Noble Lies

by Gary Inbinder

Prologue, part 1; part 2
Chapter 1, part 1
appear in this issue.

Chapter 1

part 2 of 2

That night, lying next to him in bed, Aurelia whispered, “The sick are the greatest danger for the healthy....” Her words staggered him like a sucker punch; his gut tensed as it did going into combat.

Painfully, he controlled himself, and responded, “...it is not from the strongest that harm comes to the strong, but from the weakest.”

I.S.P Agent Aurelia Finn briefed Ludwig on his assignment. He repressed feelings of betrayal and resentment; they remained hidden, like pornography buried in the depths of a dark closet.

Aurelia and Ludwig sat on the cool, soft silk-sheeted bed, a space between them implying a lost sense of trust.

“When did you last see your parents, Major Ludwig?”

“Eleven years ago, at my graduation from the Silver Academy. Why do you ask?”

Aurelia responded to Ludwig’s question, with another question. “Isn’t it true you were raised by the Republic; that in fact, your natural parents have played little or no part in your education and upbringing?”

* * *

Ludwig’s parents were shadows of a previous life. However, more than bringing him into this world, they were instrumental in forming his character. As a young boy, his father took him hunting, teaching him how to stalk and kill an elusive prey. His father also taught Ludwig the art of single combat.

One memory of his parents surpassed all others in vivid significance. On the morning of his thirteenth birthday, a hot, muggy summer day, his father took him to a clearing in the forest to practice fencing with wooden swords. At thirteen, Ludwig stood over six feet tall, weighed one hundred and eighty pounds, was tough as whipcord, and skilled in the martial arts.

At the beginning of their match, his father said, “Hold nothing back; fight as if your life depended on it.” The contest began, and Ludwig more than held his own, beating back his father’s cuts and thrusts with fierce counterattacks. After several minutes of combat, it seemed as though Ludwig might win, when a mental error gave his father an opening and Ludwig went down.

Writhing on the ground like a wounded animal Ludwig suffered the worst beating of his life, his father thrashing him with his wooden sword. Before loosing consciousness, he heard his father say,

“In this world, the strong survive, and the weak go under. If you are going to be a weakling, better that you die now.”

Ludwig recovered quickly, thanks in part to his mother’s tender care; it was the closest they had been since she weaned him. That fall, he went to the Silver Academy where he excelled in all his studies, especially his military training. He graduated with honors, near the top of his class; both his parents attended, weeping with pride as he marched in review carrying the student Regimental colors. He had not seen or heard from them since.

* * *

“Cut the crap, Aurelia. You have my orders; give them to me.”

Aurelia frowned; Ludwig thought he saw a tear forming in the corner of an eye; she quickly brushed it away. Reaching out with her right hand she gently stroked his hair; this gesture, once so welcome, now seemed cold and repellant, like the caress of a ghost. “I’m sorry, Luddy. Your parents are traitors; they’ve collaborated with the Algolians. You’re ordered to kill them.”

Ludwig was beyond being shocked. “If they’re traitors, why doesn’t the I.S.P. arrest them, have them charged and tried?”

“You’re a hero. The publicity of an arrest and trial discredits both you and the Republic. As a Gold Citizen, you’re getting a chance to serve the state and at the same time vindicate your honor. Your parents will die in an accident, and your name will remain untarnished.”

“I see; it’s a test, isn’t it? Saving a company of the Republican Guard, and leading a counterattack resulting in a great victory isn’t enough.”

“I’m afraid that’s true. We Golds must prove ourselves every day.” Aurelia moved closer, her fragrant warmth filling the space between them. “And Luddy, for what it’s worth, these last two weeks were very real for me.”

Ludwig succumbed to her presence; he held her, kissed her soft, sun-bronzed neck just below the ear, and whispered, “For me, too, Aurelia... for me too.”

* * *

Following his parents’ funeral, Ludwig checked into a suite at the Capital City Intergalactic Aureus Hotel. Officially, he remained on duty as an I.S.P. Major, and headquarters extended his furlough two weeks. Aurelia, a Lieutenant Colonel, remained his immediate I.S.P. superior and contact.

Ludwig’s suite, like the rooms at the Resort, provided Gold Class luxuries and conveniences he’d never known. Furthermore, he had virtual carte blanche, enjoying his suite, meals, drinks and all other amenities gratis. Nevertheless, despite all distractions, his participation in his parents’ assassination weighed heavily on his conscience.

Why,” he thought, did the Republic order me to kill my parents? Why question my loyalty, and put me through such a test? Why did Aurelia use sex to manipulate me? Relaxing in a comfortable armchair in his fortieth story penthouse suite, listening to soft, ersatz classical mood music, sipping his favorite single malt scotch, he gazed through a large plate-glass window into the crepuscular Capital City sky.

Thousands of tiny lights glimmered, dotting the skyline and crawling like white ants on black earth, along the hover-car thoroughfares, across freeways and monorail lines. He could see the stony beach one mile to the north, and beyond, a purple sea with rippling waves sparkling in the moonlight.

A videophone sitting on a glass tabletop next to his armchair bleeped Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” Ludwig pushed the answer button, and was surprised to see Lieutenant Dax.

“Hi Luddy; I was sorry to hear about your folks. I’m in town, on leave, and I thought I’d look you up. Hope I’m not disturbing you?”

Ludwig put down his scotch, and politely answered, “Not at all. Where are you staying?”

“Here, in the hotel. I have a room on the twentieth floor. Do you feel up to a couple of drinks in the Sky Bar?”

Since the funeral, Ludwig had remained incommunicado. The staff and the guests at the hotel knew who he was. When he ventured outside his suite their expressions of sympathy coupled with a morbid curiosity and hero-worshipping annoyed him. Nevertheless, he welcomed the opportunity to speak to a sympathetic friend. “Of course Dax,” he replied, “Meet you in the Sky Bar in half an hour?”

Dax smiled broadly. “You bet, see you there.”

Ludwig and Dax sat at a small, stainless steel and glass table next to the Sky Bar’s panorama window. A spectacular Capital City skyline glittered incandescently in the ebony darkness. Soft electronic techno-pop issued from surround-sound speakers, punctuated by the murmuring chatter of bar patrons and the tinkle of glasses and ice.

A raven-haired, café au lait skin-toned female android in a skimpy gold lamé costume took their orders. “My name’s Bambi, sir. I’m so sorry for your recent loss.” Then, in a softly seductive voice, and with an ingratiating smile, she added, “If there’s anything else you need, please ask for me.”

Without looking up, Ludwig muttered “Thanks,” and then watched her as she walked to the bar. Turning back to look at Dax, he added, “As if ’droids had feelings.”

Dax smirked, answering, “Feelings or not, I wouldn’t mind having that one in my room tonight.”

Ludwig grimaced, and looked out the window. “Sorry, Dax. I haven’t been much in the mood lately.”

Dax gave Ludwig a pat on the shoulder. “Come on, Luddy, you’ll get over it. I lost my folks on the Hyperion; shit happens.” An intergalactic luxury cruiser, the Hyperion disappeared in a hyperspace-jump accident two years earlier.

The attractive android server returned with their drinks, and Ludwig took a sip of scotch. After a moment, he looked Dax straight in the eye, and said, “I want to ask you something, in confidence.”

Dax put on a serious face, replying, “Of course, Luddy, you can count on me.”

“Our highest duty is to the Republic, but we also have our personal honor. For a Gold citizen, that means honor before everything.”

“That’s right, Luddy: honor first. But we must always obey our orders.”

Ludwig appeared troubled; he spoke with an urgency that took Dax by surprise. “That’s the problem, Dax. What if the Republic ordered us to do something that seemed dishonorable?”

Dax took a swig of Andromedan vodka and tonic, reflected a moment, and then responded, “If that were the case, I suppose I’d either obey orders or kill myself.”

Ludwig mumbled, “Thanks, that helps,” and took a long drink of scotch.

“Luddy, you’re too damn gloomy for a hero of the Republican Guard. A month from now you might be atomized by an Algolian blaster. Drink up, and we’ll order another round. Enjoy life, while you can.”

Ludwig smiled. “You’re right, Dax.” Ludwig caught the pretty android server’s eye, snapped his fingers, and shouted, “Hey, Bambi-droid; keep ’em coming.” The android smiled sweetly, and went to fetch more drinks.

Dax broke out in a big, toothy grin, slapped Ludwig’s arm, and said, “That’s the Luddy I know.” Taking another swig of vodka and tonic, he added, “By the way, sport, what’s up with you and Aurelia Finn?”

Ludwig’s joviality vanished. “I met her at the resort. She... she was very helpful with public relations and the press following the accident. Do you know her?”

Dax grinned. “We practically grew up together. She’s a real babe, Daddy’s darling, and a hotshot I.S.P. climber. Don’t get me wrong, sport; you could do a lot worse than Consul Finn’s little girl.”

The scotch was kicking in; Ludwig felt more comfortable. In a comradely, trusting mood, he asked, “Tell me, Dax, have you any advice concerning Aurelia?”

At that moment, the android returned with their drinks. Both Ludwig and Dax studied her lifelike anatomy as she slinked back to the bar. Dax took a sip of vodka, turned to Ludwig, and replied, “My advice, sport, is simple: go for it.”

To be continued...