled the trio. Tranis stared at his door,where it sounded as if someone was trying to beat his way through. “Identify,”he barked at the door’s announce sensor.

“It’s me, Tranis. Let me in. It’s an emergency!”

“My Imdiko,” Tranis told Bevau. “He wouldn’t demand entryunless the world is coming to an end.” Or something terrible had happened toCassidy, their pregnant Matara. Please, no. “Door, open.”

Degorsk burst in, his eyes wild. He didn’t realize a memberof the Imperial Clan was present, or in his extremity, he didn’t care. Eitherway, he failed to acknowledge Emperor Bevau’s presence.

He ran straight to Tranis. “You need to talk to Dramok Ilidimmediately. Members of the Royal Council have been taken over by the Darks.”

 * * * *

Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keepingsomething from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step aheadof the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythehas a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither sideis ready when the truth comes out.

Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the politicalstage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealingwith a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor,his relationship with his clan…and his life.

The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against theDarks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealedit’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy LeaderBrowning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper,setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.

As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, theGalactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans andKalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can theyloosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?

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