Dark Empire Four: Revelations - Chapter Three, Scene Two

 

Ospar has it all...except what he wants.

* * **

Dramok Ospar sat among his children and clan in their homein Kalquor’s capital city. He noted how many would look at his current life andfeel it was perfect.

It appeared so, on the surface. His mining operationselsewhere on the planet and the moons scattered throughout the system had madehim obscenely wealthy. Being a key financier of Earth II’s birth had put a dentin his riches, but months after it had welcomed its first residents, carefulinvestments elsewhere had recouped the outlay.

His clan was healthy and happy. Jol, his clan’s protector,was on the advisory board of a training center for Nobeks who’d failed to workwell in team situations. It had locations all over the world and a couple ofKalquor’s moons. The ferally handsome warrior was also on the security boardfor the mining company Ospar owned. He traveled extensively, and though Jolwasn’t one to personify contentment, Ospar believed he was.

Their Imdiko Rivek was likewise at ease. A longtime priestat the Temple of Life, he taught and led Kalquorians and Earthers who’dembraced his beliefs. He also worked alongside leaders of other faiths for thebetterment of the empire’s people. The tall, stunning priest radiated peace forthose in his sphere.

When it came to his female clanmate, Ospar was certain he’dwon fate’s lottery. Iris, a slender blond beauty, was everything a man couldhope for in a lifemate. Smart, capable, a loving mother and Matara, she wasindeed the center of the clan.

His children were also a delight. Little Mira was four andruled her older brothers by means of trilling laughter and trusting hugs. Atsix years old, Umpev was already the perfect balance of strength, fearlessness,and compassion. He’d been among the first hybrid children too balanced betweenthe three Kalquorian male breed characteristics to be classified as any inparticular. He was what was referred to as a Merge, a new category ofKalquorian.

Then there was Thomas, the child of Clan Ospar’s heart,granted to them at the age of six when they’d clanned his mother. Now fourteen,he was the big brother his siblings worshipped and followed everywhere. Adiagnosis of autism, which affected his social skills and a few additionalareas of his life, was no hindrance to making his parent clan proud.

At that instant, Thomas was showing the younger children thevid game he’d concocted, in which they could play engineers of the ancientlocomotives humans had once used as transportation on old Earth. In his game,they had to pull train cars and make deliveries to frontier towns whiledefeating a number of obstacles: avoiding bison and ronkas blocking the tracks;fighting off fierce feline zibgers, which sprang at the open locomotive wherethe engineer piloted; and battling robbers of various species who rodesix-legged kestarshes and shot blasters. Jol, home after a business trip to themoon Lobam, laughed uproariously as Mira gleefully ran an alien Asicarian overwith her locomotive.

“A bit gruesome for smaller children, isn’t it, my son?”Rivek quietly asked Thomas, blinking at the spew of Asicarian body parts overthe landscape.

“I researched it. It’s accurate. This is what it would looklike. But it isn’t real, so it’s okay.” Literal-minded Thomas was devout whenit came to precision in his work, even when it came to animated gamecharacters. He prompted his brother and sister as he often did, “You know thisis pretend, right?”

“The bad guys lose!” Umpev shouted, his engineer blasting atthe Bi’isil robber trying to send an immobilizing field over the train. “We’rethe good guys, so we always win!”

“In a perfect universe,” Iris sighed, glancing up from herhandheld. No doubt she was reading a book to relax after a day of teaching andkeeping the children corralled. “Watch out for the Tragoom sneaking up on theother side of the train, Umpev. Good heavens, is it riding a ronka?”

“Tragooms are too heavy for kestarsh. They have to rideronkas.” Thomas made notes on his handheld as he watched the children play, nodoubt recording what improvements the game needed.

Ospar watched his family, wishing he felt as fortunate as heknew himself to be. He had it all…except the work that had fed his spirit.

Once upon a time, he’d been a major force in politics. He’dsat on the Royal Council. He’d been an ambassador to the Galactic Council. He’dbeen governor over the Earther-Kalquorian colony of Haven during a time ofupheaval. He’d had a hand in bringing Earther women to the Kalquorian Empire,saving his world from certain extinction. He’d been among the first to thwartthe traitor Dramok Maf prior to the bastard unleashing a devastating civil warupon the empire. Ospar had given his soul, and sometimes his blood, to keep hisworld strong.

The scandal over how the Earth women had been brought to theempire had torn him from his life’s work. Ospar experienced some guilt over theabductions of those who’d been forced to Kalquor against their wishes, but anoverwhelming majority of the kidnapped had elected to stay when the RoyalCouncil and Kalquor’s human empress had given them the chance to leave. Itproved Ospar and his cohorts had been correct to bring those initiallifebringers to the empire, saving them from the original Earth’s totalitarian…andutterly insane…leaders.

He gazed at Iris. She’d shared stories of how Earth’sgovernment and ruling church had executed women for their “sins” of adulterywhen they’d been victims of rape. Even a whisper of scandal was enough tosentence women to prison, if not death.

No, he’d been right to have them rescued, even against theirwill. Kalquorian clans had showered the Earthers with adoration and restoredthe hope they’d lost. The empire itself had been saved from extinction in theprocess.

It wasn’t his fault Earth’s leaders had destroyed theiroriginal planet rather than let Kalquor occupy it at the end of the war. Theblame rested solely on Browning Copeland’s and his supporters’ shoulders. Osparhad mourned the deaths of billions, and yes, the abductions had led to the warand its horrific end…but he hadn’t set off the explosions.

“I’ve done my penance,” he’d told Royal Councilman Oiteilearlier that day during a clandestine com. “I’ve paid reparations. Why isn’t itenough?”

“We’ll soon convince the few councilmen we need to overridedissenting votes from the Imperial Clan,” Oiteil had assured him. “A few moreweeks. Surely not even a month until you’ll be cleared to run for officeagain.”

He’d said so a month prior. And a month before that.Meanwhile, Ospar sensed life passing him by. Investing in Earth II had givenhim some solace, but the planet’s birth had been accomplished. His money wasn’tneeded there any longer.

He was in a rut. He needed to be back in the thick of publicpolicymaking.

His gaze swung to Jol, who appeared utterly absorbed in thechildren’s game. Nonetheless, his Nobek sensed his attention. Cool purple eyesmet his.

“Do you miss it?” Ospar asked.

His clanmate knew exactly what he was talking about. Jolunderstood better than anyone what drove Ospar. He’d been the Dramok’sbodyguard throughout his dangerous career. Ospar had made enemies easily, andJol had kept them at bay. He’d had every appearance of enjoying the perils hiscurrent work didn’t offer.

Jol considered him for a few beats, as if weighing hiswords. Rivek watched them both, his equanimity showing no sign of beingdisturbed.

“I do,” the Nobek finally admitted. “Advisory boards are afar cry from fending off those you’ve angered or protecting a colony. However,I look at our children and I’m grateful they enjoy the peace we’ve had.”

Rivek nodded. “These past years have been difficult for youboth. Neither of you were born to watch developments from the sidelines. You’vehad to endure the true test of your characters: to learn how to behave when allis right in the world. Not to indulge yourselves or grow complacent, but findnew ways to render service to those you can help.”

“Agreed.” Though he said it more to move from the depressingsubject, Ospar did agree with his Imdiko. He’d attempted to offer a myriad ofbenefits in the form of donations and volunteer work…but such assistance feltempty compared to the machinations and deals he’d once navigated in the midstof opponents set against him. Lacking such drama, life was no longerfulfilling. He was no longer important in any true capacity.

* * **

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?

Releasing March 29. Pre-order ebook or buy print now:

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print