The lions roar, p.11
The Lion's Roar, page 11
"Yes," the woman asked looking toward him.
"To ensure that only the best and most qualified students are selected; otherwise they could botch everything up." He smiled as he finished. No one else had said it, and the V-sphere hadn't either, but it was obvious. Only the best people could take the message of the Capital to the other planets.
"Nope," she said flatly. "Anyone else?"
"Wait," Terran called out. "How is that not the answer? It is the most important thing to consider. You don't want any old yokel to be the face of the Capital. Think of the damage it could do."
"You, sir," the woman replied as Terran finished, "have an overinflated sense of self. The role of a Voice is not to be the 'face of the Capital' nor is it a position to be desired for our own sake. It is one that you are called toward and must respond to. Remember that. Anyone else?"
Terran clenched his jaw as he heard snickers from a few of the students around him. This whole thing was stupid anyway. He just needed the test and it would be a cinch.
"I think I might know," Kelly's voice rang out.
"Oh?" The woman smiled as she spoke. "And what would you say is the answer?"
"Well," Kelly stood and cleared her throat. "I don't think anything the voice from before actually said mattered." A couple of students started murmuring as she spoke, but the woman shushed them.
"Carry on," the woman said.
"It's just, the message that the voice was talking about was important and I think it is good to know all the rules and stuff, but it was hard to keep focused on it because was so monotonous and boring. It was like it wasn't even interested in what it was saying. I just feel like whoever made the V-sphere should have picked someone who was more excited about what they were saying. Then they could have delivered the same message, but in an effective way. We need Voices that resonate with our hearts, not just our minds."
The woman's smile broadened. "Now that is a fine answer. Very fine indeed. You may sit down." Kelly sat down looking pleased, and Terran felt a small stab of jealousy.
"It is not enough to know about the Capital and what we are doing. To become a Voice, you need to be able to remember the feeling of it. The feeling you experienced when you first learned about the Emperor. You can't lose that. If you do, it won't matter what you say, no one will pay attention. If you don't believe it yourself, then you shouldn't be here. That is all for today, I will see you all tomorrow same time and place."
"What should we call you if we have questions?" a student called out from the front.
The woman turned and smiled. "Nothing, I am just a Voice." With that she turned and left.
"Well that was dumb," Terran said turning to Kelly. "What kind of a question was that? It was stupid."
"Just because you didn't get it right doesn't mean it was stupid," Kelly said packing up her small notebook. "It just means you weren't paying attention. I don't think it will count against you," she added, seeing his displeased look.
"I just hope the rest of the class isn't as big a waste of time as this." He said getting up from his desk. "I don't see the point in all this listen-to-your-heart type of stuff."
"That's because you don't get it. You should probably take some time and make sure you really get what all this is about."
She left him standing by his desk and walked out. He gritted his teeth and watched her leave, followed by everyone else in the class. As the last person left, his anger at the Voice gave way to frustration.
Do I really know why I am pursuing all this? Am I just biding my time? He wanted to talk with Catherine about it, or Rictor, but instead he found himself going to the small classroom he knew would be empty.
As he sat at the table looking back over the schematics of the ships he began to wonder if his heart was really in it at all.
Chapter 23
N aomi shifted her weight back to her left foot. Her tablet was blank in in her hand. She needed to call Dagor. It would be suspicious if she didn't give him an update on how things were going. She ground her teeth trying to figure out the best approach to the conversation. She had written a few notes down to try and pick out exactly what she would tell him, but the exercise had been useless. She still had no idea what she would say. Time was running out, and she needed to reach out to him. Drawing a breath, she sent the email she had drawn up concerning Rictor.
She dreaded hearing Dagor's voice. The familiar chill crept up the small of her back causing her to shudder. She could feel the tension mounting in her shoulders as she waited for the response. She set her tablet on the small bookshelf that lined Rictor's office and sat down. She had cleaned up the office while he was away to keep from thinking about the phone call she would have to make. As the chore had progressed, it had been a good way to get her thoughts in order. As she had tidied up the desk and random stacks of papers, her own thoughts had been tidied up as well.
She closed her eyes and rested her head on the wall behind her. How long had it been since she had checked in? It wasn't like Dagor to not use someone.
"Hello, Naomi," Dagor's voice wormed its way through her ear piece.
"Hello, Dagor," Naomi said trying to keep the revulsion out of her voice.
"It has been quite some time since we have chatted. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
As he spoke, the video he had sent her began replaying in her mind. The anger she had felt watching it began to return as well. She forced it down and kept her composure.
"I wanted to thank you for letting me meet with my son once I get to Torga. So, I have been trying to get close to the Captain's right hand man. Surely you know of Rictor."
"I do," came the response.
"Well, I have been drawing him close, and he has promised me that I will be able to come planetside. On the condition that he accompanies me, of course."
"I had heard that you two were getting closer. What do you expect to get from this favor you are bringing me?"
"I want to make a simple trade, is all." Naomi didn't have to fake the nervous waiver in her voice. This needed to go their way. "I would like to trade Rictor for Nathaniel."
"Interesting," Dagor's voice oozed with easy confidence. "Didn't I tell you that you and your son would be reunited? Surely you don't think I would go back on my word, do you, Naomi?"
"Of course not, it's just that you said I would be reunited with my son... But I was hoping this trade would ensure that it would be permanent. I am done with all the plotting and scheming. I just want to be with my son."
Naomi waited patiently for a response, but there was no answer. She had just begun to think that Dagor had gotten off the line when his voice erupted into her ear.
"Very well, Naomi. If you give us Rictor, you may leave us in peace. No more plotting and scheming. But I want you to know that if this goes wrong, your son will die."
A short burst of static told Naomi that the call was over. She took the small earpiece out and placed it in a small metal box. Then, after a few deep breaths, she began pacing the office. Rictor entered a few minutes later, carrying a small tray of pastries and two cups. A small rumble from her stomach reminded her that she hadn't eaten yet. She reached out to get a sip from one of the cups and found it empty.
"Forget something?" she asked, shaking the cup.
"Nope, it is time you finally tried coffee. I can't believe you haven't tried it."
He bent over next to the coffee pot and began setting up the machine. She really didn't have any desire to drink coffee, but it would make him happy. And why do I care if he is happy? Naomi cursed her thoughts, frustrated that they had even occurred. Keep it about business. Emotions would cause her to make mistakes.
They sat quietly eating the pastries as the smell of coffee began to fill the office. Rictor tried to make some small talk, but Naomi found herself keeping quiet more than usual. She really did hate all the plotting and scheming they had been doing. She wished for simpler days, when her only concern had been taking care of Nathaniel. They had been stressful at times, working to provide for him, but nothing like the cloak and dagger they had been at on the ship.
A small beep from the coffee pot alerted them that the coffee was done. Rictor poured the mixture into two cups and handed one to Naomi. She took a small drink and set it on the desk.
"Well?" Rictor asked.
"It's awful," Naomi grimaced as she spoke. "Almost as bad as talking with Dagor."
"I doubt it. It's far less oily," Rictor smiled and passed two small packets to her. "I prefer mine black, but I guessed someone as sweet as you would need some sugar."
Naomi rolled her eyes and poured the packets into the coffee. A quick sip from the cup confirmed that a little bit of sugar made all the difference in the world.
"Dagor is in with the plan," she said between sips. "He will most likely attempt some subterfuge or other, but we should be able to find an opening."
"I wouldn't worry about that," Rictor said taking a bite out of a pastry. "There are more than a few gadgets on this ship that will help make sure we can get to him."
Naomi traced a finger around the rim of her cup. Today, it seemed Rictor had no problem with what they were doing. He was unpredictable to a degree. At some moments, he almost seemed to enjoy the planning and at others Naomi could sense that he wanted nothing to do with it.
"How certain are we that you and I are going to be on the same team again?" she asked. "The last time it happened, it didn't go well."
"Well, Glenn trusts me to keep an eye on you, so I think we are safe there. Speaking of your attempted murder, do you have any idea why Dagor wanted you to kill Terran? I have been meaning to ask you and was waiting for the right time."
"I have no idea. The kid is brilliant for sure, but I suspect there is more to it than that. There are plenty of smart people on the ship, one more wouldn't hurt."
"Have you talked to him at all?" Rictor asked after another bite.
"No, I was asked to speak at the end of the certification this round, so he is bound to try and talk to me there. He still thinks it was an accident?"
"Most on the ship do. Glenn and I made it clear that it was just a misdiagnosis that caused the problems."
"How often do things like this happen?" Naomi asked. There was something off about what Rictor had just told her.
"What do you mean?" he asked, finishing his pastry.
"How often does the ship or someone on it get attacked, and only you or Glenn knows about it?"
Rictor just smiled in return. "Naomi, don't you worry about that. Glenn and I have it under control." A small beep sounded as he was reaching for another pastry.
"You late for something?"
Rictor groaned and got up from his seat. He began scrambling around the room, opening drawers. "Where is the extra outfit I keep in here? Did you clean my office?"
Naomi grew wide eyed as he spoke. "Did you just now notice? Didn't you wonder why you actually had someplace to put the tray?"
Rictor paused for a second, then shook his head. "Never crossed my mind. But back to you moving my clothes, where are they?"
Naomi walked over to a small chest in the back of the office and took the clothes out. "You need better organization in here. It's a mess. Almost as bad as you are."
Rictor grinned as he grabbed his clothes and turned to leave. Pausing again, he turned back and kissed her on the cheek. "We need to be convincing to people, Naomi. Gotta get into the practice of showing affection. It pains me to have to kiss a beautiful woman like yourself, but I am willing to take one for the team."
As he left the room, Naomi sat down and began eating another pastry. At first, she had resisted the few affections that Rictor had tried showing in public, but he was right. Dagor would be asking his other spies to check in on them at any moment. They would need to be convincing. If they weren't affectionate in private, it would seem more awkward when they were in public.
A small part of her told her that she didn't exactly mind being kissed, and Rictor wasn't bad at it all. It's been seven years since Orion died, surely it's okay for me to enjoy myself. She pushed the thought away. She needed to focus on the mission. Maybe after everything was done she would consider letting someone in, but not now.
Naomi took another bite of pastry. If she was going to be stranded on Torga, there were worse people to be stranded with than Rictor. He was a survivor, just like she was. He's not too bad to look at either, if only he wouldn't talk quite so much. She set the pastry down and picked up the tablet. The certification classes would be ending soon and she needed to write the graduation speech.
Thoughts of the young man she had poisoned came back to her. He would undoubtedly have questions. Maybe she would be able to just give the speech and leave, or even give the speech remotely. Anything would be better than facing that young man again. She let the thoughts go and tried to focus on the speech. She would take it one day at a time. She would get through this. As she was writing, however, the familiar guilt came creeping back to her. She could call herself a survivor, but really, she was just a murderer.
Chapter 24
R ictor entered the exercise room for his routine spar with Glenn when an extra person in the room surprised him. Terran was here too, and Glenn was instructing him on the proper techniques of grappling with someone on the ground.
"You trying to muddle up his brain up with all that technical jargon?" Rictor called from across the room.
Terran looked at him with curious eyes, but Glenn just waved him over.
"One of these days you will actually be on time, Ric," Glenn said.
"And one of these days all your scars will magically vanish." Rictor retorted with a snort. "Let's face it, I will always be fashionably late, and you will always lose beauty pageants. It's the lots we drew in life."
Terran's face went from shock to horror as Rictor was talking, but Glenn just barked out a laugh and swatted Rictor on the back.
"Terran, don't look so mortified. One of the greatest secrets of the universe, apart from faster than light travel, being able to know the foundation of space, and coffee, is that you have to accept what you can't change." Rictor smiled at him.
"But insulting someone isn't the same as accepting the truth." Terran said, scrunching his forehead. "That's just mean."
"It's okay, Terran," Glenn said. "Rictor, I need to talk with you and Naomi after the Voice certification tomorrow. Terran, you may join us as well."
Rictor gave a sharp nod.
"Should I bring Catherine?" Terran asked.
"Did I say to?" Glenn retorted.
"No, sir."
"Well, are we sparring or what?" Rictor asked, trying to break the tension.
"No," Glenn said. "I am rather tired today, Ric. Now that you are here, would you be able to help Terran learn a few holds? I have some things to attend to." He left without waiting for an answer.
A brief silence fell between Terran and Rictor. "What did you do?" Rictor asked, eyes widening. "Either you spit in his tea this morning or you did something to Catherine."
"I didn't do anything," Terran said, kicking a small tote bag. "I'm just struggling a bit with this."
"With what?" Rictor asked, kicking the tote back.
"Everything!" Terran shouted. "It's not easy being forced fed all this information and not being able to get any answers. It's not fair. He expects me to memorize all the information about all those stupid ships and the star maps, but won't tell me why. I am supposed to become a Voice so I can go planetside, but I can't just become passionate at the drop of a hat. I need answers. I need reasons. I haven't had either since being on the ship. Even after the talk with Ekundayo, I still have a ton of questions."
"Who is Ekundayo?"
Terran looked at him and then blushed. "When I saw the V-sphere something weird happened and I had a vision."
"And you have a hard time believing in all this even after you have had a vision?" Rictor sat down on the floor and patted the space next to him.
Terran sat down next to him. "It was a single experience that can't be validated. Maybe it was because of the after effects of the medicine or bad food. How do I know it's real?" Rictor noted a quiver had entered Terran's voice.
"Because you know it is," Rictor smiled. "That's how belief works. There isn't a set amount of facts you should know before you trust it. You either do or don't. Having a vision would be a boost though."
Terran stared at the floor. "How long did it take before you knew for certain?"
"I think a part of me knew before I admitted it," he confessed. "I had a lot of issues when I learned about the whole thing. I had questions too--still do, in fact. But I have peace about things now. I don't need answers to everything because I can't understand everything. The finite cannot understand the infinite. Understand?"
Terran gave him an odd look. "That's basically what Ekundayo said."
"Seems like a smart guy." Rictor stood up and began stretching. "The real question here is what made you start doubting in the first place?"
"Well, during the first Voice class the teacher said that only people who truly believed should be telling people about the Capital. It was just hard on me because I have so many questions about everything."
"Understandable," Rictor said putting a hand on his shoulder. "But you have to take what people say with a grain of salt. We're all trying to figure out what we're doing here. We have the Teachings, sure, but there are a lot of gray areas. In those instances, you go by your own convictions."
Terran scrunched his forehead. "The Teachings?"
Rictor gave him a blank stare. "You don't know what the Teachings are?"
Terran shook his head.
"How in the world did you not learn about them?! Have you even looked through your tablet?"
Terran shook his head again. "Sorry," he said.
"The Teachings were sent out by the Capital to make sure we had some guidelines to go by in this crazy life of ours."
"That sounds like it could be helpful."
Rictor let out a small laugh. "Terran, I do believe you are getting a sense of humor."
