Through the Ghost

Rahn’s office overlooked the entire facility from the top floor of the research building. Glass paneling lined the outer walls. The floor was a white carpet that looked like someone sheered a flock of sheep. A mahogany desk with an electrical console embedded into it sat to the left side of the door upon entering. A series of video screens were embedded behind it. Each one displayed a different section of the facility, there were even a few shots from within the jungle.

There were no chairs except for Rahn’s. Some operatives theorized he wanted people to feel powerless as they stood in judgement before him. Tal saw it as he simply wants the meeting to go as quickly as possible. People were less likely to drag things out if they were standing.

As they stood before the man seated at his desk, Tal began to doubt his theory. His hands fidgeted behind his back. Anna on the other hand maintained a calm veneer.

“Nice to see you two are getting along again.”

“For the most part,” Tal admitted non-chalantly. Anna didn’t answer, her eyes remained focused on the grey-haired man before them.

“Good, that’s good,” Rahn mumbled.

A moment passed, and they heard a knock at the door. Rahn pressed a button on the side of his desk that caused the door to slide open. To Tal’s surprise it was the girl he’d run into a few nights before. Behind her walked three figures dressed head-to-toe in silver armor. Their mirrored visors reflected the room around them. Sunlight from the windows caused Tal to squint as it was reflected off of them. Rahn pressed another button and the blinds descended, removing the distracting glare. Tal’s nails dug into his palm.

The girl avoided eye contact with anyone in the room then stepped off to the side closest to the door.

“Tal, these are the Kulrathi soldiers tasked with delivering Miss West to their people for judgement,” Rahn’s tone was neutral and monotone. He betrayed no indication about being opposed or against the intrusion.

Tal felt his blood pressure spike. “I thought you said you’d work something out?” Tal replied through gritted teeth.

“I did, but my hands were tied,” Rahn stated.

Anna remained silent, her eyes were fixated on the screens behind Rahn.

“This is the coward that killed Veris Tavelle?” the Kulrathi closest to Tal asked. He had expected a deep menacing voice, instead it was a bit higher with robotic inflections.

Rahn betrayed nothing. His blue robotic eyes never blinked, never shifted.

“Rahn, you can’t do this, shit’s Anna.”

The three Kulrathi looked at him, their visors prevented him from observing their reactions. “And that gives you the right to do whatever you wish? All evidence indicates she has killed one of our own outside of warfare, blood must be shed in return,” another replied.

“I’m sorry Tal. I tried to help, but if there was any…“

Rahn stopped mid-sentence to look at his assistant in the corner of the room. He waved her closer.

Sheepishly, she approached the head of Orothros. Tal heard her mutter something but it was inaudible even for his enhanced hearing.

“Are you sure?” the gruff old man inquired. She nodded her head.

Rahn emitted a defeated sigh. “Go ahead, tell them” Rahn said to the girl encouragingly, though his hands go straight to his temples. Her eyes went wide and for a moment Tal thought she might bolt from the room.

“She could ask for a trial by combat,” she finally stated, albeit timidly.

“Is that true?” Tal asked looking at the Kulrathi representatives.

“Yes, she may test her skills against one of our own,” one of them replied. “She may even assign herself a champion, if she feels incapable of competing in such a fight.”

Tal perked up, there was hope. He opened his mouth to speak.

“I’ll do it,” Anna announced defiantly. Tal looked at her, shocked and horrified.

He pulled her aside.

“You don’t have to do this,” he whispered.

“No one is going to die for me,” she responded, a fierce look in her eyes.

“Very well. We’ll give you time to ready yourself. The trial shall begin tomorrow as your sun rises, bring your melee weapon of choice.”

The delegation of warriors abruptly left the room, one glanced back. At first Tal thought it was staring him down or maybe sizing Anna up, but the sight line seemed to go just past him. The Kulrathi warrior’s gaze was fixed on the girl standing behind Rahn whether because she spoiled their execution or something else, was unclear. The door closed behind the silver clad aliens, leaving the Orothros members alone in the big office.

“What were you thinking?!” Tal shouted at his former partner.

“It’s the best option Tal,” Rahn interjected. “If Adrielle hadn’t mentioned it, she’d be on her way to the Kulrathi home world right now.”

“I’d love to see them try,” he growled.

“I’m sorry we interrupted your plans to be a martyr,” Rahn replied, his tone raised from the low bellowing voice he generally used.

“Neither of you have ever fought Kulrathi before, I have. They aren’t your average mercenary or pirate. They’re the reason Orothros was created, so that if we do fight them again, humanity will have a hell of a lot less casualties.”

“So, what you’re saying is it’s a death sentence either way. Just this way will be quicker and less painful,” Anna added.

Rahn hesitated, then shook his head “I’m not so sure about that.”

Anna turned away from them. “I’m going to go see Chara,” she announced, swiftly moving towards the door.

“Anna, wait,” Tal pleaded, grabbing her arm. “We can still figure something out.”

“You do that. I’m going to go be with my daughter.” Her hand slipped from his fingers and she walked out the door, a blanket of silence in her wake. Tal’s legs felt like they were fused to the floor. He wanted to call out to her, but his voice refused to cooperate.

Once the door slid shut he turned towards Rahn. “How could you do this to her?”

“Tal,” Rahn began.

“No, she’s looked up to you. You’ve been like a father to her, to both of us ever since we got here. Now you’re just letting her go off to die?”

Rahn sighed. “She didn’t tell you about her time on Sundr. Did she?”

Tal’s eyes widened, he’d had no idea that she’d been sent there by the council. Sundr was a prison colony on a remote planet housing some of the worst war criminals in Council Space. The environment was barren, nothing but sun-scorched rocks with temperatures that would kill anyone unlucky enough to be caught outside the protective bubble.

Rahn’s lips curled up in admiration. “That girl loves her secrets. She got herself into some trouble with the warden, a friend on the inside informed me she’d been dropped off there and I made a few calls. A member of The Council owed me a favor, a one-time deal, one I’m wishing I still had.”

“You helped her escape?”

Rahn nodded his head. “The irony is that four years later she’d get herself into even worse trouble and there’d be nothing I could do about it.”

“We could have fought back, there’s no way they could take on everyone at the base.”

“Most of our experienced operatives are in the field. You’re a great fighter Tal, it’s why I recruited you. You never give up, but sometimes you have to know when you’ve been beaten.

“I’m not giving up.”

Rahn sighed. “I’m not asking you to, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years, it’s that family is everything. Go be with yours.”