Chapter 5:

Catalyst

Calan, Abe, and Korrigan were sitting together in a bar, drinking their beers slowly.

"Wolf's been acting weird lately," said Calan. "I'm not sure what'swrong with him, but he's looking at me as if he knows something I don't. Really quiet."

"Yeah. Did you know he stayed and got his tatoo? Doesn't seem too proud, though," Korrigan said.

"I wonder why," Abe said thoughtfully. "He's in Andross' inner circle, isn't he?"

"With me, yeah," replied Calan.

"So, how's your new ship, Captain?" sniggered Korrigan. "D'you know who your new crew is?"

"No, and the ship isn't finished. I've only seen the drawings of it."

Abe said, "Maybe you'll get to pick your crew. You'd pick us, wouldn't you, bud?"

"Yeah, and with either of you on the bridge, we'd crash."

"You're full of it," said Abe.

"We wouldn't either," said Korrigan.

Calan took a long swig of beer. "Well boys, I—"

His transmitter went off. Calan dug for it in his bag and pulled it out. It was Mayor Tucker.

"Sir?"

"Calan—er, Captain Porter, you need to come down to Section 132 along with Abraham Grissom and Korrigan Ramsey, understood? It's by orders of His Excellency."

"Erm..."

"Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"Sort of. We're down at Sully's Bar."

"Well, you'd better get down there as fast as you can. His Majesty won't wait too long."

"Fine, sir. We'll be down right away."

Calan disconnected and put the transmitter away. Section 132? Wasn't that were Chaya had shown him the mirror?

"Guess that means he's got urgent business, if we're going there."

The other men nodded.

When the three of them had entered the room where the Mirror of Echoes was, they were astonished to see Andross pacing in front of the mirror, and the Haissan tatooist, Kaleel, standing by him. Kaleel was looking in wonderment at the mirror, but Andross' facial expression suggested he was hungry for something.

"Captain Porter!" he said, when he looked up to see Calan standing there.

Calan merely nodded at Andross. He looked at Kaleel.

"Kaleel, how did you get here?" Calan demanded.

Kaleel pointed at Andross. "The great Apollyon of Lylat dragged me into this room. I swear upon the name of the gods I didn't come here by my own will."

"You know this man?" Andross asked with an raised eyebrow.

"I—we met yesterday."

"Good—then you may knock some sense into him," Andross said, guesturing Calan to step forward to Kaleel.

Calan was confused at first and didn't move.

"Calan—Mr. Porter," Kaleel begged, "tell him I won't do it, tell him!"

"Won't do what?"

But before Kaleel could answer, Andross broke in. "Captain Porter, you are quite naïve to not recognize the situation in the room right now. I asked Kaleel to say the chant on the pedestal of the mirror to me, so that I might use it for the greater good. But, this young fool refuses to do so. What do you make of that?"

Calan couldn't take his eyes off of Kaleel, and when he did, he looked at the mirror.

"I'm not sure you want to activate that mirror, sir."

"Yes, I am quite sure I do," sneered Andross in a tone that Calan had not heard before. "Do you not know what I could do with the Weapons of Strife? I could use the magic to make each and every ship, every fighter, every soldier, invincible. There would be no casualties. And Lylat would be ours."

"Really."

"Yes, really."

"You know what?" Calan said, to no one in particular. "I think Old Garnett was right about you."

Andross laughed. "Mr. Porter, you are amusing. Garnett was an old fool. I will do better with these Weapons of Strife. The magic in them is as everlasting as the mirror's. All I need is for this Haissan idiot to say the chant and tell me where the weapons are at. Only those ancient Haissans know where the weapons were scattered, and I know they touched the mirror."

"Would they be so foolish?" Kaleel breathed aloud.

"Did I ask you?" Andross asked savagely. "You, toss me your gun."

The guard handed it over roughly.

Andross took the gun and aimed it at Kaleel's forehead. "Say it. Read the chant."

Kaleel looked as if he was praying. "I won't!"

"Do it, Kaleel. Read the chant or I'll shoot. Don't think I won't."

Calan was at first dazed at the fact that Andross had used a contraction three times just then. But then he realized Kaleel was really in danger.

"Kaleel," Calan said weakly, not sure what to do.

Kaleel looked at Andross with wild eyes. "You can't do it, because you can't afford to!" he shouted. "You need a Haissan, and I'm the only one here!"

"You'll be replaced," Andross said firmly. "Now, tell me, or I'll fry your brains. Quickly!"

Kaleel didn't say anything.

"NOW!"

He still didn't answer.

Andross looked impatient. He waved the gun around and pointed at everyone else in the room. He pointed at Korrigan. Korrigan looked back at him, gaping. Kaleel sank to his knees, looking ready to bawl.

"Say it, Kaleel, or this young man dies."

"Why?" Kaleel wailed to the air. "Why must I do this act?!" He shook his head as if grieving.

"Kaleel." Andross' finger was twitching near the trigger.

Kaleel looked as if he was strained. He threw his head back and yelled, "Mokar rasha buaboos abia jial shai queben, zha abur kossar oonei surred oonei sokon, nomere toabadiro jazamir cabosiamed yafsept!"

The mirror suddenly glowed colors of light to add in with the grayish cloudy surface.

"Touch it and tell me what you hear from them," Andross ordered. "Just one of these is enough...."

Kaleel slowly got up, wiping the sweat and maybe tears from his face. He thrust a hand in the mirror and closed his eyes. His robes were dirty from the floor, as it was a dirt floor.

For a few seconds, no one spoke.

"Well?" demaned Andross. "What have you to say? Hurry up!"

Kaleel turned away from the mirror. "They do not know."

"What did you say?"

Kaleel suddenly laughed. "I was right—they were not foolish enough to say the location of the weapons to the mirror. You'll never find them now!"

"YOU'RE LYING!" roared Andross.

"I am not!" laughed Kaleel. "The mirror's memories never lie! You'll die without your longed-for victory, O Apollyon!"

"LIAR!" howled Andross. He aimed the gun at Kaleel and fired. Kaleel was dead before he hit the floor.

No one said anything. Calan didn't breathe, and he was sure no one else could, either. If only Forrest Tucker had seen this.

"Let that fool be a lesson to you all," Andross muttered. He handed the gun back to the guard. He went up and spat on the floor by Kaleel's body. "I was getting sick of being called the Apollyon. This man is a liar and a perpetrator, a heretic to our cause. You'd do well to stay loyal."

He turned for the exit. "Also, escaping this planet is a futile attempt. I have specially bugged you with a device planted behind your ears. Don't try to take it off—if you do that, you'll die. If you don't believe me, try it. Don't say I didn't warn you." And he swept out of the room.

There was utter silence after that.

Chaya looked at Calan with wide eyes. "I don't believe you."

"You have to. Check behind your ear."

Chaya reached behind and her eyes widened. "Oh my God!" she whispered. "Why didn't I notice before?"

"It's hard to find, but whatever you do, don't try to get it off."

"Why?"

"It'll kill you."

"Don't you think he was lying just so you wouldn't take it off?"

"Why don't you find out?"

"No thanks. But I'm sure someone will."

Calan nodded. "Yeah. I all ready told this to India. She didn't believe it at first, either."

"Well, who would? I mean, the man seems like a savior to us. He's our liberator. He'll get us off of this planet and above ground. I can't wait till that time."

"Chaya...."

"What? Oh, you think being on Andross' side is a bad idea."

"I think it'll get us killed."

"Do we really have a choice, Calan?"

"I guess not."

"So you agree, we should fight on his side since there's nothing else we can do."

"Not really. Look, I think that neither of us are going to outlive this. Now we know what he's up to, that he wants to start a war with the Lylatians. Can't you see how the Saturnalians, like yourself, are going to suffer?"

Chaya tapped the back of her ear. "Then why don't we pull the plug now?"

Calan didn't answer at first. Finally he said quietly, "Because, I think, we should at least try to find a way off. Maybe fake our deaths just to get out. We'd have to pick the opportune moment to do it."

Chaya laughed out loud, startling Calan. "Calan Porter, you amaze me. You have a flagship now, being built outside the city above ground, in some crazy canyon, along with the sister ship. Don't you think it'll be a bit hard to just die or disappear?"

"That's why I'll have to crash the ship."

"And everyone on it?"

"If I think I can do it, maybe. I don't want to risk the lives of other people, but if it's my last resort, I will."

"Porter, you never struck me as the killing sort, you know? Even when you first walked in this place."

"I didn't?"

"No. Well. You, that pretty-lookin' Grissom, and the other guy—"

"Korrigan."

"—Korrigan. You all looked like a bunch of schoolboys fresh out of high school, or at least, an academy."

"I don't look that young, do I?"

"Sort of. Anyway. Quincy said that you looked healthier than he expected, but you were all dirty."

"And Quincy looked sick. I don't know why, but he's scrawny."

Chaya smiled wanly. "He's always been thin. Raised that way. His family didn't have much money. His parents died in an accident in the labs. He was pretty much raised by his four siblings, all older and all girls. They didn't have a lot to eat laying around."

"I'm sorry about that. Doesn't he get enough now?"

"Yeah, but he's still a light eater. He eats when he's hungry, but that's all. Has a fast metabolism, and he drinks more fluids than he eats, anyway. Plus he's got lots of energy, plenty to waste on crazy missions and that sort. And he's pretty strong. Never take him on with arm wrestling. You'll get your ass kicked."

"Sounds like you know him well."

"I know him well enough." Chaya suppressed a smile but failed.

Calan sat there for awhile. "I still can't believe that Kaleel is dead. I barely knew the man, now he's dead."

"It's not your fault."

"But I told him about the mirror."

"He would've found out, anyway. And besides, did it matter to Andross? Kaleel was probably doomed anyway."

"I guess so. He was a bit of a martyr. He kept calling Andross the 'Apollyon'. That's one of the names of the new fighter models. But Kaleel...it tore me up watching him die. At least he's in a better place, Haissan heaven or whatever their name for it is. It was a nasty death. And a nasty time before it."

"I thought you said it was quick."

"It was, but he looked like he suffered when Andross pointed the gun at Korrigan. And let me tell you, Korrigan's in a shock. He's been in his room the whole day, smoking, because I can smell the smoke. It's a damn good thing that cigarettes don't do damage, like the human ones do. He'd be dead by now."

"Poor Korrigan."

"I know. I'm in the same disbelief as he is. Korrigan thinks that Andross wants him dead."

"I would too, if I were him."

"Maybe. But I'm worried. You know how I told Andross that Old Garnett was right? Well, what if Andross goes after me next?"

"Don't worry about it, Calan. You said so yourself that he was demonstrating his power. Besides, doesn't he want you as captain of one of the flagships?"

"Yeah. Doesn't mean he can't shoot me like that, though."

Chaya leaned back in her chair. Calan did the same. He liked Chaya's quarters.

"Listen, just don't worry about. Call me later. I'm going to tell Quincy about this, and then we might try to have a chat with India so we can visit Korrigan, maybe make him feel better."

"Go ahead. I'll take to you later, then." Calan got up and said his goodbye, and left. He felt a little better, talking it through with India and Chaya. Now he had to talk to Korrigan again, or maybe Abe. And Wolf, if he could find the man.

Calan slapped down a few credits on the table of the bar and took his drink to a table where Wolf and Leon sat, talking. Neither one looked like they had touched their mugs.

"Hey." Calan sat down.

Wolf nodded and Leon said, "Hi."

"So. I guess you heard about Kaleel."

Wolf looked at Calan. "What's that?"

"Kaleel. The Haissan murdered yesterday."

Wolf exchanged glances with Leon.

"There was a Haissan here?" Leon asked, raising a scaly eyebrow.

"Yes! Didn't you two hear about it?"

"No."

"Nope."

Calan looked at them in disbelief. "I can't believe this. No one else has heard about this! Why isn't it in the papers or something?"

Wolf shrugged. Leon didn't respond.

Calan slapped his forehead. "He must be covering all this up!"

"Who?"

"Andross!"

"His Excellency, do a thing like that?" Leon inquired.

"Not you too!" Calan groaned, looking at Leon. "Tucker calls him that."

"Doesn't everyone?"

"Not me!" Calan shook his head. "I don't believe this. I can't believe it. Why does this all feel like a dream?"

"Maybe it is a dream," said Wolf, "and this beer just tastes really good as a figment of your imagination."

"Oh ha, ha. I'm serious."

"What's the problem, then?"

Calan shook his head. "Yesterday, me and my buds Korrigan and Abe were summoned by Andross to...erm...a room. The Haissan was there, and Andross murdered him right in front of our eyes."

"Really." Wolf took a sip of his beer.

"Yes! And then Andross goes off and warns us not to cross him, and we sit there, feeling stupid. Now, we leave and go about, but no one knows anything about this!"

Wolf shrugged. "I haven't read the paper yet today."

Calan gaped. He stood up and said quickly, "Okay, you know what? I've got to go. See you guys later."

He was at Mayor Tucker's office only a few minutes later. A secretary allowed him in, and he shut the door loudly after him. Tucker spun around on his swivel chair.

"Calan! What brings you hear today?"

"Mayor, did you happen to hear about a murder of a Haissan yesterday?"

Tucker looked suprised. "I didn't hear of a murder, no. But I did hear of a suicide. In Section 132. By the Mirror of Echoes. Apparently the poor lad shot himself."

Calan stared at him. "Sir—"

"Yes?"

"Sir, it wasn't a suicide, it was a murder."

"A murder! It's written all over the papers that it was a suicide, and His Excellency confirmed that."

"I TELL YOU IT WAS A MURDER!" Calan bellowed.

"Mr. Porter, control yourself!" Tucker snapped back. "He confirmed it, and that's what it was! A suicide!"

"It was not! He's a liar!"

"I can't belive you would dare to call the emperor a 'liar'!"

"Mayor—Forrest—pull your head out of your ass and look around!" Calan hissed.

Tucker snarled, "You! Get the hell out of my office! I'll tell the emperor about this, and he'll have you under house arrest!"

"I'd like to see him try!"

"GET OUT!" Tucker roared.

Calan stared at Tucker for a few split seconds and stormed out of the room. The naïvety of it all was driving him crazy. He went home to his quarters and fell face first on the bed. Now he could be under house arrest—possibly, and maybe more trouble for angering the mayor. He didn't want to think of the consequences for losing his temper and for damaging the illusion that he was loyal to Andross. But it wasn't so; he knew it. Andross knew it. Surely he'd have some sort of way to control all the citizens, to force them to follow him.

Calan sighed and buried his head in a pillow.

A few minutes later someone rapped on his door. It sounded as if there were more than one person out there. Calan didn't dare say anything.

His door slid open—even though Calan had put restricted authorization on it, like every other door would.

"Mr. Porter!" shouted one of the men. There were other footsteps in his living room now.

Calan couldn't breathe. He could hear the clinking of their guns against their belts.

"Mr. Porter!" the man repeated, louder this time. "I suggest you come out!"

Slowly Calan stood up and went to his dresser. He took out his laser pistol, the Sabre -4 (S-4). He'd bought it after the first few days of being at Saturnalia, when he'd been given cash by the mayor. Well, now he was going to put this to good use. Calan held the pistol where he could pull it up easily.

"MR. PORTER!"

Calan came out in the same slow pace. "What do you need, boys? I was in the bathroom and couldn't hear you at first."

"A likely story," sneered a short man, behind a larger one.

"Mr. Porter," the large one said, "you are ordered to go to Emperor Andross' office room at 1200 hours, which is in about 15 minutes. We are here to escort you, should you do something rash."

Calan nodded. "Okay, well, let's go." He slipped the pistol into his pocket when the guards glanced the other way.

It was a long walk, standing in the middle of six guards, all of whom were armed. By the time he was shoved into the emperor's office, his hands were getting sweaty and he had to frequently rub them on his other leg. He prayed the weapon didn't show up.

Andross' office was elaborately decorated with silver, gold, and marble floors and pillars. It was beautiful—Calan wished it wasn't the office of a murderer.

Andross spun around on his swivel chair, much like Tucker had done, and faced Calan. The guards left.

"Calan, Calan, Calan." Andross shook his head, tsk-tsking. "You've been making our mayor very angry, haven't you?"

"Yes, sir." Calan didn't trust himself to say anything else.

"Seems you love to lie, don't you, Calan?"

"Lie, sir?"

"Yes. About murders."

"No sir, I'm not the liar. That's you."

Andross threw his head back and laughed a horrible laugh. "You are a fool, Calan. You keep resisting me and angering my allies. Well, you are suppost to be an ally of mine as well. But you insist on making things hard for yourself."

"All things considered, sir, but I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about when I say that you murdered Kaleel, and that you wouldn't hesitate to do it to someone else."

"Maybe so. You've got a rebel mind. I have just the thing to cure you of that."

"Is that so? Sir?" sneered Calan.

"Yes." Andross stood up and held out a box-shaped device. "This is a device called the Nerve Inhibitor Device. The NID causes a small wave of electricity to go through a person's body. Instead of electocuting them, as the amount is too low for that, it causes pain in the nerves of that person. It is connected with the bug behind your ear."

Calan feared what was coming next.

"So, let me show you what happens to people who disobey me or make me angry." Andross pressed a few buttons.

A sharp pain shot through Calan's body, both hurting him and numbing him. He fell to his knees, grimacing, and some tears escaped his eyes. He started to shake. He wanted to die.

Andross shut it off. Calan fell to the ground, breathing heavily and sweating worse than he had before. He wiped the tears from his eyes and slowly got up, still shaking.

"Would you like another dose?"

"No...."

"What was that?"

"No thank you, sir."

Andross gave an evil smile. "All right then. Get out of my sight."

Calan limped out of the room, feeling his pulse as if he was being stabbed every time his heart beat. When he was clear of the building, he took out his gun and looked at it. It wasn't damaged. Luckily. Calan was wishing he had shot Andross then and there. He limped the rest of the way home. His head throbbed, and so did everything else. He crashed on the couch and didn't bother taking a shower before he fell asleep.