Chapter 9

Kal stood up from the Secure Communications Terminal once the screen turned black, nodding to the attendant in acknowledgement and leaving the room. Sylla met him in the corridor, falling into step with the Baron as he headed toward the Palace.

“I take it you were successful?” The Governor asked, noticing the happy look on the Baron’s face.

“Mostly. The Marauders are in rough shape. They need our help as much as we require theirs. We’ll have to adjust our timelines.” Kal responded, explaining their circumstances.

Sylla had been shocked when he first told her about hiring mercenaries. She expected black-hearted thugs that would be as bad as the criminals they would be fighting. Until Kal had told her their history, how he would trust them with his life, she had warmed to the idea but was still wary of the concept.

Sylla would reserve judgment until they met.

“You should get some rest. It’s late, and I’ve scheduled the meeting with the Bank first thing in the morning.” Sylla suggested, guiding him down a series of hallways and stairwells. Kal nodded at the suggestion.

The day had been draining, with multiple Jumps by Starship to reach Caledon, only to return to find his home in ruins. He wanted to push through. There was too much to do! But he knew the Governor was right. Tomorrow would bring challenges, and he would need to be well-rested to face them.

They came to his room, a space only slightly larger than the Governor’s office. It was sparsely decorated, with bare walls, only a small desk, a single wooden chair, and a tiny bed. Kal had thought the Governor was playing a trick on him when he first saw it until he had toured the rest of the facilities. The room was the best they could do.

“Goodnight, Lord Baron.” Sylla said, her tone formal and punctuated with a slight bow. The difference in her behaviour was noticeable after her initial coldness when they had first met. Kal smiled at the sight.

“Goodnight, Governor Sylla.” Kal responded, slowly shutting the door as she walked away. Taking off his worn and faded black uniform jacket Sylla had found for him, he hung it over the back of the wooden chair. He walked to the large windows, looking out over the estate.

The sun had fallen while he was talking to the Marauders, the buildings around them black in the night. They couldn’t even afford to repair their facilities or keep them lit at night. Another sign of how far they had fallen, slapping him in the face.

With a sigh, Kal prepared for bed, hoping the meeting in the morning would make them financially more secure. Laying in the small bed, his feet hanging over the edge, Kal pulled out the Datapad he had borrowed from Sylla.

Tapping on the screen, he began to search his private accounts within remote information servers from before he had gone to stasis. Unlike his financial accounts, these were undiscovered by Imperial Technicians and located outside the borders of the former Duchy.

He would need weapons if he were going into battle against the Imperial Bank tomorrow. Luckily, as he had told Talha earlier, he had hidden a few valuable things away.

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤

Merrick Tan was late.

Sylla scheduled the meeting for early morning, but as the sun climbed higher into the sky, the Banker was nowhere to be seen. Kal paced the ruins of the Palace Meeting Hall, the perfect venue for their meeting, in his opinion. The state of the Hall was a sign of their dire financial straights, staring him right in the face.

“I told you, he doesn’t feel you have anything to offer the Bank. He’s already making an absolute fortune off the criminals and corporations on Caledon. Why would he risk that by working with you? He’s a toad, playing both sides. Laughing as he loans us more money, all while financing those working against us.” Sylla stated from where she sat.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

One of her aides had brought her a chair, a simple stool with a bit of padding, and she wriggled uncomfortably. They had been waiting for hours. Kal refused to leave the Palace until he met with the Banker.

“What are you going to say to him?” Sylla asked, not for the first time. She had been curious about it all morning. Kal seemed confident that he would reach an accord with the Imperial Bank. He refused even to consider the possibility of failure.

“I’m going to rely on his sense of morality and desire to do good for the people.” Kal stated, not pausing his pacing. Sylla let out a loud snort at the comment, echoing off the Palace walls. Kal stopped walking at the unladylike sound, looking at the Governor with a wide grin.

Sylla put her hand over her mouth, her cheeks reddening. For a moment, she forgot she was in the presence of Nobility. Kal’s patient and tolerant attitude had made her relax, sometimes ignoring decorum.

“I apologize, Milord. That sounds like it will be an excellent plan.” Sylla said, giving a small, seated bow. This time, Kal was the one to scoff at the insincerity of her words.

Before they could continue their conversation, one of Sylla’s aides walked into the Hall. Her shoes crunched on the thick layer of debris and dirt accumulated in the room. Giving an awkward bow, unused to the custom, she reported to Kal.

“Milord, Merrick Tan has arrived,” She hesitated before continuing. “He has an entourage.”

“Show them in.” Kal said, not concerned by the presence of others sitting in their meeting. It would only strengthen his argument when the time came.

Half a dozen guards entered first, wearing combat armour and visorless helmets that obscured their faces. They wielded lasguns, long-barreled rifles that looked brand new. Kal frowned as he saw them, his body tense and ready.

Carrying a weapon in the presence of a Noble, except for his personal House Guard, was a capital offence. Merrick Tan was already displaying his disregard for Kal and hadn’t even entered the room yet.

Finding the meeting hall to be secure, the front row of guards parted slightly, revealing a trio of figures in the center. Two were women, voluptuous and stunningly beautiful. Kal could spot the expensive clothing they wore, obviously imported from off-world based on the material.

Wedged between the two gorgeous women was a man. Merrick Tan was shorter, less than six feet, and wearing a business suit. He was handsome, with short brown hair and bright green eyes. What stood out most to Kal was the waxy appearance of his skin, the sheen of sweat on his face and the slight shakiness in his hands.

Kal’s father had suffered from similar flaws, barely noticeable unless one knew the signs and symptoms. It came from years of indulging in vices. Drugs of every kind and enough alcohol to drown cities took a toll on the body. There were some things that even the most expensive rejuvenation procedures and genetic enhancements couldn’t eliminate. They left their mark on the body.

Merrick Tan noticed Kal’s frown, his gaze flickering from his guards to the Baron before he plastered a slimy smile on his face. With a gesture, he ordered his guards to stand by the back wall. He walked forward a few more steps with his escorts before they stopped midway to Kal.

Walking alone, Tan reached the bottom of the steps to a platform that had once held the Ducal Throne. With a slight tilt of his head, Tan presented himself before Kal.

“Baron Caledon. I am Merrick Tan, Chief Executive Officer of Caledon’s Branch of the Imperial Bank. How may I be of service.” Tan spoke, looking for a chair and frowning when he noticed none. He was about to voice his displeasure when Kal interrupted him.

“Mr. Tan. It’s good of you to show up finally. I’ve been eager to speak with you since I returned. We have much to discuss.” Kal said, striding slowly towards the Banker. Tan’s frown changed to a sneer at Kal’s words.

“Baron, I believe I know what you are hoping to accomplish. Unfortunately, the terms of Caledon’s debt are not up for negotiation. We have a legally binding contract between your government and our Bank. The Governor signed in your absence, an unfortunate necessity due to your legal troubles. But it is legitimate, under the name of our Emperor.” Tan said, his tone regretful, even as he smiled at Kal’s current predicament.

“Mr. Tan. You misunderstand my intentions regarding today. You’re correct that I wanted to speak to you about righting a wrong. But you’re mistaken about which wrong I am seeking to rectify. My objective is to repair the harm caused by my Father, to absolve his sins.” Kal said, strolling down the steps where his Father’s Throne had once been, his shoes crunching on the debris as he spoke.

He stopped in front of Tan, who seemed confused by what Kal was saying. What did the dead Duke’s sins have to do with the Imperial Bank?

“One of my Father’s greatest sins was extracting vast wealth from the planets under his control during the Rebellion. An obscene amount of capital. He beggared thousands of worlds to pay for his war. And do you know where he placed that money, Mr. Tan?” Kal asked, leaning forward until he was in the Banker’s face.

Behind them, the guards shifted nervously, unsure if they should intervene.

“The Imperial Bank. Despite the Emperor’s order forbidding your Bank from having dealings with the rebels. Isn’t that interesting, Mr. Tan?” Kal questioned.

“The Imperial Bank, which the Emperor owns, violated his command and worked with my Father to supply and arm the Rebellion.” Kal finished, watching as Tan’s face paled at the implication.