The Legend of ZERO: Forgotten by Sara King

Author:Sara King [King, Sara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Character Force Publications
Published: 2022-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 27: Politics

Proceedings were almost over for the day, the entire Regency restless to be finished, when the Bajna Representative turned on his podium and stood on three long, jointed black legs, his six arms splayed around him in an impressive, writhing halo.

Fred sat up immediately. The Bajna were notorious for never speaking unless asked a direct question, so Representative Keerstan’s unprompted interruption was all that more poignant.

As Keerstan scanned the Regency, his six iridescent, blue-green eyes flashed. A series of pops and clicks echoed across the room, followed by the Watcher’s dutiful translation at Fred’s podium.

“Despite what you all believe, I am not stupid.”

The entire Regency fell into utter silence.

Allowing that to settle in, Keerstan went on disdainfully, “I know that, for some reason, a plot has been lowered over my head to oust me from the Trade chair, despite my undisputable success in balancing out the trade inefficiencies of the universe and maintaining fairness for all.”

Fred could barely hear the Bajna over the pounding of his heart. Had Keerstan somehow used his economic genius to piece together what Sky and Forgotten were doing?

“My people are creatures of few words—we seek facts and figures to forge our world. Still, it has not gone unnoticed to me that Kaj’nol has generously offered me the chance to retire every session for the past two rotations.”

“So you are accepting?” the Huouyt Representative demanded.

“Two rotations of hassling and haranguing, cajoling and coercing, things as childish as notes slipped under my door, as inane as the passing comment overheard at dinner—all of this has made me wonder if perhaps the Regency has lost its mind.” He paused again. “…or forgotten its history.”

When no one spoke, Keerstan continued, “Congress went five hundred and twenty-eight thousand turns without the Bajna. In those turns, economies fluctuated wildly, their death throes causing civilizations to crumble, planets to be abandoned, whole societies to starve.”

“And you’ve served us well,” Kaj’nol said, sounding irritated. “Perhaps, though, it is time to let another rule the Trade Chair. A million turns of Bajnan Representatives overseeing trade seems to be an imbalance in itself, don’t you think?”

Keerstan clacked his mandibles and ignored the Huouyt Representative as if he hadn’t spoken. “When Congress found the Bajna, we were a blessing you had not foreseen. You gave us the one and only pardon to the Draft, our only duty within your culture to oversee your economies. You sent a Bajna to every planet, every city. And you sent one to Congress.”

Keerstan glared out over the Regency seats, his large round eyes almost glowing with irritation. “Immediately, your economy stabilized. Every planet, even the furthest and most remote, began to prosper. Congressional ships never ran out of fuel, soldiers never went without food. You had so much surplus that you were able to build Koliinaat—the greatest achievement the universe has yet known. Aliphei can attest to that, if you are too lazy to research it.”

Up in his seat, the big blue form of the First Citizen shifted, watching Keerstan with increasing interest.

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