Image by Jörg Husemann from Pixabay

Chapter 1 – Kuen

Kuen stretched, feeling his spine pop as he set aside the reports from his representative. He glanced at the chronometer with a frown. Gaspare should have been done with his comm call an hour earlier. Kuen really needed to call Yron and get this tangled mess with his latest business meeting cleared up.

Kuen stood and walked over to the window. He leaned against the frame and stared out over the modest garden. He opened the reinforced glass and breathed in the scent of the evening blooming flowers. Their scent helped calm him. His hand slipped into his pocket almost without thought and he stroked the carved stone feathers of the tiny jasper phoenix he carried with him still.

In the five months since the end of the war, the two young men had made some improvements to the house they shared. It wasn’t the luxurious comfort they’d enjoyed on Bouarus or Cova, but it was theirs and with no interference from their families it was almost idyllic.

Almost. Kuen had taken the precaution of legally changing his name. He was now Kuen Fenghuang, and as such could avoid attaching his mother’s name to his business dealings. He’d also gone about the name change in such a way that it would take Lakshmi and his mother a long time to chip through the layers of bureaucratic red tape to find the records. At least he hoped it would.

He looked up as the door to his office opened. Gaspare entered and his expression was grim. Kuen sighed. “Don’t tell me the old man is giving you problems again, Gaspare.”

“Kuen, do you remember Junna?” Gaspare asked.

Kuen touched the brooch on his jacket. “How in the name of all the stars do you think I could forget it?” he snarled. “I still have nightmares about that absolute waste of lives.” His hands shook as the memories surfaced and he pushed them to the side.

“What if I told you she was alive?” The other man’s expression was unreadable.

Kuen’s hands clenched. He swallowed against the bile rising in his throat. “Which CAF base is she being held in? Ungara? Galiv? One of the top secret ones?”

Gaspare shook his head. “The CAF doesn’t have her.” He took a deep breath. “Your mother does.”

Kuen’s blood turned to ice. “My…mother?” He staggered back over to the desk and sat down hard. “How?”

“The old man isn’t sure, but thinks she used the Devas to infiltrate the military. He’s furious that she even managed it, but he thinks she targeted the Rezouac children because all of them were injured in some way, even the medic,” Gaspare said. “He’s fairly sure that Fiera was grabbed just before Junna went up and has been in Michi’s hands ever since.”

Kuen’s hands shook. “Gaspare, I need to ask a favor.”

Gaspare moved over to the window and closed it. “You want to rescue her.”

Kuen looked at him with haunted eyes. “Do you really think I’m going to leave her there?”

“No, but I need you to think, Kuen. Let me verify she’s actually there and still alive. His information is about six months old. I’ve got friends on Bouarus, agents that are in place in case we needed information. Give me three days and I’ll have a firm answer.” Gaspare crossed the room and put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I know this is hard. I know what she means to you. But this could be a trick to lure you back to Bouarus. You know your mother is capable of this kind of cruelty.”

Kuen took a deep, steadying breath. He nodded. “If she is there though,” he began.

“If she is there, you and I are extremely well-trained soldiers, and we just came out of a brutal war. I don’t care if it’s been eight months. We’re still combat veterans and no matter what security Michi Nakano has on her estate it is nothing compared to what you and I dealt with,” Gaspare said, his voice harsh and angry. “And I will never forgive the old man for sitting on this for as long as he has.” He turned and left the room.

Kuen sat and shook as the memories of those final days on Junna washed over him. His breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled to bring himself back to the present. His hands clenched and unclenched, and he used the technique given to him by a therapist he sometimes spoke to and started counting backwards from one hundred, forcing his brain to focus on something other than the memories.

His breathing eased. His hands stopped shaking. His mind stopped churning. He took a few deep breaths and picked up his tablet. He couldn’t do anything until Gaspare got the intel they needed to be certain of the facts. He had his notes. It was time to call Yron and get his business situation resolved. Think military tactics, Kuen, he told himself. Focus on what you can do now. Let the intelligence team do their jobs.

That night Kuen’s dreams were haunted by the images of everything he’d seen his mother and Lakshmi do to the indentured servants, only it was Fiera he saw in their place. He rose well before his usual time and went into the practice area. Gaspare was already there.

“You couldn’t sleep either,” Kuen said. This wasn’t a question. Kuen could see the dark circles under Gaspare’s eyes.

“I have a very vivid imagination, Kuen. I know your horror stories and those gave me nightmares. I can only guess it was worse for you,” Gaspare said.

Kuen nodded. The two stripped down to just their pants and started sparring. Kuen’s focus narrowed to the movements of his opponent and how he could counter them. The things Fiera taught him kept him moving longer than Gaspare, and when his friend had to stop Kuen turned his attentions to one of the automated training dummies.

One of the improvements to the house had been to add a few more rooms so they could have a couple servants. An hour later one of those servants coughed to get their attention. “Master Gaspare, a message came for you from Bouarus. There was no tag as to the originator and there was only a single line.”

“What did it say?” Gaspare asked as Kuen wiped sweat from his face with the towel he was handed.

“The Blue Butterfly has indeed been caught in the spider’s web,” the servant said.

Gaspare dismissed the man. “First confirmation is in. I want one more before we make our extraction plans.”

“I will kill her for this,” Kuen growled.

“Kuen, you can’t kill your mother. That would bring too much attention to what we’ll be doing,” Gaspare said.

“Not her,” Kuen said. “I know better than that.”

“You’re going to kill Lakshmi,” Gaspare said.

“My mother relies on her to do most of the dirty work. She’ll be the one doing the actual torture.” Kuen grimaced. “Mother never got her hands dirty if she could avoid it.”

“So we’re going to kill Lakshmi, extract Fiera, and do it all without getting caught,” Gaspare said.

“Yes,” Kuen said.

Gaspare shook his head. “We certainly don’t make life easy for ourselves.”

Kuen smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “We’d be too bored.”

Gaspare rolled his eyes but nodded. “Let’s grab some breakfast while I check to see if any of my other agents have responded.”

It was another day before two other agents got back to Gaspare. It was confirmed – Fiera was still alive, and she was being held in Michi’s private office. “That’s going to be a problem,” Kuen said when her location was confirmed.

“Why is that?” Gaspare asked.

“Get me the schematics of the Nakano compound.” Kuen waited while Gaspare pulled up the blueprints of the place he would only ever refer to as his former prison. “See this area where there’s no information on?” Gaspare nodded. “It’s because my mother didn’t want anyone to know what was in it.”

“What did she build there?” Gaspare asked.

“The walls are wood paneled triple ply kuyper steel with enough sound proofing packed between the layers to keep a dozen voices screaming at top volume from being heard. The door is solid core oak reinforced with kuyper steel so no one can break out. Her torture devices are top of the line, most meant to wound deeply but not kill right away. Victims usually succumb to shock and blood loss over a period of several days,” Kuen said.

“Kuen, to be fair, I’m surprised Fiera’s held out this long,” Gaspare said.

“I’ll wager she’s using regenerators on her, to keep her alive longer. If mother holds Fiera to blame for something it would suit her style to do that. And if she went after the Rezouac children like you said, there can only be one reason,” Kuen said.

Understanding showed on Gaspare’s face. “She’s punishing Eire, which means she knows he’s Leonidas Vasiliou.”

“Why specifically target Fiera?” Kuen shook his head. “She’ll blame her for my rebellion, of course. Fiera was the only other woman I was in close and constant contact with. It makes a twisted kind of sense.”

“Not only that. Did you know Fiera Rezouac was supposed to be her father’s favorite?” Gaspare asked, reading through something on his tablet. “Lady Kakoric was taken in for questioning after the war ended. She confirmed that’s why Fiera was chosen to spy on the Core instead of someone else. She also verified that DiME programming was used on her niece, and that most likely she knew nothing of what Eire planned since she was considered something of a bleeding heart by the other Resistance members.”

Kuen looked at his friend. “Meaning what exactly?”

“She would have refused the assignment if she knew it meant murdering so many people.” Gaspare looked up. “Or she’d have resisted the DiME programming. That would have set them back several months.” Gaspare sighed. “Lady Kakoric also said several things that were highly unflattering about the Central Worlds, but because of her position as a Councilor’s wife she can’t be executed. All that can happen is house arrest on Gaitera with no outside contact.”

“Yes, but once her husband ceases being a Councilor, she’ll be quietly removed,” Kuen pointed out.

“Gaiteran politics are a little different Kuen. Councilor Kakoric, unless he retires, is councilor for the rest of his life. Assuming he doesn’t want his wife dead, he’ll stay in his position which will keep her alive,” Gaspare said.

Kuen rubbed his temples. “We need to figure out how to get in, grab Fiera, and get out with minimal injury on our part. I don’t think a large force will work.”

“Which is good because we won’t have one to use,” Gaspare said. “I don’t have that many contacts, Kuen. The extraction team will literally be you and me. I can’t let myself be caught so this is going to have to work the first time.”

“Do you have any suggestions?” Kuen asked.

Gaspare pulled out his pad. “A few.” The two began discussing their options and soon a plan emerged.

Kuen went to bed that evening more determined than ever. Hang in there, my phoenix, he thought. We’re coming for you.

The next morning the two put their plans into motion. The house went on lockdown immediately. The water filtration system was set in place and all food supplies were scanned before entering the house. The medical bay was put on full alert and Emele was called in and put on standby.

“Bring her back here and I’ll see to it she survives whatever they did to her physically. I can’t promise her mind’s going to be intact though, Kuen,” Emele warned him. “Eight months of torture will break down anyone’s walls and she’d already lost so much.”

“I know, Em,” Kuen said. “Save her life and we’ll see if there’s anything left of her mind.”

“If there isn’t, I can – I can help her go to sleep and not wake up. It would be a kind, painless way for her to go. But only if it comes down to that. I won’t do it unless you ask me to,” Emele said.

“Thank you,” Kuen said. “I only hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Gaspare dug out the military gear he’d acquired from various sources, never knowing when it would come in handy, and Kuen availed himself of lightweight body armor and an easily concealed gun. His blades went into their usual places, and he was ready.

“Let’s go. It won’t take her long to realize someone is asking questions and even less time to figure out it’s me,” Gaspare said. “I’m surprised she hasn’t noticed by now, to be honest.”

“She’s probably still distracted with Fiera,” Kuen said.

Gaspare finished securing his own weapons. “Then let’s take advantage of that distraction. We’ll hit hard and fast, keeping her off balance.”

They took Gaspare’s private shuttle to the spaceport on Bouarus. Kuen’s old car was still in its parking spot at the port, keys still in the ignition as he’d left them. The power cells were charged and no impound blocks were on the vehicle.

“Two years and they haven’t impounded it?” Gaspare asked in surprise.

“It’s under my mother’s name. They wouldn’t dare to,” Kuen said.

The guards didn’t question Kuen as he pulled in, just waved him through. Gaspare looked at Kuen. “That means she’s expecting us.”

Kuen shook his head. “No. She never thought I could make it on my own. She probably left orders that if I came crawling back, I was to be let in.”

Kuen parked his car at the front of the house. “Shall I park the car for you, Lord Kuen?” a servant asked.

“No, I’ll be leaving again shortly. Leave it exactly where it is,” Kuen snapped.

“Of course, Lord Kuen,” the servant said, cringing away.

Gaspare looked at his friend. “Lead the way.”

“Stay behind me unless I need cover fire. The less she sees of you the better for your family.” Kuen led the way down the familiar hallways to his mother’s private office. He knocked once on the door.

“Come,” came the musical voice that still sent shivers up his spine.

Kuen pushed the door open. He took in the scene and a cold, burning rage filled him. Hanging from the ceiling was Fiera, her hands bound. She was naked and he could see the pattern of scars that told him more than words what she’d endured these past eight months.

He could also see from their odd positions that her shoulders had been dislocated. Fiera’s head was slumped forward, and she looked unconscious. Lakshmi was standing next to her, a device crackling with electricity in her hand. Judging from the burn marks on various parts of Fiera’s anatomy the device had been used on her more than once.

“Kuen? How unexpected,” Michi said in delight. “If you’d called ahead, I would have already made sure your little playmate was awake so you could hear her screams. As it is, I’m getting bored with her, so I was about to have Lakshmi finish her off.”

Gaspare stepped from behind Kuen and shot the device out of Lakshmi’s hand. “I think not, Mother,” Kuen said. He closed the distance between him and Lakshmi in three long strides. Lakshmi didn’t have time to react. He grabbed her and with a powerful jerk he snapped her neck.

“Lakshmi.” Michi’s wail was music to Kuen’s ears.

“May you have a glimpse of the agony you’ve caused so many, Mother,” Kuen said. He reached up and pried apart the chains holding Fiera’s arms. He caught her as she slumped forward.

“I wouldn’t try it, Michi. My next shot will be through your head, and to the abyss with what my father wants,” Gaspare growled.

“You won’t get out of this house alive. I’ll see all three of you dead,” Michi shrieked.

“Gaspare, take Fiera.” Kuen placed Fiera in Gaspare’s arms before turning and advancing on his mother. “I snapped Lakshmi’s neck, Mother. I can do the same thing to you before you so much as take your next breath.”

“Kuen, how can you turn on me like this?” The look of confusion on his mother’s face just fanned Kuen’s rage.

“Because you are responsible for the death of millions, the subjugation of a proud and noble group of people, and all because a man rejected you over fifty years ago,” Kuen said. “I am well aware of who Eire Rezouac is and I know a little of your history with him. I will make this very plain. If you come after us, you will regret it for what few years I allow you to have left in your pathetic life.” He reached out and seized hold of her throat. “Do not forget this, Mother.” He squeezed until she went limp.

“You didn’t kill her, did you?” Gaspare asked.

“I just knocked her out. It’ll give us a chance to get out without her raising the alarm,” Kuen said. “Pass me Fiera.”

“She’s too light, Kuen,” Gaspare said, passing the young woman’s limp form over.

“I noticed that,” Kuen said.

The servants stared at them as they walked out. One of the bolder ones stopped them. “Lord Kuen, is your mother – is she done playing with her latest victim?” the man asked, looking sick.

“She is now,” Kuen said. “I’m to take care of the evidence for her.”

“Very good, Lord Kuen,” the man said. “Will you be returning after you’ve done so?”

“No. I still have my own business to take care of. I am merely doing this as a favor for my mother,” Kuen said.

“Very good, Lord Kuen,” the servant said, bowing and backing away.

They were able to get away without shooting anyone and they reached the port. Gaspare sent a message to his father before they jumped into darkspace. As soon as they were in the relative safety of the darkness, Kuen unstrapped his harness and went to check on Fiera.

“She’s in very bad shape, Kuen.” Gaspare ran a quick medical scan. “She’s severely malnourished, the list of injuries is still going on, and I can’t even begin to imagine the psychological trauma she’s undergone.”

“Help me put her shoulders back in place, Gaspare. We can at least alleviate some of the strain on her that way,” Kuen said.

The two managed to get Fiera’s shoulders back in place. She didn’t even twitch though it was obvious from the readouts she felt it. “How much pain has she been through that this didn’t even register enough for her to notice?” Gaspare asked.

“You don’t want to know.” Kuen put his hand on his stomach. He knew what his mother and her sadistic aide were capable of. Knowing Fiera had been subjected to it for so long made him physically sick. “We have to hope Emele can fix the physical issues. Her mind will heal – or remain broken – once she wakes up and finds herself away from that hell.”

“Kuen, your mother could have twisted her against you. You know that, right?” Gaspare’s tone held some hesitation, but he wasn’t saying anything Kuen hadn’t already considered.

“I know. Fiera could believe I set her up. If she does, I’ll have to accept that. So long as she is alive and able to thrive, I’ll find a way to deal with it,” Kuen said. Gaspare put a hand on his shoulder and left him to watch over her on the return trip.

They reached Celaria and settled onto the landing pad at the port. They got Fiera off the ship and into the waiting transport. Emele was in the back with a full med team. “Father called. He’s furious that now he has to play damage control with Michi Nakano, but I told him it was his fault in the first place for alienating two of his children,” she said.

“Two?” Gaspare looked at his sister.

“I don’t like he treated her the last time she was in my care. He sat on the information of where she was for how long? I despise the High Command right now in general. Frankly, his complaints don’t mean anything to me. Now, let me get to work, Gaspare,” Emele said.

Emele and her team stabilized Fiera, started the regenerators, and injected her with something to counteract the poisons coursing through her veins that neither Gaspare nor Kuen had been equipped to deal with. They got back to the house, and they rushed her into the med bay while Gaspare took Kuen to the practice area to work off some of his energy.