“Lived in this neighborhood three years. It’s never worked. Pity. So then, why do you ask a question in the form of ‘What am I’”?
Ryllen didn’t know where to begin. He stammered.
“I … last night, I was …”
“Whatever it is, I won’t be shocked, kid. I worked six years in Special Services for the Guard. There’s nothing more shocking than a Chancellor at playtime. Out with it, RJ. I charge by the hour.”
“Last night, I was shot. Four times. Maybe five. I can’t be sure. I was … they …”
“Ah. By they, you mean whoever hit back against Green Sun.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not privy to your secrets. It was on the IntraNex. A few bytes. Minimal prelim from the Constabulary. No surprise. Amateurs. You are Green Sun. Yes? Look, kid, I know it’s a violation of the creed to tell a stranger, but you wouldn’t be here if they were still your best option.”
“OK. Yes. I’m Green Sun.”
“Good. Progress. So, you were shot last night and yet here you are, the epitome of good health. Were you killed?”
Ryllen couldn’t fathom the nonchalance of the question.
“Yes. Twice. I think.”
“Ah. There you go then. Matter resolved. I can imagine what might be on your memglass. I’ll crack the code if you want, but I know exactly what you are, kid. If you’ve been paying any attention at all the past six years, you should already know, too.”
“Wait. Are you saying I’m one of them? Those crazies on Aeterna?”
“Hmm. Don’t know about crazy, but they are immortal. That much appears certain. And so are you, kid. Congratulations.”
His heart raced. “No, no, no. I thought those were stories. Propaganda. Weren’t they the ones who destroyed the Ark Carriers?”
“They did indeed. Again, not crazy. Haven’t you heard the messaging from Aeterna the past few years? Sending out the call for immortal children seeded in the colonies? Last intel said they rescued more than a thousand. I had my suspicions about you and two others around your age. Both still living on the continent. Funny thing about immortals: You can’t know for sure until they start breathing again. It’s all true, I’m afraid.
“You, RJ, are an engineered immortal, the product of a husband-and-wife team who fancied themselves gods – even more so than the usual Chancellor fixation. Overzealous human garbage, and I used to happily fulfill their needs.”
No, he thought. This is too much.
“What do I do now?”
“Hmm. Celebrate, I suppose. You won’t be dying anytime soon. They’re still searching, I believe. The Aeternans. Fairly suspicious bunch, but they did take down a cudfrucking empire. Less than a thousand of them. Children, no less. Can you imagine? Some of the intel about how they pulled it off … it’s insane, even by Chancellor standards. Half fact, half myth, I suppose.”
“I don’t understand. Why did they do it? Why did those Chancellors seed the colonies with children like me?”
“That part was always vague. The Bouchets died before they were brought to justice. Many theories. Not one of them useful to you, kid. Based on what you’ve told me, I assume you’re in trouble – perhaps even with Green Sun. My recommendation? Get in touch with a diplomat who can connect you with Aeterna’s minister. Apply for rescue. They’ll take you in.”
He bolted from the bench.
“No. I might have been born on Earth, but I’m Hokki. I’m a patriot. This is my home.”
Ham rolled his eyes. “And it’s been so good to you. Yes?”
“I believe … I have a purpose here. I’m Hokki.”
“OK. Fine. And if you stay, they’ll find you and kill you. Again. Then you’ll wake up. They kill you again. Rinse. Wash. Repeat. Not a good option, kid.”
“I’m not leaving. I’m not done.”
He thought of Kai. Beautiful, loving Kai whose body was shredded by flash pegs. He thought of Shin Wain with the tiny mustache.
I know where you work.
“I’ve seen that anger before,” Ham said. “Usually comes right before somebody says, ‘I want to kill a man.’ Never turns out well.”
“I won’t let him get away with this.”
“Right, kid. Vengeance is mine, and all that rubbish.”
Ryllen returned to the bench and lowered his voice.
“You know them, right? You run intel for all the seamasters.”
“Not according to their books.”
“How much do you charge?”
“For what?”
“Anything I need.”
“By the hour, but you can’t afford me.”
“Sure about that?”
Ryllen left Hamilton Cortez alone on the bench and didn’t look back. He retrieved his rifter from its hiding spot and calculated his next steps.
Pinchon was an island, but anyone who wanted to disappear for a time might find a thousand places to hide. Ryllen learned how to live apart from society before Kai rescued him from the streets of Umkau. He learned subterfuge and misdirection under Green Sun’s tutelage.
Most important, he understood the true nature of his enemy:
It could take any form.
Mother. Sister. Brother. Teacher.
They might find him, and they might kill him. But Ryllen Jee would get a second chance, and a third, and a fourth.
He only had to kill his enemy one time.
He was ready to begin.
TIMELINE
Historical events documented using the Collectorate Relative Calendar for Standardization of Time, designated as SY for Standard Year
SY 4392: Chancellory begins forced interstellar migration of all residents of Korean Peninsula to planet Hokkaido.
SY 4473: The Asian Sweep concludes, finalizing the migration to and colonization of Hokkaido.
SY 5311: The first successful attack of a colonial insurgency destroys the Ark Carrier Nephesian above the planet Hiebimini.
SY 5320: Catastrophic event destroys Hiebimini’s entire supply of brontinium, the galaxy’s strongest known ore and critical to Chancellor survival. Chancellory is thrown into chaos. Insurgencies grow on many colony worlds.
SY 5330: Hiebimini’s final citizens are
