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  Shocked, Amber exclaimed, “What were you thinking, Father? Why couldn’t you run for the governorship honestly?”

  “Don’t be so naïve! There is nothing honest about politics! All that matters are victory, power, and money! If you don’t have any of those three, you are nothing! If lying, cheating, and committing treason is what it takes to win, then I am all for it!”

  Amber was stunned at her father’s brazen corruption. For a few moments, she did not know what to say. Finally, she said, “I will find a way to save our family before the battle starts.”

  With her hope shattered, Amber left Spatha alone in his office. After several minutes, Spatha sat at his desk and pressed a few buttons on his control panel. Then a holographic image appeared before him.

  “Hello?” asked the hologram in a soothing voice.

  “Hello. I would like to make a deal with you,” Spatha said, a drop of sweat dripping down his brow.

  ______

  Kyle and Owen stood together in an elevator as they left Spatha’s office. As he looked at Owen, Kyle was fascinated that he was able to perceive his surroundings without the need of physical eyes. In addition, Kyle felt an instant connection with him upon seeing the Bushi’s prosthetic right arm.

  Kyle asked, “So you are my little brother’s Sensei. How has he been doing?”

  “Bralu has come a long way from when he was nine. When he first came to me, he was overflowing with raw power and immense potential. Now, he is in control of his gifts and he no longer has to fear them. Unfortunately, even though he should no longer fear his power, he still trains ceaselessly out of fear that he could lose control one day. I saw this as counterproductive and gave him the month off from training. Since you’ve come home, you should spend more time with him before the battle.”

  “I will spend more time with him since I have little time left.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “In my last dogfight, I was injured, and my injuries resulted in incurable blood poisoning. With or without this battle, I am going to die. I would like to spend my last days with my family, but I have to direct my personnel with preparations for the battle. I am torn between family and duty.”

  “You and your brother have much in common. You both feel a sense of duty toward your professions, and yet you sometimes forget that you should spend time with those you wish to protect. By doing that, you are reminded of what you are fighting for, and you appreciate them that much more.”

  “I never thought of it that way. I have been so busy fighting battles and leading armies that I didn’t stop to think about visiting my family more often.”

  “Go to your family and spend as much time as you can before you return to your duties. From what I can tell, it is what you need.”

  “I can see why Bralu sees you as a wise teacher.”

  “Bah! I am no one special. I am just a washed-up Bushi trying to pass on what I have learned to the next generation. My days of being useful are long gone. I will fight however I can, but I am way past my prime. Besides, I just pass on words of wisdom based on experience, not on some mystical Bushi philosophy.”

  “But you are special to my brother. He takes your teachings very seriously.”

  “Yes, but he takes them too seriously. I just hope his seriousness won’t be his undoing in the coming skirmish.”

  “Do you think we will face any Ronin?”

  “I believe so. I sense the presence of someone powerful and relentless leading the Shogunate fleet. I don’t know who it is, but their power is so immense that I can feel it even from several light-years away. I just hope we can win this conflict without having to face this mysterious menace. As far as I can tell, this Ronin is the only one in this particular army. Considering his strength level, I can understand why they would not enlist more Ronin to this force.”

  Exiting from the elevator, Kyle and Owen walked out and stood in the lobby as they waited for Amber.

  “Why did your other student stay behind?” Kyle asked.

  “Amber? She is the illegitimate daughter of Governor Spatha. She must have some family business to discuss with him.”

  “How does that happen? How does a governor’s daughter get trained as a Bushi?”

  Frowning, Owen answered, “Well, her father is an ambitious and greedy man. He wanted a Bushi in the family because he thought it would make his family and name more prestigious in the eyes of the Consulate’s Ruling Council. Amber has been spending more time with me and away from her father, not wanting to be a political pawn.”

  Growling irritably, Kyle said, “I knew Governor Spatha was a corrupt man, but I never knew he monopolized his own kin as well.”

  “Men like Spatha are single-minded and have no connection for anyone else. There has been some speculation that he cheated in the last election, but there was not enough evidence to impeach him. Unfortunately, he is the kind of leader we have in this situation. I just hope he doesn’t do something rash in an attempt to protect his political interests.”

  Amber emerged from the elevator, drawing the attention of both Kyle and Owen.

  “What did you guys talk about?” Kyle asked.

  “Family matters. Nothing more,” Amber murmured as she walked past the pair and out the door.

  Confused, Kyle asked, “What’s with her?”

  “I sense some shock, disillusionment, and despair. I won’t impose on Amber’s family matters, but I can tell you that something negative happened up there,” Owen said, shaking his head.

  “You think we should keep an eye on Spatha?”

  “Based on what I have heard, our resources are spread thin as we prepare for battle. We don’t have personnel to spare to keep an eye on Spatha.”

  “Not necessarily. I think I will spare half a dozen of my commandos to act as his security detail. That way we can focus on the battle while our sweet governor is monitored.”

  “Good thinking. At first, it seems unnecessary. We may be worried about nothing. However, Spatha is an ambiguous individual, and it is better to be safe than sorry.”

  “Can’t Bushi read minds? They’re psychic, after all.”

  “It’s not that simple. We can sense glimpses of people’s thoughts and emotions, but we cannot get the full picture. With Spatha, he is a difficult man to read. His personality is easy to read through his words and actions, but his thoughts are all over the place. It could mean he is becoming mentally ill, but I can’t say for certain.”

  “All the more reason to have my men keep an eye on him during the battle.”

  Owen paused for a moment. “Go home to your family, Captain. I will return to my dojo and gather some equipment. Tonight, we will discuss the battle plan.”

  “Agreed.”

  Both men left the building and went their separate ways.

  CHAPTER 11

  On the landing strip outside the Pramar residence, Bralu and GB-89 stared each other down. All around them, engineers were commandeering every freighter in the yard, fashioning them with shield generators and turrets before moving them out. Bralu brandished his machete-like Kiru, while GB-89 wielded a metallic quarterstaff. A gentle breeze flew between them as they waited for one of them to blink.

  “Are you sure you want to do this, Master Bralu? Didn’t your Sensei say to take a break from training?” GB-89 asked.

  “You don’t get to ask questions like that in the middle of a battle!” Bralu shouted before lunging at the robot.

  With his usage of the Dragon Style, Bralu delivered a flurry of fast yet powerful blows at GB-89. In response, GB-89 twirled his staff to deflect his onslaught before attempting to strike him in the back of the head. Bralu blocked before knocking the robot off balance with a reverse kick to the knee. Spinning around, Bralu unleashed another barrage of slashes and thrusts, but GB-89 swatted them away with methodical precision.

  Suddenly, Bralu felt a jolt surge through his mind. As his psyche throbbed, he saw a shadowy figure walking down a fiery hallway. Then the figure
revealed itself to have no face, which instilled an all-consuming sense of fear in Bralu. A bolt of chilling pain rippled through his soul when a flaming blade drove itself into his gut. His vision faded when GB-89 struck him in the head with his staff.

  Having returned to his senses, Bralu rubbed his freshly made bruise.

  Noticing Bralu’s injury, GB-89 dropped his staff and tended to his young master. “I’m sorry, Bralu. Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine, Gee Bee,” Bralu said, rubbing his head.

  “What happened? You froze for a moment, and I couldn’t stop my counterattack in time.”

  “My clairvoyance gave me a vision. I don’t know if I saw a man or a demon. One thing I did see for certain was my own death.”

  GB-89 stumbled as he heard Bralu’s description. “Are you sure I didn’t just hit you too hard? Wasn’t it just a hallucination?”

  Bralu shook his head. “No. This was vivid and terrifyingly real. Sensitives are able to receive glimpses of the future. Some receive them in their sleep, while others receive them randomly. It is never the full future; it is just bits and pieces, like a puzzle that has lost most of its parts. I don’t know if I am going to die in the coming battle, but there is a strong possibility.”

  “Based on what you’ve told me, it sounds like there is a zero point six percent chance of you dying. You are a formidable warrior and destined to be a great Bushi, Master. According to the data I gathered from our sparring sessions, you’ll be just fine in the coming skirmish. As for that demon you saw, I calculate a zero percent chance that it truly is a demon, considering the existence of demons was universally debunked three hundred years ago.”

  “I appreciate your optimism, Gee Bee, but there is no sense ignoring my vision. I would not have seen it if there wasn’t a strong chance of my death.”

  “Should we inform your family about this, Master?”

  “No! They already have enough to deal with now that Kyle’s home and our home is about to be invaded.”

  “So what do you want to do, Master?”

  Bralu paused for a moment before answering. “I am scared out of my mind. I don’t care if that faceless creature really is a demon or not. It was saturated in an overwhelming bloodlust and intent to kill. Just thinking about encountering that monster feels like a blade pressing against my throat.”

  “Sounds frightening, Master. Based on your description, I can understand why you would be afraid. I wouldn’t want to encounter a faceless person even if it is physically impossible for them to survive without a face.”

  “I don’t know if the whole faceless thing is symbolic or literal, but it scared me regardless.”

  “I suggest we end today’s sparring session, Master. In your current state, there is an eighty-seven percent chance you will push yourself too far if we continue.”

  “You sound just like my Sensei.”

  With their training exercise over, Bralu and GB-89 parted company with Bralu walking toward the landing strip and GB-89 walking toward the Pramar household.

  ______

  An hour later, the government officials cleaned out Pramar Dealers of all its freighters. A few yards from the Pramar household, Bralu stood in front of a large hangar sealed by a pair of blast doors. He pressed his palm on a DNA scanner positioned on a control panel and the blast doors slowly creaked open.

  “Please still be here!” Bralu whispered as the hangar revealed its secrets.

  Bralu let out a sigh of relief when the hangar was fully open. Resting inside the hangar was a dusty freighter that was triangular in shape, with three engines in the wide rear and a bubble-like cockpit at the pointed front. The vehicle’s paintjob was mostly pitch black with a silver V decorated across the top of its hull. Its weapons consisted of two turrets, one on top and one below, as well as two cannons mounted just below its cockpit. The sight of the ship filled Bralu with a powerful sense of nostalgia.

  “Grandma’s old freighter from her smuggling days: the Benfold Star,” a voice said behind Bralu.

  Bralu turned and saw Kyle standing before him.

  “Good to see you, Kyle,” Bralu said.

  “Likewise. What made you want to see Grandma’s ship? It hasn’t flown since she passed away.”

  “The city government hijacked all our freighters so they could be added to the defense fleet. I was worried they would take Grandma’s ship away. I am pleased that it is still here.”

  “I named my frigate in the Consulate navy after it. Sadly, it is the same ship that crashed outside of Londinium.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Kyle. I’m also sorry to hear about the crew members you lost in the crash. How are your remaining crew members doing?”

  “Fortunately, their injuries were easy to mend with a few nanite injections. They’re in the process of getting ready for the invasion and training any civilians who volunteered. Between you and me, my people are not thrilled with being thrown into battle again after what they endured.”

  “What happened to you guys out there, Kyle? What made your ship go up in flames like that?”

  Kyle hesitated before answering. “The Shogunate caught us off guard with a new fleet-killing weapon. We had them outnumbered a hundred to one, and they demolished us anyway. Now that I think about it, I wonder if our efforts to thwart the invasion will be pointless. How can we defend ourselves against that kind of firepower?”

  “I see your point. I’m a bit scared myself.”

  “Why would you be scared? You’re the one with the psychic powers. You have advantages that ordinary soldiers don’t.”

  “Sometimes those advantages become disadvantages. Earlier today, I received a vision of the future that foretold my own death. It was horrific. How am I supposed to go into battle against the Shogunate when I know that is going to happen to me?”

  Softly putting a hand on his younger brother’s shoulder, Kyle said, “Being a soldier taught me that death can happen anytime. There’s nothing you can do about that even if you can see the future. All you can do is the best you can before your luck runs out. If you are in an inescapable situation and you have a chance to deliver a crippling blow to the enemy, you should take it. Think of it as a way for you to give them one final punch in the face before you go.”

  “You sound as though you had more than a few brushes with death. I heard about what happened in your dogfight. Is that why you wear that mask?”

  Putting his other hand on the front of his helmet, Kyle replied, “Yes. Does it make me look weird?”

  Bralu shook his head. “Not at all. You look badass, like someone in those space cop shows.”

  Kyle chuckled. “That’s reassuring. For a while, I thought I looked like a dead man walking.”

  “So what do we do now?” Bralu asked.

  “Let’s see what Mom’s cooking for dinner. I missed our family dinner nights while I was away. Come on.”

  “We should close the hangar in case some government schmuck passes by and decides to hijack it too.”

  “Good idea. However, I think we should include Grandma’s freighter in the battle at some point. It’s the fastest and most maneuverable ship in the sector. If the Shogunate fleet leaves an opening, the Benfold Star can exploit it.”

  “Just like when Grandma wiped out that entire pirate armada. Remember when she told us that story?”

  “Oh yes! That was epic!”

  Both brothers laughed as they sealed the Benfold Star’s hangar and walked toward their family home.

  CHAPTER 12

  At the local diner, Jarek and Kelba were enjoying bowls of fresh ramen. In the center of the restaurant, the chef was putting on a show as he put together dishes with dazzling speed and skill. Still, despite the chef’s attempts to entertain his customers, the atmosphere in the cantina was tense.

  Noticing the anxiety in the air, Kelba said, “This place is dead by its standards.”

  After swallowing a mouthful of ramen, Jarek asked, “Can you blame them? Their home is about
to be invaded. It’s no wonder they’re nervous as hell.”

  “At least we’ll be doing something about it, while most of these schmucks will be cowering in Devan’s bunker.”

  “Amen to that. I can’t wait to see what kinds of modifications you made to the racer when the battle finally happens.”

  “I added some new fuses that will give the engine output more kick. You should be able to go faster than all the other racers. That combined with Devan’s turrets and shield generators will make our racer the deadliest of the lot.”

  “Based on that, this should be more fun than any of our races. This way, we get to blow stuff up!”

  At that moment, Mooku approached the pair, asking, “Mind if I join you two?”

  Shrugging, Kelba said, “It’s still a free planet, or at least until the invasion starts.”

  Mooku took a seat next to Jarek and said to a passing waitress, “I’ll have a bowl of sashimi, please.”

  “So what brings you here?” Jarek asked.

  “I came to tell you two that you will not participate in the jet racer battle.”

  Kelba gasped. “What do you mean? We made all kinds of modifications to our racer that made it fit for this battle!”

  “Yeah! Who will pilot our racer? No one has our experience with it!” Jarek protested.

  “Members of the Benfold’s fighter squadron will commandeer your racers. Captain Pramar has recommended you two for easily the most important mission in the whole battle.”

  “What kind of mission is more important than firing on some Shogunate armies?” Jarek asked.

  “You, Jarek, will be piloting the Benfold Star, and you, Kelba, will make sure it keeps functioning through the operation,” Mooku replied.

  Jarek almost choked on his ramen, and Kelba nearly lost her balance in her seat. When they regained their composure, the pair were in an uproar.