{"id":111,"date":"2012-02-26T00:00:31","date_gmt":"2012-02-26T05:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=111"},"modified":"2012-02-18T09:33:43","modified_gmt":"2012-02-18T14:33:43","slug":"chapter-nine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=111","title":{"rendered":"Chapter Nine"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Rose Foundation membership ascribes to various creeds and beliefs.\u00a0 Some are pacifists, believing that if they harm no one, no one will harm them.\u00a0 Unfortunately for these men and women, for all of their great knowledge, they fail to realize one thing: pacifism is a myth.\u00a0 One way or another, war is always waged, whether from action or inaction, and someone always gets hurt.\u00a0 This is a universal constant throughout history, a thing that can be traced back to our earliest recorded origins on Old Earth.\u00a0\u00a0 We, like most species, seem to be hard-wired for violence.<\/p>\n

— Erich Quizibian, Roots of Disaster: Predicting the Death of the Human Race<\/em>, c. 5073 PD<\/em><\/h3>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

19 Octem, 5249 PD<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brendan scrubbed a hand over his eyes, feeling like he looked more tired than he actually was.\u00a0 At least his cadets were showing some improvement in the simulators, though not nearly as much as he would have hoped.<\/p>\n

Maybe I should give them a day off, let them recover a little before throwing even harder simulations at them.<\/em>\u00a0 To his surprise, Marshal Windsor had said nothing negative about how hard he was pushing his students.\u00a0 In fact, he\u2019d given tacit approval for Brendan\u2019s activities.\u00a0 Brendan wasn\u2019t sure if he should be unnerved by that or impressed by Rachel\u2019s apparent powers of persuasion.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrendan!\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned quickly on his heel and tried not to regret it as he over-spun and struggled to balance himself.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been spending too much time in the simulators.<\/em>\u00a0 The mess his equilibrium was becoming was a certain sign of that<\/em>.\u00a0 \u201cHey Ezra.\u00a0 Someone having a bad reaction to their implant or something?\u201d<\/p>\n

The doctor shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why are you here?\u00a0 You never come to base.\u00a0 You\u2019re a freaking pacifist.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezra rolled his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cSays the combat pilot that\u2019s my best friend.\u00a0 I came to find you<\/em>, snarky bastard.\u201d\u00a0 He straightened from his lean against one of the thicker saplings that dotted the base grounds, dressed casually in pants and an open button-down shirt, ID clipped firmly to his breast pocket\u2014mostly for the benefit of the newest group of cadets, who wouldn\u2019t know who he was until he came in to give the lecture on wetware implantation and maintenance.\u00a0 \u201cWant to take a walk?\u00a0 Got some stuff I need to talk to you about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan arched a brow, then shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, let me get out of the flightsuit.\u00a0 Meet you at the gate in ten.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezra nodded, seeming a little distracted.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s in his shorts?\u00a0 <\/em>Brendan wondered as he walked away.\u00a0 He shook his head.\u00a0 Either Ezra was going to tell him, or he wouldn\u2019t.\u00a0 That was just the way it was.<\/p>\n

He took a quick shower and changed his clothes, then met Ezra at the gates to the base a little over ten minutes later, hair still damp and feeling more human than he had when he\u2019d climbed out of the simulator\u2014though only a little less worn.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look like you feel better.\u201d\u00a0 Ezra shoved his hands into his pockets.<\/p>\n

Brendan shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe a little.\u00a0 Better than the alternatives, anyway.\u00a0 I forgot how much aerial combat takes out of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezra smiled wryly.\u00a0 \u201cI wouldn\u2019t know.\u00a0 Rough stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan nodded.\u00a0 \u201cHate to see what some of the cadets look like by the time they make it back to their barracks.\u00a0 One of them was telling me that she practically needed a spatula to scrape her bunkmate out of bed this morning.\u00a0 They\u2019re starting to call me a slave-driver.\u00a0 Waiting for the nicknames to start up behind my back.\u201d\u00a0 He rubbed at an eye.\u00a0 \u201cSome of them have figured out why I\u2019m doing it, though.\u00a0 Pretty sure some of them have, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause there\u2019s a war coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI think some of them got a clue when Windsor kicked three of them out of his office when they showed up to complain about how hard I was working them.\u00a0 I think maybe I\u2019ll give them tomorrow off, though.\u00a0 No sense in their being exhausted every day of their lives before the war even starts.\u00a0 Time enough to be tired then<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you want me to give any of them stim-packs?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan winced.\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u00a0 Never.\u00a0 I can\u2019t believe you\u2019d ask.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezra shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019ve gotten me through a long night or two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t realize that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNever had a reason to mention it, Brendan.\u201d\u00a0 Ezra raked a hand through his dark curls.\u00a0 \u201cUsually when I\u2019m trying to finish some research that\u2019s got me in a time-crunch.\u00a0 Haven\u2019t done it in years, though, thank god.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled wryly.\u00a0 \u201cFigure I\u2019m getting old enough that I can covet my sleep and finish it in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re something else, Ez.\u00a0 You really are.\u201d\u00a0 He tucked his hands into his pockets.\u00a0 \u201cWhere are we going, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGabe has a table set for us at the caf\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan shot Ezra a suspicious look.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you want, Ez?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause my brother-in-law has a table waiting for us at the caf\u00e9, you automatically assume I want something.\u00a0 Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause you\u2019ve been my best friend for ten years and I think by now I know you.\u201d\u00a0 Brendan shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not angry, I\u2019m just curious now.\u201d\u00a0 And god knows I won\u2019t turn down something Gabriel Forester cooks.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ezra shook his head, wrinkling his nose.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s just say that there\u2019s something pretty big we need to talk about.\u00a0 Couple\u2014well, no, more than a couple\u2014lives hang in the balance on this one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Okay, now I\u2019m <\/em>really curious.\u00a0 What\u2019s going on in that head of yours, Ez?\u00a0 What have you applied your genius to this time?<\/em>\u00a0 It clearly wasn\u2019t something medical.\u00a0 Something medical wasn\u2019t anything that Ezra would come to him about.\u00a0 He had plenty of colleagues networked across E-557 for those sorts of discussions and debates.\u00a0 \u201cAre you going to keep me in suspense until we\u2019re sitting down, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI figured I\u2019d start getting to the meat of the discussion after you had something to drink, yes.\u00a0 Gabe got some early wine from the Allegheri\u2019s vineyard.\u00a0 He said it was pretty good.\u00a0 You\u2019re off-duty, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan nodded, and some white from the Allegheri vineyard made his mouth begin to water a little.\u00a0 \u201cGoing to give me a taste?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was going to let you have a whole glass.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot that<\/em>.\u00a0 Of what you\u2019re going to talk at me about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d\u00a0 Ezra\u2019s brow furrowed a moment and he looked around, almost furtively, then shrugged.\u00a0 He dropped his voice lower.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s about America Farragut and Grant Channing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan blinked.\u00a0 This is going to get interesting.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cWhat about them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Ezra\u2019s voice trailed away.\u00a0 \u201cThat, I think, you\u2019ll have to wait a little longer to find out, Brendan.\u201d<\/p>\n

At least until we get to the caf\u00e9 and I\u2019ve got a glass of wine in front of me, no doubt.<\/em>\u00a0 Brendan just nodded, not arguing.\u00a0 Sometimes, it was safer that way.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t a long walk, anyway.\u00a0 He\u2019d know what Ezra was dancing around soon enough.\u00a0 The question was really about whether or not he\u2019d like what he heard.<\/p>\n

They walked down the edge of the wooded roadway that led from the base into Nova Spexi proper, down one of the byways that wended its way through a series of homes and shops on a journey toward the coast.\u00a0 Most of the roads in Nova Spexi that headed in that direction met up with one main drag that headed out toward the water but ended well before the beach.\u00a0 The caf\u00e9 Gabriel Forester ran was at the seaward side of town\u2014on very quiet mornings and nights, you could almost hear the water a few kilometers away.<\/p>\n

The table set for them was a small one on the corner of the deck outside of the caf\u00e9 itself, one tucked away from the street and away from most of the other tables.\u00a0 It was a quiet day, though not chilly like the past few days had been.\u00a0 This one only had the barest hints that autumn was coming, and coming fast.\u00a0 Brendan took the chair that left his back to the wall, stretching as he settled in.\u00a0 Ezra paused and exchanged a few words with Gabriel before joining him.<\/p>\n

\u201cGabe\u2019s going to bring out some bread and the wine in a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan nodded.\u00a0 \u201cSo what\u2019s going on, Ezra?\u00a0 What about Lin\u2019s parents?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gabriel dropped off the wine and the bread.\u00a0 He said nothing, just left the goods and made a quick getaway.<\/p>\n

Brendan was starting to get nervous.\u00a0 The hell is going on here?<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cEz?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezra broke off a piece of bread before beginning to talk, slowly at first.\u00a0 \u201cWhat would you do if you could help Lindsay get her parents back?\u201d<\/p>\n

I already don\u2019t like where this is going.<\/em>\u00a0 He reached for his glass of wine, though he didn\u2019t raise his glass just yet.\u00a0 \u201cWhy are you asking that question, Ez?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust answer, Brendan.\u201d<\/p>\n

He sighed, rubbing his forehead between his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cJust about anything, and you know it.\u00a0 I love her, and she deserves to have her parents here, with her, safe.\u00a0 It would make her happy<\/em>.\u00a0 Well.\u00a0 Happier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezra nodded slowly.\u00a0 \u201cWe have a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

That should not be causing the dread coiling in my innards, Ez.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cAll right.\u201d\u00a0 He drew out the words, making his hesitation and discomfort clear.<\/p>\n

Ezra looked like he\u2019d just barely suppressed a wince.\u00a0 He reached for his wineglass.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re thinking that a small team going in under cover can probably get her parents out of the facilities where they\u2019re being held with no casualties and a minimum amount of collateral damage.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m really starting to not like this plan.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cDo we even know where they\u2019re being held?\u201d\u00a0 Of course, I probably know where <\/em>one of those facilities is.\u00a0 It\u2019s the other one that\u2019s the question. Not that I want to go back ever again.\u00a0 I never want to see New Earth space again.\u00a0 Ever.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re waiting on confirmations.\u00a0 Rachel is working on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou brought Rachel<\/em> into this?\u00a0 How many people are in on whatever plan you\u2019ve come up with, Ez?\u201d\u00a0 If he\u2019s been talking to Lindsay about this, I <\/em>might have to hurt him.<\/em>\u00a0 Brendan leaned forward slightly, cradling his wineglass between both hands.\u00a0 \u201cYou still haven\u2019t told me what it has to do with me, either.\u201d<\/p>\n

He deadpanned.\u00a0 \u201cI think you can guess on that, Brendan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course<\/em> I can guess.\u00a0 You want me to go back there and possibly get myself killed.\u00a0 Who else is in on this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, Kara, a little Gabe, Rachel.\u201d\u00a0 Ezra frowned into his glass.\u00a0 \u201cAnd Alana.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlana.\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd she knows you want me to do\u2026something.\u00a0 And she still<\/em> wants to be involved?\u201d\u00a0 It can\u2019t be something that involves me dying for sure.\u00a0 Ezra wouldn\u2019t go for a plan that involved <\/em>that.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ezra nodded.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s the one who said we can\u2019t pull it off without you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh god.\u00a0 This just gets worse and worse.<\/em>\u00a0 He exhaled through his teeth.\u00a0 \u201cNone of this is making any<\/em> sense to me, Ezra.\u00a0 What do you guys think you need me to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

He leaned forward even more, voice very quiet, barely above a whisper.\u00a0 \u201cWe take a small ship, you, me, and her and fake it.\u00a0 We bluff our way into the Chinasia Corp facility and then we bluff our way out.\u00a0 Then we do the same thing at the Compact facility.\u00a0 That\u2019s why it\u2019s you and her.\u201d<\/p>\n

You want to come along, Ezra?\u00a0 The hell is with that?<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cAnd what about you?\u00a0 Why are you coming along?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone\u2019s got to take care of America and Grant when they\u2019re sprung.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t have to be you<\/em>, Ezra.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked down at his hands.\u00a0 \u201cCall it a feeling, then.\u00a0 I need<\/em> to be there.\u00a0 I need to be a part of this.\u00a0 Besides, I\u2019d never forgive myself if I didn\u2019t take the risk with you two and something went wrong.\u201d\u00a0 He raked a hand back through his hair.\u00a0 \u201cSo I have to go.\u00a0 I have to go with and be there to help if someone gets hurt or something goes wrong or any other number of things that won\u2019t<\/em> happen because this plan is a good plan and it\u2019s going to work.\u201d\u00a0 He looked Brendan in the eye.\u00a0 \u201cBut only<\/em> if you say you\u2019ll come.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to think about it.\u201d\u00a0 Think of a way to tell him to come up with a new plan.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to go back there.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to leave Lindsay.\u00a0 They\u2019ll kill me if I go back there.\u00a0 I failed my mission.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to leave Lindsay alone.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want her to feel me die.\u00a0 I can\u2019t take that chance.\u00a0 I just\u2026I can\u2019t take that chance.\u00a0 The cost is just too high.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBrendan, we can\u2019t do this without you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say no, Ez,\u201d Brendan said evenly.\u00a0 \u201cI said I need to think about it.\u00a0 And I do.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t the kind of thing you immediately say yes to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlana did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlana\u2019s crazy.\u00a0 That\u2019s why she did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s not crazy, Brendan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProve it.\u201d\u00a0 He took a long swallow of the wine.\u00a0 It was good, but he suddenly found himself not in the mood to finish it.\u00a0 \u201cI should go home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezra waved a hand.\u00a0 \u201cStay.\u00a0 I can go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEz\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally, Brendan.\u00a0 Stay.\u00a0 Eat.\u00a0 Drink the wine.\u00a0 It\u2019s good wine, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan sighed, looking away, in the direction of the water so far away.\u00a0 The view had no answers for him.\u00a0 \u201cSorry, Ez.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to think about it.\u00a0 I understand that.\u201d\u00a0 He paused.\u00a0 \u201cDo me a favor, though?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0 Something tells me I\u2019m not going to like this, either.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t talk to Lindsay about it before you decide what you\u2019re going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan just stared at him.\u00a0 Did he actually just ask me to not talk to my wife about something that\u2019s going to affect <\/em>both of our lives in a very, very real sense?<\/em>\u00a0 He swallowed, mouth suddenly dry.\u00a0 \u201cHow could you ask that, Ez?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want the decision to be yours<\/em>, Brendan.\u00a0 You have to be right with this before she<\/em> has to be right with this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou say that like I\u2019m not going to get a choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezra shook his head a little, staring at his half-eaten piece of bread.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m beginning to wonder how much choice any of us have anymore, Brendan.\u00a0 Kara\u2019s told me what\u2019s been going on at the meetings.\u00a0 She\u2019s told me how high the stakes are.\u00a0 Rachel<\/em> has told me how high the stakes are.\u00a0 Alana\u2019s informed me in intricate detail how dangerous<\/em> this plan will be if we don\u2019t do it right.\u00a0 But I still feel like it\u2019s the right thing to do.\u00a0 It\u2019s the right move to make.\u00a0 It\u2019s just\u2026just\u2026right<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head again.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t explain it, Brendan.\u00a0 That\u2019s just how it feels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan nodded mutely, lips pressed together in a tight line.\u00a0 He finally sighed and took another sip of wine.\u00a0 \u201cI won\u2019t tell her,\u201d he said at last.\u00a0 \u201cNot yet, anyway.\u201d\u00a0 But at some point, I\u2019m going to have to.\u00a0 That goes without saying.\u00a0 I\u2019ll have to tell her.<\/em>\u00a0 I can\u2019t keep this from her forever.\u00a0 I think she\u2019d notice that I was gone.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Brendan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t thank me yet, Ez,\u201d Brendan warned.\u00a0 \u201cI haven\u2019t said yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou haven\u2019t said no, either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 Not yet.\u201d\u00a0 Not yet.\u00a0 Part of me wants to go with my gut and say no right away.\u00a0 What\u2019s stopping me?<\/em>\u00a0 He knew the answer.\u00a0 Lindsay, and the parents she\u2019d barely known, the parents she hadn\u2019t seen since they gave her to her aunt when she was a toddler.\u00a0 Two years old.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou won\u2019t say no.\u201d<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t like how sure he sounds.\u00a0 <\/em>Brendan stared at his friend.\u00a0 \u201cYou sound very sure of that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Ezra just shrugged.\u00a0 Brendan sighed.<\/p>\n

Where\u2019s the harm?\u00a0 Might as well know what I\u2019d be walking into.\u00a0 Get all the details before I say no.\u00a0 <\/em>He suppressed another sigh.\u00a0 If I end up saying no. \u00a0He\u2019s pretty sure I\u2019m going to say <\/em>yes.\u00a0 <\/em>\u201cAll right.\u00a0 Let\u2019s hear the details.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezra grinned and started talking.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Rose Foundation membership ascribes to various creeds and beliefs.\u00a0 Some are pacifists, believing that if they harm no one, no one will harm them.\u00a0 Unfortunately for these men and women, for all of their great knowledge, they fail to … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-last-colony"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p25yjF-1N","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=111"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111\/revisions\/113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}