Drake said, “I am no longer part of the Federation. When our father died, and you left your hiding place, all of my reasons for being within the Federation died as well.”
Blade said, “Do not come here and try to trick me with your bullshit.”
Drake said, “Trick you? I should kill you right here and now just for that. Our father forced me to be your keeper since the day you stormed out of the house and declared yourself a rebel and an outlaw. My entire adult life has been spent cleaning up behind your messes and keeping you from being captured and killed. To do that I had to be a part of the Federation. You’re welcome, by the way.”
Blade shook his head. “I do not believe you.”
Drake said, “You do not have to believe me. What you do have to do is let me show you the way to the Speakers door.”
Everything went dark in his vision. Blade staggered a few steps and leaned even harder against the tree. His hands, still clutching his weapons, fell limply by his sides. His mouth worked, but only a thin croak admitted forth.
Drake said, “I see you are shocked. Of course you are. Nobody believes it’s real. But it is real. I have been there.”
Blade shook his head, “That’s not possible.”
Drake said, “Oh, but it is. I could not gain entry, of course, but when our father relayed to me the particular talents of many in your group, I knew that it was possible to enter.”
Tara’s words floated back to him again. The whole thing was so surreal that all Blade could do was lean against the tree and survey his half-brother. The half-brother that he had never liked or trusted. The brother who had been born several years after Blade had been born and the half-brother that his father had always seemed to prefer over him. There was a lot of bitterness and resentment between the two because of that, and Blade knew that part of his distrust for Drake came from that, from being overlooked by their father.
More footsteps sounded. The Revants; Talon, Renall, Marik, and Jeval all stood there. Behind them stood Jenny, Jessica, Margie, and Tara.
Tara stepped forward, a weapon blaster in her hands. She spoke quietly, “Who are you and why are you here?”
Drake spoke. “I am his brother. He would never admit that, but it’s true. And I am here to take you to Tralam. You should know that were probably all going to die. In fact, I’m pretty sure we’re all going to die.”
Jessica said, “Do you know that ever since I was taken from a slaver ship, just about every man I have met has told me that he’s pretty sure we are all going to die?”
Margie said, “Men. Always believing the worst.”
Talon said, “I can’t believe you just said that.”
Jenny put in, mildly, “I think they’re right. I mean, death is the great equalizer. It lets nobody escape.”
Drake threw up his hands. For a moment, Blade felt a bit of spiteful satisfaction at the flash of bewilderment on Drake’s features. He also felt a streak of sympathy. He had been in that position, and he didn’t envy Drake for being in it just then.
Tara stepped forward. Her hair burned like fire and Blade’s heart pounded hard as he looked at her. She was his. His and he wanted to be there for her, to be alive with her. To be with her until the entire world blew apart, and the universe too.
Tara asked, “Why Tralam? What’s there?”
Drake shook his head, “I don’t know what’s there or why we have to go. I just know that our father believed that if we could enter, we could break the very heart and mind of the Federation from within the walls there.”
Talon stepped closer. His weapons gleamed. “Why would he think that?”
Drake sighed. “He did not tell me all. He had intel, something he found. I don’t know what it was because he destroyed it and would not tell me all of it. He just said, when he decided to turn all the way to this side, that if he fell, that going there would be the way to save this universe from destruction and darkness.”
Margie said, “There’s fairly melodramatic.”
Tara said, “He didn’t trust you. Did he?”
Drake’s features were outlined by the moon again. A thin sliver of pain laced his voice. “No. He never did. I was not his favorite son, but his favorite son, the one he would have trusted to tell what he had found, had gone to the other side, and by the time they reconnected, Father was not sure that son would understand. So he told me part. I wish he had told me more.”
The world turned upside down. Blade stood there, confused and uncertain for the first time in his adult life. Trusting Drake was stupid. Believing in an old tale that was probably not even true was stupider yet.
Believing that was his father’s favorite son was the dumbest thing he could do—ever. His father had disowned him.
But had he?
Had he really? He had kept him alive. Had risked his own life and the life of his other son to keep him alive and now there was this mission, this mission that he did not trust in and did not believe in but seemed to be the only thing that his father had ever asked of him in return for all that he had done.
