Custo woke for the second time, but this time instead of the paralytic cold seeping through his body, he was warm, in a comfortable bed. Had he passed the Challenge? Was he back in the Alacanta Orphanage? Scared that he might see the neophytes dorm once more he slowly opened his eye.
He was in a small bedroom, but where? He slipped out of the bed and walked over to one of the two doors in the tiny room. It lead to a bathroom. He walked in and examined his new face in the mirror. The crash must have destroyed his left eye He now had a mechanical optronic one.
It had two dulled red lenses, one small and one big. It covered the left eye socket completely. His face had also changed. How long had he been in a coma for? There was no redness around the implant and no sign of scabs or other wounds. He ran out of the bathroom and burst through the other door into a long corridor. There were other doors like his own at regular intervals along the corridor. He jogged towards the window at the end and peered out. He was high off the ground and could see red ashen plains stretching away into the distance, broken by the occasional mountain range; the window was carved out of a sheer rock face.
The complex he was in must be underground like so many other mountain dwellings. That at least showed he was on Crete and not some other colony or station. It also showed him he would have to head up to hit the surface. He ran back down the corridor, found a junction and sprinted down it to find the way up. Stairs stretched spiralling up through the ceiling, probably to the surface, or at least one floor closer to it.
Custo took the stairs two at a time. He emerged in a huge hall. There were hundreds of doors, each wall littered with them. He picked one at random on the other side of the cavernous space and ran for it.
He emerged in at a central stair-case. And could hear noises further up. They sounded like the busy streets of Crete he was used to. He scaled the stairs a quick as he could in a mad rush for freedom. Blinking he emerged in an plaza, paved in mosaics with fountains glittering in Cretes harsh light. Custo wandered forward in amazement. He followed a hedge lined path to a huge black cast iron gate. A guard shack protected the entrance.
He edged forward, not sure if he would be stopped or ignored. The guard stepped out of the hut and barred his way. He was dressed in traditional Corsair uniform, with a side arm strapped to his thigh. The illusion of menace broke as his face split into a huge smile.
Ah yes we were informed you would probably be trying to get out. Custo right? He nodded. Yeah, word about yous spread quick through the estate. Punched Lazlo He laughed openly. Ah, he had it coming anyway. Anyhow Im under orders to transport you to the noble Don Carlos. Welcome home hermano.
Custo stood still, bemused. Home? Where exactly was home?
Custo was led down a winding maze of corridors by the guard who had introduced himself as Lazlos brother Joez. He was Lazlos elder brother who was both a pilot of the Brotherhood, and a security guard for the elite Corsair familys estates. Occasionally the walls would shake as a Titan or larger craft would take off. The hanger must be nearby. Custo was led to the corridor he had woken up in.
Now then little hermano, you wait in your room until the Don is ready for you. There is a screen in there, all the information you should need is on there. Just let it scan your finger-prints. With that Joez opened the door and propelled him into the room. Custo wandered over to the screen he had been told about and turned it on. A keyboard flipped out with a gel pad for finger-print identification. Custo shrugged and put his finger on the pad. A mechanical voice responded.
Welcome Custo Benitez. So, he had been added to the computer database and his fingerprints taken How long was he asleep for? He keyed in his first question to the queries box.
Computer, what is todays date? A scroll bar appeared at the top of the screen with the answer:
today it is the 18th of August, 808AS. Custo nearly collapsed, he had been in a coma for a whole year. No wonder he looked different and his wounds had healed. With shaking hands his typed his next question:
Where is this computer terminal located? Almost instantly the scroll bar at the top of the screen re-appeared:
This is computer terminal no. 01347 based in room C3/guest room of the Benitez estate.
So that was why Joez had said welcome home. The third question: Is it possible to find a compressed background of the Benitez familia? Despite his heritage, he had never been told of his past, only that his family was an ancient and noble one. The computer chimed.
Information requisition complete, processing A small hour glass appeared turning over and over. Information processed. Several files appeared on the screen. Custo opened the one entitled History by Rezemez Mesion, a scholar of the Corsair Bloodlines from Leon base.
The Benitez familia is a descendent of the sleeper ship Hispania. The sleeper ship was sabotaged during the early stages of flight resulting in four of the six engines being critically damaged. This caused the craft to swing dangerously off-course and head for the Omicron systems, instead of its chosen destination.
The Hispania discovered the planet Crete when it was dangerously low on fuel and deemed it habitable for human life, but un-colonisable for large scale population due to the lack of farmable land, vicious sand storms and volcanic activity. Roughly half the Hispanias passengers departed to the newly discovered planet. The Benitez family was then known as the Alvarez familia - a influential familia. Half the Alvarez familia stayed with the Hispania, who would later form the leadership of the hated enemies of the Corsairs, the Outcasts whilst the other half left for Crete with the other colonists.
Soon after landing, the settlers were plagued by both famine and disease, those who had remained with the Hispania were envied and resented. As members of the Alvarezs familia the Benitez were persecuted for their kins choice to stay with the Hispania, even accused of being the saboteurs on the Hispania. Eventually, the Cretian Alvarezs could no longer bear their name, they changed it to the noble Benitez familia.
Soon after a Rhineland expedition discovered Crete and landed. They were ambushed by the planets residents who were desperate to escape, the leaders of this attack being senior members of the Benitez familia. The ship was stolen and used to explore the surrounding system. Eventually the Corsairs as we had come to christen ourselves, discovered Bretonia.
The Houses inspired the ancestors to try and create an Empire, and Empire to rival any of the houses, to crush them even. The Empire expands even today with wars raging all across Sirius in the Corsair's name. However, an empire needs a single figure of authority. A single Benitez Elder was elected to become an Imperator of the council of Elders. It is a post traditionally held by a Benitez Elder even today. The modern Benitez bloodline is lead by the unwavering leadership of Don Carlos Benitez, who inherited the post from his late father. In a upcoming vote, it is believed he shall be elected as Imperator. Early polls show a overwhelming majority in favour of this action.
Custo finished reading dazzled. He closed the file and shut down the computer terminal, before flopping down on his bed. He was tired, and needed sleep. Being in a coma for a year seemed to have wasted his muscles, he was out of breath even now from his escape from the Benitez estate, and walk back. Still in his flight suit, he slipped under the beds covers and fell asleep. The Don could meet him in the morning
Custos eyes opened. He lay completely still, staring at the ceiling, recollecting the previous days events in his mind. He had to meet the Don He swung his legs out of bed and stood up. He was still in his flight suit, which now felt creased and uncomfortable.
He poked around the room looking at its contents. There was a wardrobe in the corner made of black metal, and the computer terminal bolted to the wall. The two doors were on the North and East walls, one leading to the corridor and the other to the bathroom. Custo picked the latter door and walked into the bathroom.
He washed his face to clear the haze of unconsciousness and studied his face once more in the mirror. The optronic eye seemed to be water-proof otherwise his smoking brains would be leaking out his ears whilst crackling with static electricity. On the note of the optronic eye, who paid for it?
They cost serious money with the technology originating from Kusari and his life savings wouldnt have got a fraction of one (not that his life savings would buy much, his savings had been invested in his parents ships, and when they were killed, well...) He towelled off his face and went back to the bedroom to have a look in the wardrobe.
There were more flight suits and a few of his clothes from the orphanage. They were too small for him now anyway. He took them out and binned them. He guessed someone wanted him to wear the flight suits, and thus fly. He shivered as he remembered what happened last time he flew. He took a fresh flight suit out of the wardrobe and got changed in the bathroom. Fresh clothes certainly felt better. He sat down on the end of his bed and waited for someone to call for him.
Several pilots were seated around a table in Cretes most renowned bar, the Pilots Bar. It was a frequent haunt of Brotherhood pilots and other defence forces. Drinks flowed as did information. At the moment the choice gossip of the day was the re-awakening of the young pilot who fell from the sky and survived.
A drink was slammed down on the table spilling frothy beer over the rim. The owner sat down and slouched down into his seat. He idly drank as his friends talked among themselves.
Hey, you know that kid that fell outa the sky, the one that was on the news a while ago? Well he woke up yesterday. The Corsair who spoke was slightly overweight and looked satisfied that he had managed to talk before his drinking companions. Another pilot put his pint down and settled down into his chair.
You know they say he fell from the upper atmosphere, the only thing that saved him was he slammed his thrusters on. Smart kid, no? The other pilots nodded sagely. The first speaker sat up again.
Still, he made a fair mess, right near some of our precious farms too. Did you see the debris in the wreckage area? Stuff everywhere, its a miracle he survived- thrusters or not. There was a general murmur of agreement.
I gotta say, I felt the impact, and I live in one of the mountain terraces in inner Crete. Im shocked he got out with only a messed up eye. One of the drinkers waved a waitress over and ordered another round of drinks.
They reckon hell take up the post of a Soldato. Maybe we will see him in space? A drinker who had until now said nothing spoke staring at each of his companions in turn.
He is of the Benitez bloodline. I myself was present to see him leave for his trial, he seemed fairly timid, but to show the initiative of using his thrusters in freefall. That shows one, talent and two, stupidity. The use of thrusters could have lead to the ship entering a spin, which it did, then propelling him to the ground even quicker. He was lucky. Either way he may to be too traumatised to even contemplate flying again. The other men nodded sadly before cheering themselves up with another round of drinks
Custo had got over the shock of his coma, his changed face, finding himself in the Benitez estates and his traumatic challenge. Now he had an itchy trigger finger and wanted to get back in the cockpit. The waiting was also boring him now He decided to stop waiting and go explore.
He walked over to the door that would lead out into the corridor and opened it a fraction to see if anyone was about. Nope, clear. He walked out and up the corridor. Where was the food hall? He was really hungry, the last meal he had was, a year ago actually! They must have been drip feeding him Custo shuddered at the thought of a tube sticking out of his arm pumping stolen synth paste into him. Eck He sniffed the air, hunting for the alluring sent of honest food. Nothing.
Custo found himself in a large food court. Other people were bustling around him, occasionally throwing him curious glances. The place had a buzzing atmosphere with conversation flowing back and forward like the tide. The majority of the tables were full but a few around the edges were empty, or only had a few occupants. There was also the smell of food wafting from one of the halls distant corners, with a crowd thronging around it, he guessed it was the serving area. He worked his way over through the increasingly think crowds towards the ever strong smells that were wafting towards him. He broke through to find a long queue spiralling back into the crowd. Custo sighed and fought his way back into the masses to find the end.
Half and hour later Custo had a steaming bowl of Soup in his hands, tomato? Proberly not. The real thing was expensive and hard to find. Proberly a imitation produced by the corrupt companies of the houses, or a bio-engineered fruit of the Zoner bio-domes. Either way he was goning eat it. He was too hungry to be picky. He sighted a table and made for it. As he sat down a shadow fell on him. It was Joez. He looked tired and out of breath.
Hermano Custo! I thought I told you to stay in your room! The Don Carlos wishes to meet you. He looked deploringly at Custo who shrugged.
I was hungry and went to find some food. There was nothing to eat in the room so I went to find this place. He picked up his spoon and tried the soup. It actually wasnt too bad. Tasted tomatoey, even had herbs mixed in Posh! Sorry if I caused you any trouble
Joez shook his head and seated himself at the table, sitting opposite Custo. Hermano, in future please dont wonder off without telling anyone. Its a nightmare tracking down anyone around here. Dont do it again, ok? Custo nodded shamefaced. Joez smiled reassuringly. Ah well, I guess you were hungry. Finish it off and Ill take you to the Don.
The pair had battled their way out of the food hall, and were now making their way down a warren of corridors and passages. Joez felt it necessary to inform Custo about Don Carlos and make him even more nervous.
Don Carlos owns this whole estate you know. He brought it with his ascent to his rightful post as Don of the Benitez familia and imperator of the Council of Elders. He holds huge amounts of political power and has the last word on any argument in the Familia. I myself have only seen him three times in the six years I have acted as a guard on the Benitez estates. As much physical power he holds on the battlefield he has thrice that on the shadowy battlefields of diplomacy and negotiation. He is a very busy man and it is a true honour to meet him.
Custo was nervous to the point he was on the verge of throwing up. He was going to meet the leader of his family, a vastly powerful man. He was little but a newly initiated child! What had he done to deserve a visit to the Don? Maybe it was something to do with the parents he had never known, or the way he conducted himself on his challenge? The crash landing had been pretty spectacular, but that was luck not skill that had allowed him to survive, so it wasnt that either. He didnt know, but he was sure he was going to find out soon enough.
Custo found himself following Joez up a steep corridor, heading for the surface again. He burst out into orangey natural light again instead of the harsher artificial light given out by the glow strips that lined the ceilings. He was in another plaza like the one he had run into after his arrival at the Benitez estates. It was a lot like the previous plaza, but decorated with a fountain with mosaic tiling around it. It seemed strange, like a picture from a postcard of a Mediterranean resort back in Sol. Before the Coalitionary wars anyway. There was another building, even more immense than anything Custo had seen before it. Joez caught the look of awe on Custo face and explained.
The complex you have just been wandering around in was the public area of the Benitez estates. The place where pilots from far abroad can come and rest which is open to the public. This, he said gesturing at the palace in front of them, is Don Carlos private residence. It dwarfs the public complex, and even that was huge. He pointed to a pair of huge blast hardened oak doors. The oak tree had grown on Earth and was known for its strength. It must have taken a huge sum of money to acquire the precious wood, after all it was only bio-engineered on certain Bretonian planets - namely Cambridge. They are where we are heading, come on lets go. He set off for the doors with Custo trotting along behind.
As they approached the huge doors two guards materialised as if from no-where. Custo jumped, highly twitchy in his nervous state. Both the guards wore the black uniforms of the Corsair elite, the Cretian Guard.
They had a Badge of Honour sewn onto their left arms - a sign of attaining the rank of Ace. Such individuals were legendary in Corsair society. While it was the dream of every Creteian child to become a Titan pilot, it was the dream of every Titan pilot to become a Cretian Guard One of them took a step forward.
State your business in the State Benitez. What is your purpose and security status? Joez saluted him then took a step backwards.
I am Joez Rivera, House Guard of the perimeter. I have brought Initiate Custo here on orders of the Don. Custo noted his social status had changed from Neophyte to Initiate. Still Not the Pilot status he had hoped for. Maybe that would change soon? One of the black clad guards took out a data unit and entered a message which he sent. There was a bleep as another transmission was received. The guard nodded then pressed a button on a wrist unit. The huge oak doors opened slowly.
Joez you can return to your post. We will take hermano Custo from here. Joez saluted and marched away. One of the guards beckoned to him.
Follow. We will take you to one of the reception rooms One of the guards slipped inside back into the shadows of the vila. Custo followed him eagerly, he was going to meet the Don! Him, a mere Initiate! He was elated, maybe he knew his parents? He had so many questions
They turned down another corridor which was lined with large oil paintings of men and women in noble poses. He guessed they were ancestors and great pilots or leaders. At the end of the corridor there was a door, not as large as the huge blast door style oak doors at the entrance, but it looked a lot stronger. There were metal studs all over it, probably re-enforcing the structure, and a huge composite metal lock was set into it. No-one uninvited was getting in there without high explosives. The Guard withdrew a old looking key from one of his pockets and unlocked the door. He pushed it open and gestured to Custo to enter. This was it, this was the meeting!
Custo eagerly stepped forward into the dark shadowy room, leaving the guard at the door. There was a cool breeze blowing from inside. There must have been air-conditioning. It made a nice difference from Crete's usual stifling heat.
He looked around the large room as his eyes adjusted to the dim light. The room looked like any other room you could find on Crete, in fact, slightly lower class then the Orphanage's Masters chamber. It was clean and well presented, but at the same time sparse and unfitting for the stature of its inhabitants. The only words that sprung to mind were anti-climax. And this was the abode of the leader of his Familia? The Commendant of the Benitez fleets? He was slightly disappointed. He looked around again, and saw another door leading out. Seeing the emptiness of his current room, and the distinct lack of Don Carlos Benitez, he moved into the next room, which was more or less identical. Save one detail. There was a large screen set into the wall on the other side of the room. There was a wooden bench in front of it so Custo wandered over and sat down, keeping an eye on the screen.
There was a small popping noise and the room was bathed in a soft light. The screen had turned on and was now broadcasting static. There was a few seconds of static before the picture was righted and the face of a youthful man was projected onto the screen. The lips began to move, but the sound was delayed by a second.
Greetings hermano. I am Don Carlos Benitez, Commendant of the Benitez militia and Imperator of the Corsair Council. I am sorry that I could not attend personally, so I have left this recording. An unfortunate incident has occurred on Leon which has called me away. As a Benitez, you are a relative to me, however distant; as is every other Benitez you shall meet. Treat them as your brothers and sisters and they shall repay the favour.
[b]"You should know that we paid for your accommodation, and much to the envy of some of our younger members, your optronic eye. You should find it has some advantages over standard issue eyes. The man on the screen smiled briefly, before resuming a business like composure.
Someone will supervise you back to your accommodation in the Benitez estates, after all you are being moved from the guests dormitory. After you have been deemed physically well, military and flight training will resume. The other cadets should relish a new class-mate. Good luck hermano. I hope to hear good things.
The feed was terminated and Custo sat blinking in the gloom. So much for meeting the Don... He could have seen a video feed or a picture just by searching on that nifty computer in his room. Still, military and flight training sounded good. He stood and walked out towards the door.
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