Music drifted from the speakers. It was not too loud and it was soothing, the kind you would play to relax. You could even hear the sound of waves in the background. Yet it did nothing to appease the man’s troubled thoughts.

  Zax sat at his desk, arms crossed, staring at his blank TriVid screen. There were so many factors he needed to take into account. But what bothered him most was how this was forcing him to speed things up. His plans had been carefully laid out. He’d worked on them for years—decades, even. Rushing things would make it easier to slip up. But he was so close now that it might not matter.

  A tingling sensation in his head told him someone was trying to reach him. With a grunt, he pressed two fingers against his temple.

  “Yes?”

  Willen’s features appeared, floating against his retina.

  “Sir, I have news about the breach.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “It seems the perpetrator is trying to uncover your identity.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “They have been spending a lot of time combing through the history of the company, with a special interest in the people at the top. Since it is no secret who owns—with your pardon, who officially owns Apanax, I can only assume they are looking for hidden partners.”

  Zax squinted. “Have they found anything?”

  “Your name appears on none of the legal paperwork, so it is doubtful they’ve unconvered that much. There is evidence, however, that Zintra and Deric received financial help from an undisclosed source and that a transfer of power likely occurred.”

  “And they found this evidence?”

  “They have.”

  “Damn it. Alright. Do we know who this joker is?”

  “We have not identified them yet. They are pretty good at covering their tracks.” Willen grinned. “But the people I hired are better. It’s only a matter of time. So far, we’ve tracked the data flow to Domnach—an insignificant world at the edge of the Imperium. Likely just another proxy, but we... Sir?”

  On hearing the name of that world, where he had wasted so many years of his life, Zax’s jaw had tightened and his fists clenched.

  “Good job,” he said. “Keep digging and let me know if you find anything else.”

  “Will do.”

  He dropped his hands to the desk and frowned.

  Domnach.

  It couldn’t be a coincidence.

  But he’d taken care of Bahrmi, so she couldn’t have... He straightened in his chair, eyes narrowing. Her son. Of course. The man had never liked him. Not that he cared. The question, however, was why would Esselius Crane be sniffing around Apanax? Did he already know Zax was involved with the company, or did he just suspect? And if he knew, how did he know?

  He drummed his fingers on the desk as he pondered over this.

  Grunting, he stood and walked into the living room. He turned the holonews on and stepped into the kitchen to pour himself some zestri.

  The voice of the news anchor drifted to him as he took a sip from his glass.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “—three worlds in very different sectors of the Imperium. While the High Seat has declined to comment, analysts confirm the invaders are no longer going in a straight line and their targets seem more random now.”

  Zax walked back to the living room and considered Athissia’s somber expression. Though she did not say it out loud—and he could only commend her for it—it was easy to guess what she was thinking... and what no doubt the entire High Seat and half the Imperium were thinking. No world was safe. These creatures could attack anywhere, and there would be no warning.

  “The Palace has been quiet since this change of strategy,” the anchor continued. “Many have suggested the government is preparing a massive strike against the invaders. Senator Noori has argued that the Conclave would need to fill its vacant seat before making such a rash move.”

  Athissia kept talking, but Zax no longer heard any of her words.

  Vacant seat? What vacant seat?

  He rushed back to his TriVid screen, turned it on, and searched for the latest news. Reading about Marquel’s suicide, he leaned back and crossed his arms.

  This could be the break I needed, he thought. What was the name of that fellow I met the other day?

  After a few minutes, it came back to him.

  Zax raised his arm and tapped on his wristpad. Once connected to the senatorial registry, he entered the name of Thoolan Corash. He scrolled through the data and stopped when he found the man’s TransID. With a swipe of his right hand, he made the call.

  “Hello?” came the little man’s voice. “Who’s there?”

  “Zax Iden. We met at Vadesh’s party.”

  “Oh. Yes. Senator. I remember you. How can I help?”

  Zax smiled. “It’s more about how I can help you, my good sir.”

  The other blinked. “Excuse me?”

  “Marquel’s passing is a tragedy, of course, but the government cannot function properly if the Conclave is not in full force.”

  Corash’s demeanor shifted, all expression vanishing, like he’d turned into some robot.

  “I see. If you wish to apply, I will have a form sent to you. It takes two months to proc—”

  “No, no, no. You misunderstand, sadan. I am going to help you. The Imperium needs a full Conclave. Not in six months, not in four, not in two. Right now.” Corash frowned, but Zax did not give him the opportunity to respond. “Let me reassure you that I am perfectly suited for the job. I have both the experience and the knowledge required. More to the point, you do not have a choice.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Consider this, sadan. The Imperium is at a critical juncture. These invaders are invisible. They could be anywhere. Even as we speak, they could be readying to strike Assalin itself.” The other man shuddered at the thought. “This is not a time for careful consideration, for pontification, or coy maneuvering. On the contrary. This is a time for action—for brash decisions and quick resolves. Has anyone else come forward as I have?”

  Corash frowned. “We have received a few applications—”

  “So that is a no.”

  “Look now, senator, this is highly irregular—”

  “And the invasion isn’t?”

  “That’s not the point!”

  “Isn’t it?”

  “It’s not like the government cannot function with one vacant seat. The Emperor, as you know, makes all final calls.”

  “Of course he does. But, as you know just as well, he cannot be everywhere and requires counsel on all matters.” He raised a hand when he saw Corash was about to interrupt him. “Do you know, sadan, why there are five seats in the Conclave?”

  Startled by the question, the man stammered. “I... Uh... I... It’s just... It’s, you know, tradition.”

  “No, sadan. It’s not just tradition. There are three reasons. First, it needs to be an odd number, so votes can never be a draw. Second, it could not be three and it could not be seven, so it had to be five. Seven would be too many, increasing the risk of corruption and outside influence, while three would have made it too inconsequential. More importantly, and this is the third reason, the number five is a symbol. It represents the five arms of the Imperium. The government, the army, the scientists, and the people.”

  “That’s only four,” remarked Corash.

  Zax smiled. “You are mistaken, sadan. The people count as two. The working class and the others. The children, the ill, the destitute, all those who depend on us to survive. They, I would argue, are the most important arm of all. So while you may think the government can function without a full Conclave, you are technically wrong.”

  The little man stared at him for a moment, then closed his eyes and shook his head.

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this. Very well, senator, you win. I will support your candidacy. Mind, you will still need to fill out that form. I cannot single-handedly make you a member of the Conclave, so the others will need the data to vote. I will, however, stress the urgency of the matter to them.”

  Zax tapped on his desk. “I am concerned that might still be too slow.”

  Corash grunted. “No, senator, it will be quick. You can expect an answer within twenty-four hours. I sent you the document while we were speaking. It should be on your wristpad. Get it back to me as soon as you can and I will do my part.”

  The man cut the communication.

  Zax scowled. He tapped on his wristpad and found the form. Read through it quickly, snorted, and started filling it up.

  That went better than I expected, he thought.