Noble Lies

by Gary Inbinder

Chapter 16, part 1
appears in this issue.

Chapter 16

part 2 of 2

The Consul got up, walked to a mahogany cabinet in a corner of the room, retrieved a golden box, and returned, placing the little chest on the marble-topped table. The aureate object, glittering with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies, fascinated Ludwig. Gazing at the artfully fashioned, classical low relief figures decorating each of the four sides, he wondered at their resemblance to himself, Aurelia and Cato.

Consul Cato waited patiently, as Ludwig carefully examined the detailed scenes in each panel depicting different stages of an ancient coronation. Three of the panels portrayed the characters in profile. In the first scene, the young couple knelt before the older man, who appeared to be anointing the younger man’s head. In the second, the figure resembling Cato raised a crown of laurel, the younger man standing before the elder, while the woman remained kneeling by their side. The third panel depicted the young man crowned, and in the fourth, the three figures stood facing forward, the elder in the center, the young man to his right, the woman to the left, and a forward-facing flying eagle overhead.

The lid of the casket contained the familiar crossed spears, cup and hovering bird device, surrounded by an oak leaf cluster. Ludwig also noted several cruciform symbols decorating the sides, and bordering the four corners on top. He had seen these insignia elsewhere in the castle, and he now inquired about their meaning, and origin. Pointing to a cross, Ludwig asked, “What does this symbol represent, Consul? I’ve noticed them on banners in the main hall, and on the knights’ robes, as well as in carvings on your tables and chairs.”

Cato replied, “That is the Maltese cross, my lord, an emblem of the ancient Earth cult of the Creator and our knightly order.” Cato lifted the lid, took a parchment scroll from the casket, opened the scroll and spread it across the table top. “This document is a memorial of an agreement made several millennia ago, among your old Earth ancestors and mine.”

Ludwig studied the parchment; smiling sheepishly, he shook his head, and stated, “Consul, this parchment is written in the antique Latin script; I can’t read it.”

“Use the power of the Aureus,” Cato replied. “It will translate for you.”

Holding the Aureus to the document, Ludwig watched in amazement, as the ancient characters and language instantly transformed, translating into contemporary idiom. After carefully reading the scroll, Ludwig commented, “The document confirms my adherence to the ancient cult. I must also agree to rebuild the Creator Deity’s Church, promote the creed throughout the galaxy and beyond, and receive my Imperial crown from your hands.

“In exchange, you, as Pontifex, promise to anoint and absolve Aurelia and me from all taint of our birth, to bless, and confirm the legitimacy of our bloodline, and to instruct our people in virtue and obedience to the laws of our New Imperium. Have I understood correctly, Consul?”

Cato bowed, and replied, “Yes, my lord.”

Ludwig continued scrutinizing the document, and then glanced at Cato, who retained his posture of obeisance. Leaving the room, Ludwig walked to the balcony where he stood, surveying the rejuvenated landscape. Hearing a sharp cry from above, he gazed upward; an eagle descended from the clouds.

For a moment, the noble bird hovered in the azure sky. Observing the eagle, Ludwig distinctly heard the sound of a female voice, calling, “Ludwig, my son; I am your mother, Aquilia. Accept the will of Heaven.” The bird plummeted, swooped over Ludwig’s head, dropped an object from its talons, and then ascended above the castle until it disappeared into a luminous aureate nimbus.

Looking down at his feet, Ludwig saw a gilt, laurel wreath crown, glittering in the radiant sunshine. Ludwig retrieved the crown from the balcony floor and then returned to the table, where the Consul waited.

Standing before Cato, Ludwig placed the laurel wreath upon his own head, and then removed it. Handing the crown to the Consul, Ludwig declared, “We accept.”

The Consul took the crown from Ludwig’s hands and carefully placed it on the table next to the jeweled box. After calling for two knights to bring pen and ink and to witness their signatures, Cato said, “Now, my lord, we will sign and seal our contract, and then you must go to the aid of your friends.”

As if recalling an urgent, but neglected detail, Ludwig slapped his forehead, exclaiming, “I almost forgot: I hope they haven’t fallen into a trap.” Turning toward two elder knights, who were just entering the room, Ludwig added, “Let’s get this done quickly, gentlemen. I have urgent business elsewhere.”

* * *

Aurelia, Slim and Dax left the hover car parked in a small, secluded forest clearing, about one-half mile from the reverse slope of the fortress hill. The combat android remained on guard; a cloaking device camouflaged both the car, and the driver.

The rescue party moved silently through the densely wooded undergrowth, their dark suited bodies concealed within the shadows of tall, leafy oaks, birches and pines. High above, in the black sky, a pale quarter moon intermittently flickered through gaps in the slowly drifting clouds.

After a short walk through the woods, they emerged from a thicket at the foot of the hill. Crouching warily, the party activated their stealth suits before proceeding up the exposed rock-face. Slim took the lead, relying on his cybernetic strength, and infrared enhanced night vision, with the weakest climber Dax, in the middle, and Aurelia bringing up the rear. Slowly, and carefully, they ascended the steep slope, with Slim finding the most secure hand and footholds, and the others following close behind.

After about one-half hour’s climb they neared the summit and heard the mechanical whine and hum of the fortress ventilation and air-conditioning system. Slim took tools from his belt, unbolted the airshaft grate and removed the filters covering the main air duct. Setting the grate and filters aside, Slim led the party into the narrow aluminum-lined shaft; the group slithered downward with the aid of levitation beams until they made a sudden stop.

Slim used a screwdriver to open a vent just large enough to allow the three to exit the shaft. He squeezed through the opening and entered a small dark storeroom near the central security system area.

Dax and Aurelia got the all-clear signal from Slim and then exited the airshaft. Slim activated a sensing device to detect the presence of guards, picked the lock, opened the door and entered the corridor; Dax and Aurelia followed close behind.

The silent and invisible team moved forty feet up the hallway to a guard post. Slim and Aurelia injected the two oblivious guards with instantly paralyzing venom. The lethal drug left the guards frozen in a bolt upright position, and open-eyed, so the security ‘droids monitoring the surveillance cameras noticed nothing suspicious.

After they secured the guard station, Slim, Aurelia and Dax entered the security area; upon hearing the door open, one of the two guards at the monitors turned away from the screen. Staring back at the entrance, and seeing nothing but a closing door, the bewildered android reached for the alarm button. Slim grabbed the guard’s hand before it hit the alarm and broke his neck, while Dax injected the other guard.

Dax and Aurelia dragged the dead guards away from the panel, placing the bodies in a small adjacent supply room, while Slim immediately went to work on the computers. Hacking into the systems with lightning speed, Slim froze the surveillance cameras, deactivated the alarms, and located Colonel Dax’s cell, all within a matter of minutes.

Summoning Aurelia, Slim showed her the cell’s location on their map. “It’s not far, ma’am; just one hundred feet back down the corridor, the way we came. The door is unlocked, and the alarm disabled. I’ve also fixed the surveillance system so we can monitor you and Colonel Dax, but the other stations will see him sitting in his cell.

“Dax and I will stay here until we confirm you’ve taken the Colonel to the air shaft. If all goes smoothly, we’ll follow you, and rendezvous at the hover car. Any sign of trouble, I’ll come to help you, while Dax gets out of here and alerts Luddy.” Smiling, he added, “Good luck, Colonel; see you at the lodge.”

Aurelia nodded, smiled at her comrades, and quickly exited the guard station. She dashed down the corridor, found the cell and entered. She ran to Colonel Dax, who was sitting on the edge of his cot, and put her hand over his mouth. Temporarily uncloaking, so he could see and hear her, Aurelia whispered, “Don’t worry, Colonel. I’m Aurelia Finn; we’ve come to get you out of here.”

Aurelia sensed something was wrong. Colonel Dax was trembling and sweating profusely, his wide eyes staring at a dark empty corner of his cell. Suddenly, a powerful force pulled Aurelia away from the prisoner, and slammed her against the cold damp concrete cell wall.

Consul Finn materialized, his eyes blazing with yellow light and his face inches from Aurelia. Finn’s telekinetic power flung her to the floor. He snarled, “You’ve been a very naughty girl, Aurelia. I should have punished you more when you were little. However, I can make up for that now.”

At that moment, Slim entered the cell. He took a step toward the Consul, and then turned just in time to ward off a knife thrust from General Zack, who had remained hidden in a corner behind the door.

As Slim and Zack grappled, Consul Finn kept Aurelia pinned to the floor. Turning to Colonel Dax, who remained on the cot, paralyzed with fear, he remarked, “This should be amusing, Colonel. If Slim survives, I’ll make him a featured attraction at our upcoming games.”

Evenly matched, Slim and Zack fought desperately for several minutes; it appeared neither could gain an advantage. Finally, Zack made a dazzling feint that caught Slim off guard just long enough for the General to thrust his dagger into Slim’s unprotected abdomen. Slim fell to his knees, blood gushing from his wound.

Placing his knife at Slim’s throat, Zack waited for a sign from the Consul. Seeing a “thumbs up,” the General stood motionless, seemingly confused.

“Oh, come now, Zack,” the Consul sighed, “surely, even you know that in the real Old Earth Rome, thumbs up meant kill the son-of-a bitch.” The General continuing staring at the Consul, obviously bewildered, until Finn shouted, “Well, go ahead and kill him, you moron.”

As he positioned his dagger for a swift clean thrust into the carotid artery, Zack’s head snapped to one side; the knife fell from his hand and he slumped to the floor, where he lay dying at Slim’s feet.

Lieutenant Dax knelt by his friend, staunching the wound with a bandage. “Sorry, old man; afraid I’ve disobeyed orders.” Glancing at Zack’s body, and then turning to the Consul, he added, “I never liked that fellow: plebian manners and a decidedly inferior education.”

Finn smiled grimly, commenting, “Very true, Lieutenant. Nevertheless, Zack had his uses, and you’ve deprived me of them without giving anything in return. To make amends, I believe I’ll pit you against your semi-robotic buddy in the arena, assuming, of course, that he lives.”

Looking down at Aurelia, the Consul added, “Now, watch me destroy a treacherous daughter, whom I once loved.” Aurelia groaned, her face reddened, and she writhed in pain, as the telekinetic force began crushing her like a small animal caught in a steel trap.

Suddenly, the cell filled with blinding light. Freed from the Consul’s restraint, Aurelia sprang to her feet, grabbed the Colonel by the arm, and ran to Slim and Dax. Slim had fainted from loss of blood: now he revived as he felt the blazing Aureus cauterizing and cleansing his wound.

“Get out of here,” Ludwig shouted, as he materialized next to his companions. Supporting Slim between them, Aurelia and Dax ran as fast as they could, out the door and through the corridor, to the storeroom with the Colonel close behind.

Sensing Finn was about to dematerialize, Ludwig flew at him. Wrestling together in a corner of the cell, they transported to Finn’s penthouse, just as a guard patrol entered the empty prison chamber.

Ludwig materialized on the stone walkway within the peristyle; he flung Finn against a column and drew his sword. The Consul raised his hand, holding Ludwig back with telekinetic power. Countering Finn’s force field with the Aureus, Ludwig sensed the Consul weakening, as though the coin drew strength from its opponent.

The blazing yellow light emanating from the Consul’s eyes dimmed; unexpectedly, he spoke, in conciliatory tones. “Could we stop the violence for a moment and negotiate like reasonable human beings?”

Ludwig sensed a lowering of the telekinetic shield surrounding the Consul. Realizing he could now kill his adversary with a quick thrust of his sword, Ludwig remained on guard. “I’m listening, Consul Finn.”

Smiling, and gesturing toward his garden, the Consul continued, “Come, Ludwig, let’s talk in beautiful surroundings. Sheath your sword, and follow me.” Finn left the column and walked down a small flight of steps to the reflecting pool beneath the ceiling opening to the artificial sky.

Looking up, Finn remarked, “Ludwig, do you remember how happy you were here? There’s a full moon tonight. See how Diana’s reflection sparkles in the shimmering water.”

Ludwig followed the Consul into the garden, warily keeping his distance, his hand near his sword hilt ready for a quick draw at the first sign of danger. Entering the area near the flowerbeds surrounding the pool, he sensed Aurelia’s familiar fragrance. A mild, spice scented breeze cooled his hot, flushed cheeks; the sounds of trickling water and warbling nightingales soothed him. Ludwig shook his head, fighting a vague sensation of drowsiness.

“Look into the pool, my boy,” the Consul whispered. “See the goddess; she is dancing for you.”

As he gazed at the moon’s reflection in the still water, Ludwig’s mind conjured up images from recent memory. The trickling sounds transformed into the gentle swooshing of surf. He saw glittering white sand, shadowy, undulating palm-trees, and a glassy, claret colored sea, glimmering in the moonlight.

A spectral white form arose from the waves, took shape, and then slowly floated toward him, with outstretched arms. Hovering a few feet in front of Ludwig, the phantom transformed into Aurelia, as she was the first time they made love in the small cove, near the hotel. Her emerald eyes gleaming in the dark, she whispered, “Ludwig, my love. I’m here.”

At that instant, Ludwig felt a sharp, burning sensation in his chest. The piercing cry of an eagle echoed throughout the peristyle, followed by Aquilia’s voice, warning Ludwig, “Oculus auffere spectanti.” With lightning reflexes, Ludwig drew his sword and slashed at the illusion.

Screaming Ludwig’s name, Berenice fell forward into the reflecting pool, her gushing blood and entrails staining the water crimson.

Crying, “Bastard!” Finn hurled his spear at Ludwig’s heart.

Ludwig deflected the spear-point with his sword, just inches from his chest. Then he transported to the main hall of the lodge where he stood, shaking with adrenalin, his white robe spattered with the blood of Berenice, and their unborn child.

To be continued...