The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (e novels to read online TXT) 📗

“Certainly. And don’t be in a hurry to rush back.”

He peeked inside; Sam was sound asleep.

“Sweet dreams, babe.”

He retrieved his pipe and planned to have the first quiet moment to himself in days. Naturally, as he turned around, someone else blocked the door.

“Shit. What the … who are …?”

The visitor dropped his hood.

“Hello, Michael Cooper.”

Michael lurched forward and grabbed the old man by the shoulders. “You again? Trayem Hadeed.”

“I’m glad you remember. You’re the last one who will.”

“How did you get in here? And how the hell did you survive the battle? Did the Jewels skip over you?”

“I’m not their enemy. I’m their emissary, and this is my final stop.”

“Whatever. You need to leave.”

“Please, Michael. When I visited last night, I told her we would see each other one more time if she survived. I promise not to wake her.”

Michael relented. “Twenty seconds, and then outside.”

The old man laid a hand on the medpod glass and studied Sam before nodding with approval.

“Please,” Hadeed said. “Follow me.”

“Sure. Whatever you say, strange old man in a gray cloak.”

Hadeed bathed in the sunlight and sighed.

“I wish it were my people who were being given a second chance. Michael, they’re pleased. They think this beautiful world might be in good hands. But they’re also worried.”

Great. “About what?”

“Two peoples destroyed this world when it was called Hiebimini. The Chancellors mined it to death, and the Hiebim people cooperated. Today, the Chancellors were expelled again. In a few minutes, the last of the Hiebim will be as well. Aeterna will follow a different path, but only as long as her enemies never return. Michael, do you remember what I told you this morning?”

He’d never forget it.

“‘The disciplined man binds grief and rage inside reason.’ You said that would be my test. Did I pass?”

Hadeed chuckled. “You haven’t taken the test, Michael.” He pointed toward the sky. “You are the hope that will bind Aeterna to a future of joy and peace. But you must close the last wound before it becomes fatal. They’re waiting for you.”

The old man stared away toward the western horizon with glee.

“Who’s waiting?”

“I have served my penance. It’s your turn now. Be the leader they need. Save this world.”

Hadeed closed his eyes. “Abraham. Omar.”

A single red flare consumed the old man. His ash formed a tiny mound at Michael’s feet.

He leaned back against the dome and processed the man’s dying words. He tapped his pipe and inhaled. The poltash was low, enough for two puffs.

“If I could go an entire day without a ‘wow’ moment, I’d be a happy man.”

Michael needed those two puffs to size up the scope of his final test. Hadeed was right about “the last wound” needing to be closed. This city and these kids wouldn’t be so lucky with round two.

“OK, Cooper. Let’s walk into the fire one more time. Then I’m taking a long-ass vacation.”

He tracked down Maya, who took Nilsson’s death harder than expected. The Major was hanging on when the flares appeared, but the Jewels did not spare him. She agreed to sit with Sam while Michael took care of business.

“I’ll be back soon,” he said. “I’ve got a proposal, Maya. I think it might be good for you. Keep an open mind.”

Michael asked for directions and found Valentin inside Haven, which suffered superficial damage in the attack. He sat behind a dais switching between holowindows. He was reconstructing duty rosters to account for cleanup, reconstruction, and food distribution. He also studied death reports. He appeared frantic, as if preparing for war instead of packing one away.

“We need to talk,” Michael said. “A private space would be good.”

Valentin hesitated. “There’s so much to do, Michael. It doesn’t feel like a victory.”

“But it is, more or less. And you know what? I think your people can handle it without you for a few minutes.”

They spoke by stream after the fighting stopped, but Valentin was subdued, and Michael wanted access to a medpod. They had yet to discuss how the battle ended.

Deep in the ship, with the door shut and all distractions behind them, Michael and Valentin fell into cushioned chairs and stared at each other. No smiles, no handshake, no thumbs-up. Michael understood why: They were strangers who joined forces because they had to. Now what? Where do we go from here? That conversation might have dragged on a bit, and Michael felt pressed for time.

“I’ll get straight to it,” Michael said. “We have to deal with the Guard before they try again.”

“Agreed. The entire crew of their scout ship is being held on Lioness. Admiral Kane says the ship was called the Praxis. You know it?”

Michael sighed. “And there’s another ‘wow’ moment. Yeah, Valentin. I know it well. I’m friends with the captain. Or, I used to be. You said Praxis ‘was.’ Did we destroy it?”

“No. The crew scuttled it.”

“Interesting choice. I’d like to see whatever data we gathered as well as the crew manifest. Good thing Aldo was up there.”

“It gets better. Praxis was commanded by the Supreme Admiral.”

“Damnation. Angela Poussard in the house. Nice catch. Look, Valentin, we need to negotiate with them. We have all the leverage. We can’t let this opportunity slip away.”

“Agreed.” Valentin tapped his fingers on the armrest. “It can’t be me. You saw the way Aldo Cabrise reacted to me. They won’t talk so long as I’m involved.”

“Bottom line, Valentin. You’re the military leader of a group that killed two and a half million human beings. Folks tend to have pretty strong feelings. So, yeah. If we’re gonna start new, they can’t see the old faces.”

“Then you’ll do it?”

The tone suggested Valentin anticipated this awkward moment.

“I will.” Michael pointed skyward. “I think I’m