DUALITY: The World of Lies by Paul Barufaldi Page B

shield ring ports were now opening. Aru
knew what that signified and System quickly confirmed
it.
    “Commander,” said System, “We are approaching
launch altitude. The first probe sequence is primed and ready for
launch.”
    “Commence on schedule,” confirmed
Mei.
    Within moments the first probe launched from
the outer shield panel aligned with their forward vector, then the
second panel came in to position to launch the next, and so on. Aru
sipped his brandy and watched as one by one a large fortune's worth
of hardware was expelled into the electric haze.
    Considering the area this sweep was covering,
he made a practical prediction. “We're not seeing half of those
again, are we?”
    Mei shrugged. “I'm optimistic we'll recover
80%, those that don't get fried or lost that is.”
    “You do understand that hardware costs more
than several lifetimes’ worth of your salary?”
    “Yeah, well, I need a raise then, don't
I?”
    Aru scoffed. Li Meiyang's clan didn't have
anything nearly on par with the immense wealth afforded to the son
of a Calidonian Ruling House, but they did possess a measurable
estate in the Arathian nation of Tropica.
    “You could always moonlight for enemy
intelligence to supplement your modest officers income.” A joke,
but not a joke. He usually would have known better than to say it.
She took it in stride though. This mission had shattered her façade
completely with him, in what had always been an open secret between
them. Surely High Command had their suspicions as well, and why
shouldn't they? How could they vet an officer candidate and expect
loyalty to the Empire of Logos from a blue-born Arathian of Pangean
lineage? It perplexed everyone, even her. He wondered how she would
react if she only knew that it had been he and Mnemtech that had
charted this course for her. How astonished she would be! But he
would never get drunk enough to let that secret slip.
Hopefully.
    “Our rewards for this will be great,” she
informed him.
    Aru had agreed to this mission solely for her
and no other reason. “I don't need anything from The Occitanian
world government; not The Service, not the Arathian council, not
one thing from any of those bastards.”
    “They will bestow their favor on your House.
That's something you can't turn your back on. Between Mnemtech's
favor and theirs, Psyron will be in a position to become the ruling
house of all Calidon.”
    Mnemtech had been kind to his family since
their meeting, restoring all their lands and granting them every
favor and leniency imaginable, but Aru hadn't been a part of all
that. He'd been here on The Kinetic Dream doing what he dreamed of
doing since he was a boy, captaining a starship, and he cared
little whatever politics his conniving family was getting up
to.
    “You'd be wise,” Mei continued, “to return the
Calidon when this is finished and claim your rightful place as head
of your House.”
    “I've always preferred to avoid cockroaches,
even those in fancy dress.”
    “Aru!” Mei exclaimed, “This is your own
family.”
    “Yes, and no honor among them. Born to
privilege and making no more of it that the pursuit of their
childish wonts. Not a single man of any worth among them. If I
returned to my house, they would conspire against me with all their
puny might.”
    “And you would crush them under your feet, love! You
are the one with the famous exploits, a highly distinguished
officer of great and bold military successes. You are the one
bathed in glory !
You wouldn't have to lower yourself to intrigues and conspiracies.
You could simply take it -as your birthright.”
    How could he tell her? Tell her
that all he did, he did for her. This ship was their refuge, their
island. How could he tell her that this was all he wanted, to travel the
stars with her? She would reject it outright. She would tell him to
grow up and face his destiny. And she would do that because she
didn't see their love the same way he did; she saw it as