Regulated Planet, page 15
part #2 of Worlds Apart Series
Marlee frowned. “Rich? What do you mean?”
Weiss opened his mouth to say something, then shut it again. “You’ll find out soon enough. You and the rest of the stupid villagers. Thinking they could arrange everything the way they wanted without considering the wants of those who were there first.”
A chill settled in Marlee’s stomach. Weiss couldn’t mean…
“You sold them out.” Tyris took a step forwards and grabbed Weiss by the front of his shirt. “You snivelling little traitor. How could you do that to everyone?”
Shudders ran through Marlee’s body. She took a deep breath, willing them to subside. This couldn’t be happening.
It was all her fault. If she hadn’t been so eager to leave Zerris, everyone would still be there, happy and safe. She glanced over at her father. But if she hadn’t left, she never would have found out her father was still alive, and he would have gone the rest of her life thinking she and her mother were dead.
No, they’d made the right decision, Weiss’s actions were what were wrong.
“How dare you!” she said to Weiss. He no longer scared her, no longer had any power over her. The thought should have been liberating, but it wasn’t. He’d already destroyed everything her people wanted. There would be no planet, no new home. Not that there ever would have been, if her father’s assertion was true. But that didn’t excuse Weiss one bit.
“How dare I? How about the rest of you? Turning up on my planet, thinking you owned it, making all the decisions. I was going to be rich. We were only supposed to be there for a few years. Let me go.” he pulled back from Tyris, whose face still looked like thunder.
“Let him go,” Marlee said, eyeing the guards, and Milandra’s camera. “Don’t make a scene here.”
Tyris looked down at her. He scowled, but released Weiss. “You’re not worth it.” He turned away, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
Weiss shook himself, and turned to her father. “If you are indeed who you say you are, you should be able to tell me what happened to Ursa.”
Her father stared at him. “Ursa? What?”
Suddenly it all made a horrible kind of sense. “You arranged it with him, didn’t you?” Marlee demanded. “That’s why you kept insisting someone would rescue us. He was supposed to come back.”
Tyris turned back, his eyes wide with disbelief. “It was Ursa who told everyone Zerris had exploded, wasn’t he? But he made it up. It never was in any danger of exploding, was it?” He took a step towards Weiss again.
Weiss pulled back, but the movement only gave Marlee a smidge of satisfaction.
“We’d slaved for years on that stupid planet, being paid a pittance. Miners didn’t get any recognition for the effort they put into the development of the anysogen engine. Not much money either. We deserved it,” Weiss spat.
Her father gave a strangled laugh. “Well, it was all for nothing. Ursa died on the journey back to Urslat. I hate to say it, but I wish he hadn’t. I might be glad you were stranded on that planet for twenty years, but not badly enough not to wish I’d known my wife and daughter were alive fifteen years ago.”
“Looks like we both got what we wanted. You can have your wife and daughter, neither of them brought me any pleasure,” Weiss sneered, “and I’ll have my money.”
Tyris shook his head. “The Colonies won’t pay you for the anysogen. There’s a whole planet full of people who all have rights to that planet. I’ll explain that you don’t speak for all of them.”
Weiss’s harsh laugh grated on Marlee’s nerves. “I don’t have to speak for all of them. Don’t you get it? I was there first. I had to survive nine months on that rock before anyone else ever arrived. They don’t have any rights at all to the planet. It would have been easier if Ursa had delivered some supplies, like he promised, but despite that, I survived. And I’m not going to let anyone cheat me of my reward.”
Marlee stared at him, speechless. The rest of the room was equally silent. Weiss gave all of them a haughty look, beckoned to his sons, and before anyone could think of anything more to say, he stalked out of the room.
Chapter 11
A persistent buzzing woke Tyris the next morning. He reached out to hit the snooze button on the alarm, but the noise didn’t cease. Eventually it seeped through to his brain that the noise was his phone, not an alarm. He sat up, ran his hand through his hair, and answered sleepily. “Yes?”
“Captain Bekkert?” said General Harrington.
Tyris suppressed a groan. “Yes, sir?”
“I have an assignment for you. Report to the briefing room in an hour,” the general’s clipped voice said.
Tyris glanced at the clock. His body wasn’t lying. It was only six am. After the drama they’d had last night with Weiss’s revelations, getting up early was the last thing he wanted to do. But it also reminded him that he needed to discuss Weiss’s treachery with the general. “Yes sir.”
He hung up and hit the shower in a desperate attempt to wake up.
The drive cleared his head somewhat—enough to wonder what the assignment was, and to hope that maybe he’d finally get some news about having his ban revoked.
He was not left wondering long. “We’re sending a mining vessel to Zerris in less than a week,” General Harrington announced.
He should have known they wouldn’t wait long, but the quick response was remarkable, considering the red tape that it usually took for a mission to get off the ground. “But the remaining villagers are still there,” he protested.
“They’ll just have to find a place on one of the farming planets. I’m sure they’ll feel at home enough there. It can’t be that different to the life they already led,” the general said.
“They’re not going to accept that.”
General Harrington shrugged. “We don’t need their agreement. Weiss signed a contract giving us mining rights, and since he is the longest standing occupant, that’s all we need.”
Tyris couldn’t believe the lack of emotion in the general’s voice when he spoke. “You know that Weiss planned this, right? He and Ursa had a deal. Ursa told the governor that the solar system would explode so that everyone would think the anysogen was destroyed. Meanwhile, Weiss was meant to hang out on that planet for five years to be able to claim squatters rights, then Ursa was coming back to rescue him. That’s treason. He should be jailed, not given money.”
The general’s jaw clenched, and his throat convulsed. “That little son-of-a-bitch,” he growled. He shuffled some papers on his desk. When he spoke again, his voice was strained but calm. “No, if we jail him, we’ll still have to deal with the other villagers. He’s just asking for money, that’s easy. We can arrest him once the deal is done.”
“The anysogen is all you care about?” Tyris demanded. “You’re going to let Weiss screw everyone over as long as you get what you want?”
General Harrington shook his head. “You always were a dreamer, Tyris. Be practical. We need that fuel, and this man is offering to give it to us. Do you think we’re going to let a handful of refugees stand in our way? Their demands are completely unrealistic.”
“You’re rewarding a traitor,” Tyris countered.
General Harrington shrugged. “No one knows he’s a traitor. In fact, no one is likely to know who he is at all. We control the media, son. No one knows anything we don’t want them to know. Not that anyone has any proof.”
Tyris had long suspected it, but since nothing Milandra ever aired was in the least big controversial, legally anyway, this was the first time anyone had outright admitted it. “Milandra has his admission on tape. If we take it to…” There his imagination failed him. If the government controlled the media, who would air the tape?
The general snorted. “Milandra isn’t stupid. She knows when it’s a good idea to keep something close to her chest. Handy she has it though. We can bring it out when we need it and avoid giving the man any money at all.”
Some of the anger Tyris struggled to keep under control must have shown on his face, because the general frowned. “Get over it. There’s nothing you can do to change this, so how about we just move on.”
Tyris could barely find voice to speak. Tight lipped, he asked, “What did you want me here for, since your mind is obviously made up?”
The general leaned back in his chair and stared at Tyris. “Milandra isn’t talking to me about how things are going between the two of you, so I’m assuming that they aren’t going well?”
Tyris stared at him, thrown by the sudden topic change. “If she doesn’t want to discuss it with you, why would I? And it has nothing to do with the villagers on Zerris.”
“Oh but it does. I’ve been wavering on whether to recommend that your record gets expunged or not. I was leaning towards not, but you’re in luck. I need someone to convince the villagers to leave Zerris, and since you know them, you’re the most suitable for the job. Convince them, and you’ll never have to worry about that criminal record again.”
Tyris stared at him in disbelief. He shouldn’t be surprised, but somehow he was. “If you’ve already made a deal with Weiss and have it all clear cut legally, why are you worried about the villagers? Why not just get on with the mining?”
“Because it’ll look bad. People at the top have issues with civilians being harmed, even though they’re the ones screaming for more fuel. Try to convince the dissenters if you can, otherwise arrest the lot of them for hindering Space Force business.”
“Arrest them? You’re joking, right?” Tyris knew he wasn’t, but the idea was so preposterous that he just couldn’t believe it. “They’ve done nothing wrong, they’re just protecting what belongs to them.”
“Get real. Do you really think that the wants of the hundred people on Zerris should outweigh the needs of the billions who are here?”
Tyris stared at him. “This is unbelievable,” he said. “If we don’t have rights as individuals, then what’s the point?”
“You’re an idealist, Tyris, that’s why I objected to Milandra marrying you. Ideology doesn’t work in the real world. Money and the wants of the majority is what works. You have a choice—follow orders, and have your procreating ban lifted, or refuse, and face disciplinary action.
Tyris frowned. It came down to this. His own, individual needs, versus the needs of the people on Zerris. If he didn’t follow orders, then he could never admit to being the father of Marlee’s baby. If he did, he was betraying the people who he’d come to care about during his time on Zerris. It was a no win situation.
Or it would be, except for one thing. If he didn’t do it, General Harrington would call in another officer, one who would be only too willing to follow orders. He owed the villagers honesty at least. He could explain what had happened, and give them the choice to return. “Fine, I’ll do it,” he said gruffly.
“Good man. I knew you’d see it my way,” General Harrington said. “Monday morning, six o’clock.”
“I’ll be here,” Tyris said, and stalked out of the room without waiting to be dismissed.
Once off the base, he drove straight to Marlee’s. He hadn’t seen her since the villager’s arrival last night, where he’d had to pretend they were nothing more than friends.
Glesin was just getting ready for work when he arrived, but stopped to say, “Hi,” to Tyris when Marlee let him in.
Tyris barely acknowledged the greeting. His rage had been simmering on the drive, and now it exploded. “They’re going to start mining on Zerris. They’re sending a ship on Monday.”
“What? But Mother and the council are still there.” Marlee said.
“I’ve been given the task of seeing that they all agree to leave, or arrest them” Tyris said disgustedly. “General Harrington knows he’s in the wrong, but legally he’s clean. He just wants to keep it tidy in the press, which means getting people off the planet.”
“And you agreed to do that?” Glesin demanded.
Tyris turned on him. “What choice did I have? If it wasn’t me, he’d just send someone else. Someone who wouldn’t care about telling them what’s really going on. They deserve a warning, and a chance to leave without a permanent record.”
Neither Marlee nor Glesin said anything. Marlee came over and put her hand on his arm.
“I’m sorry, Marlee,” Tyris said. “I wish I’d never crashed on your planet. If I hadn’t been so greedy and been looking for the anysogen in the first place, none of this would have happened.”
“Don’t blame yourself,” Marlee said. “If you hadn’t found us, the future wouldn’t have looked much brighter. We were a dying race. This just brings things to a head. I think you’re making the right choice, to be the one to tell them. I’m sure the council will appreciate your honesty.”
What she said made sense, but it didn’t help calm any of the conflicted feelings he was having. And the guilt for knowing that above all, his own future was bundled up in this as well. “General Harrington has promised me he’ll remove my record if I follow orders,” he said bitterly.
Marlee was silent, and Tyris pulled her into his arms, taking a small comfort from her closeness. He’d never expected to feel this way about anyone, had never even realised it was possible. But the truth was, he’d do whatever it took to make sure that they could be together. He just hoped that he could live with himself afterwards, and that Marlee could forgive him.
None of them said much more after that. What more was there to say? Tyris didn’t stay long, promising to return again before Monday for a longer visit. He drove home silently, a heavy feeling in the pit of his heart.
The phone buzzing interrupted his dismal thoughts. “Answer, hands free,” he commanded.
“Hey, bro.” Kerit’s familiar voice filled the car.
Tyris managed a smile. “Hi, Ker. What’s up?”
There was silence, and Tyris thought for a moment that he’d lost reception, despite the fact that that hadn’t happened on Urslat in years.
“I wasn’t sure if I should mention this or not, but after the way Milandra was bossing you around last night, I just couldn’t not say anything.”
Tyris frowned as Kerit paused again. “What is it?”
“While you were gone Milandra… she hooked up with Ralph. I didn’t say anything, because, well, she did think you were dead and all. Even if it was bad taste that she left the memorial service with him. But I thought you should know. They were together right up until you turned up again. Then I guess she dumped him like a hot potato.”
Tyris’s mind tried to take in this information. Ralph! And to think, his friend had said nothing when he’d mentioned it to him. He shouldn’t blame either of them. As Kerit said, they’d thought he was dead. And it wasn’t as if he was jealous.
“Ty? Are you okay?” Kerit’s voice punctuated the silence.
“Yes,” Tyris said. “Thanks for telling me, Ker.”
He told the phone to hang up and spent the rest of the drive being alternatively angry that Milandra had rushed to jump into someone else’s arms, and annoyed that she’d dumped Ralph so quickly when she found out Tyris was coming back. It just went to show how shallow she was.
His mood wasn’t improved when he arrived home and Milandra accosted him in the doorway. “Where have you been?” she demanded.
He growled back, “None of your business,” and pushed past her into the house.
Milandra followed him, ignoring his reply. “You’re never home lately. Is there someone else?”
“What does it matter if there is?” He should back off, but after today, he was spoiling for a fight, and it might as well be with Milandra. “It’s not like you were sitting around waiting for me while I was gone, were you?”
“Just what do you mean by that?”
“Kerit told me, about you and Ralph.”
There was a moment’s silence in the room. Then Milandra shrugged one shoulder. “I thought you were dead, what was I supposed to do? Sit around and wait for you forever?”
“You could have been honest with me, and not tried to just take up where we left off.”
“It’s not like I stayed with him. As soon as I realised you weren’t dead, I came back. Remember?”
“That doesn’t make it any better. You jump in and out of relationships as though they were new shoes, discarding any pair that doesn’t suit you right now. I’m not interested in being the old comfy pair you keep around for when there aren’t any new exciting pairs. Our relationship is over, so get over the possessiveness already.”
“You said you’d stick it out to keep up my reputation. But if it comes out that you’re screwing someone else, it’s not going to look good.”
Tyris turned to look at Milandra, who stared back, hands on her hips. “Then how about we just get it over with? You had divorce papers before I left, I’ll sign them now.”
“Is it her? The girl from Zerris?” Milandra demanded.
He was on dangerous ground. “Really? You think that Kerit would go out with her if I was sleeping with her? Come on, Landy. It doesn’t make sense.”
Milandra checked a little, that thought not having occurred to her until now. Sometimes Tyris wondered how she managed to work out which shoe went on which foot in the mornings. Strange how he’d never noticed that before.
“Who is it then?”
“Good God, Milandra, can’t you let up already? Why does it have to be someone else? Can’t I just be tired of this fake relationship we’ve had for the last five years? Can’t I just have had enough?”
It was plain, from the stricken look on Milandra’s face, that the thought hadn’t even occurred to her. “But I thought we had a good relationship?” she asked, bewildered now. “I mean, we never fought like some of our friends, or... anything. What went wrong?”
Tyris sighed. “I don’t know, Landy. But I do know that this isn’t what I want anymore. Perhaps this is just one of those ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ situations. I don’t hate you, I just don’t feel anything. And I don’t want to go through life like that.”
