The dead tyrant led more than a few of Carter’s friends astray in the process. Enticing them to join his Black Fleet and then betraying them when he needed to stand resolute against the House of Reason. Leaving bitter soldiers who, after the fall of Utopion, seemed so filled with apathy for the galaxy that they just… withdrew.
“A Savage hulk landed on Kublar over a thousand years ago. Before the galaxy even knew this planet existed. While the Legion was fighting on worlds that time has mostly forgotten—lost worlds. Planets destroyed by the Savages.”
Carter nodded. He knew something about that. It was the Kublaren’s claim to fame. Or what fame the isolationist species had before the Battle of Kublar.
“These Savages were more of a political entity. Their tech wasn’t terribly advanced. The rifles the Kublarens use… those are Savage weapons. Taken from the dead Savages and used against them until there were no Savages left on Kublar. The same goes for every tank and truck you find on planet.”
“That’s… interesting,” Carter said, unsure where this was all going.
Nilo smiled again. Not in a demeaning way, but understandingly. Like he knew he wasn’t giving the war fighter in front of him much to jump to a conclusion with.
“The tech those Savages had, even by the standards of the time, wasn’t anything exciting. But for the Kublarens, it was revolutionary, though they hadn’t advanced much beyond that level of technology until the Republic showed up and they were able to pick up N-4s off the battlefield instead of the old Savage weapons.”
“Or the new stuff we gave them,” Carter said, forgetting himself as he looked inside a broken display case. It looked large enough to fit a tank inside.
“Well, that’ll be standard-issue soon for our team, but yes. And I have to own that tactical mistake. I had reservations when arming the Pashta’k was suggested and I shouldn’t have gone through with it. Part of the reason I said I want men like you on my team, Carter.”
Carter nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
“Carter, what if I told you that Goth Sullus was a Savage?”
The words sent a chill down Carter’s spine. “I guess… I guess that would explain the…” He wiggled his fingers to approximate the… magic the former emperor seemed capable of wielding.
“Yes. Exactly. You see, Savage technology wasn’t just like what we see on Kublar. Some of it was so fantastic, so amazing, it was like magic. What Goth Sullus did can be rationally explained, I’m sure of that. It was a simple use of technology that the rest of the galaxy hasn’t yet unlocked.
“Just about every technological advancement we enjoy—is due to the Savages. They may not have invented it—like the hyperdrive—but what they uncovered allowed us to jump light-years ahead of where we’d otherwise be. They looked into the dark corners of the galaxy we wouldn’t have dared to imagine. And we’ve prospered as a result of not letting that knowledge go to waste.”
Nilo held out both arms and let them fall to his sides. “This room here, it was a warehouse full of Savage artifacts. A private collection held by a powerful—but deceased—House of Reason delegate. Kept hidden from Republic R&D.” Nilo shrugged and shook his head. “Just because of greed. The type that comes from being so rich that the balances don’t matter and you find your life’s fulfillment in what you take or keep from others. And always by force. It’s a sickness among the wealthy. One I won’t abide in the future we’re building, Carter.”
“Yes, sir,” Carter answered, relying on some old Legion part of himself that knew just to stay quiet or say “Yes, sir,” when things were coming at you fast, and doors, plans, and thoughts were being exposed by a superior officer.
“I was going to use what was in here to make those dreams a reality. The weapon that Lash has, that’s the tip of the iceberg. And not just in weaponry. We’re talking health, longevity, communication… everything. A better galaxy. One that won’t need to be ruled, that can’t be ruled, by petty men and women. They say that in heaven, there’s no politics. No power struggles. No one seeking to rule over another. Because nobody needs it. Because they all have everything they need already. And I know it sounds idealistic, but that’s what we can achieve for the galaxy.”
“Sir… I hope so, sir.”
Nilo smiled again. “A man who I thought was on our side, named Jack Bowie, stole all of this. Right from underneath my nose.” Nilo laughed to himself. “He had help. A Tennar agent, a spore from the rotting carcass of Nether Ops. Which, as the Legion showed the galaxy, was the cause of far too much of our collective trouble.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“We don’t know where Bowie went. He seems to have disappeared. No surveillance shows him going underground or getting off-world. And I have a lot of surveillance set up. But we know where she, Honey, went.”
Carter nodded, already knowing where things were headed.
“I want you to take some time off. Oba knows you need it with what happened to Easy. I’m arranging for all your friends and families to get together on Piscopis—which is beautiful if you’ve never been there. Enjoy a couple of weeks together. Then, when our target is feeling safe… you’ll lead my kill team to capture her and bring her to me.”
Nilo waves a hand and starts moving back the way they’d come. There’s nothing left here worth looking into. “Will that work for you, Carter?”
“Yes, sir. Yes, sir, it will.”
Epilogue
The squeals of excitement made by family members reunited with their loved ones, back from Kublar and enjoying a palatial cabin in the pristine beauty of Piscopis, had long since faded into the buzzing hum of laughter and conversation. Nilo had spared no expense. Chefs joined in the conversation, cooking up exquisite meals—anything you
