Blade’s eyebrows lifted toward his hairline. “What new wormhole?”
Talon said, “Oh. I see you are not quite as in the know as you would have us believe.”
Blade’s fingers went to his weapons. His voice held death. “Watch what you say to me.”
Jessica spoke then. “He was not speaking offensively. He was speaking the truth. We need your help. The Federation has indeed found a new wormhole.”
Blade shrugged. “So? What of it? They may hold that route for a hundred years or more and destroy an entire system with their trade, but what of it? It’s happened before and will happen again.”
Jeval said, “Not this time. This wormhole does not have an exit in our universe.”
Blade snorted. “So let the fucking Federation send their ships out into nothingness. What do we care? Just less of them to kill.”
Talon said, “If it were just that, we would not be here, now would we?”
Blade’s head tilted to the right. His eyes narrowed. “I suppose not. Where does this wormhole end?”
Jeval said, “In another universe. One whose beings closed the wormhole against us.”
Blade hooted with laughter. “Well then, perhaps we should take it for ourselves in order to have an escape route from those bastards.”
Margie spoke. But her voice was not her own. It came from deep within; it came from within the mind of the child that she carried. “The beings on that side of the wormhole are far more technologically advanced. They sealed the wormhole millennia ago when they began to see the beings in this universe make great strides toward travel.
“They are determined to live in peace. They have managed to bring peace to their universe, or rather to their corner of it. They have managed to hide the fact that the universe extends further than we could ever know by sealing not just that wormhole, but the space around it. It is like a seam, and once punctured, that seam will split open and be forever open. The Federation knows this. They seek to travel there and attempt to take over that other universe. But they know not what they will get into. They know not that doing so will be the end of this universe.”
She felt limp and shaken. Blade stared at her, as did those other members of her party. Talon asked, “How can you know this?”
Margie shook her head. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, but I will tell you. Just not right now. This is too important to get off track.”
Blade said, “All you have is a woman. And what she says. We all know women talk facetiously. For all you know, she is leading you on a fool’s errand.”
Talon said, “We have your father.”
Dead silence ensued. Blade’s hands went to his weapons, and he drew them. His weapons pointed directly at the four of them. Blade’s voice was thin with anger. “Do not speak of him in my presence.”
Jeval said, “We would not seek to displease you in such a way. We have no choice. He has decided to throw his lot in with the rebellion. For whatever reason, he is now on your side. He has been on your side this entire time. How do you think you have escaped so often? Even you, with all of your arrogance, cannot possibly believe that it was skill and luck that kept you alive.
“Your father has falsified documents and sent ships away from your position deliberately. He has striven to keep alive the myth that his son died many years ago. He wants to make amends, and he knows just how foolish opening this wormhole is. He fears opening this wormhole. And, perhaps the greatest reason he has for doing this is because The Federation recently destroyed old Earth.”
The weapons didn’t lower. “I had heard of that. Millions died. Just one more crime for The Federation to answer for.”
Jeval urged, “You want to fight The Federation? Then now is your chance. Your father has brought an armada with him. Federation ships, all of them capable of great warfare. If we put them up with your army and the army of the other rebels, we can stand against The Federation, but we have to stand as one. It’s time for us to put our differences aside. It’s time for us to unite. All of us are rebelling. All of us are rising. But we are rising like ants against a massive army that can crush us like those very same insects. Together we can be mighty. Apart we are nothing.”
That voice, the voice of her unborn daughter, came back again. Margie’s mouth and throat worked. “The Federation would sacrifice all for a chance to rule more. You would know that. You’ve seen it firsthand. This is your chance to stand against them. To do real damage. Would you turn away from this now?”
Blade asked, “Does she always speak so freely?”
Jeval said, “I’m afraid so. But she does speak the truth, and I stand with her. If you would stand against us, then say so now. If you do not have the guts to join us and help us, then say so now. We shall seek aid elsewhere.”
Blade lifted the weapon a little bit higher. He said, “And now you call me a coward? You come into my city and call me a coward?”
Talon said, “Should we tell all of End-World that you have refused to go after The Federation in a real and valid way? That we have information that could take The Federation down and are willing to use it but that you balk because you are frightened?”
Margie held her breath. This was a dangerous game they were playing. This was one seriously dangerous human being, and she was afraid of him even as she knew that he was far more dangerous to The Federation than he was to her. There was ruthlessness about him, a sharp and unrelenting air of sheer power coming off him that was impossible to deny or mistake.
Blade said, “If you are attempting to shame me into joining you then you are playing a foolish game. Of course I wish to strike against The Federation, and in a large way. But what you’re asking me to do would require more than just my army. I do not see an army here.”
Talon said, “We did not think you would appreciate us bringing Federation ships here. Plus, not to put too fine a point on it, most of their captains could not have survived the journey in.”
