This is the 11th and final free sample of Oranje, I’ll be posting up to the end of Chapter Ten for free. You can buy it here, or if you’re interested in getting a review copy of the book, you can contact me via email or on twitter (links to both on my website).
Links to the previous free samples:
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Isi tapped her fingers on the arm of the sofa. Pablo and Magnus sat on the sofa opposite. Pablo looked deep in thought, his eyes closed, and Magnus couldn’t stop fidgeting.
“Have you seen the size of the crowd?” asked Magnus.
“It looked pretty big,” she said.
He stood and paced for a bit before sitting down again.
Pablo opened his eyes. “Everyone wants to see the Three in person; this is a historic occasion.”
“I can’t believe we were approved by such a huge majority. I know Representative Melo said we would, but I still didn’t believe him.”
“Well, you should have.” Melo emerged from behind a wall at the far end of the room. Magnus stood up again briefly before sitting back down, hands impatiently resting on his lap.
“Congratulations to you all; it is well deserved.”
“When will the ceremony begin?” Isi shifted forward in her chair.
“Soon enough, but we have some time to talk beforehand.” Melo sat down in one of the other chairs. “More information has come to light that you need to know about.”
“What is it?” Magnus clasped his hands.
“Thanks to the pseudos, we can finally put a name to the mysterious outsiders: the New Commonwealth of Man.”
“New Commonwealth?” said Pablo.
“Oh fuck,” said Isi, one hand over her face. “They’re trying to recreate the old Commonwealth of Earth.”
“That would be the obvious conclusion to draw from their name, and their actions would certainly fit with that.”
“The Commonwealth collapsed over five centuries ago. Why would they be trying to bring it back?” she asked.
“Because to many, it represents the glorious past of our species, and people like trying to recreate past glories,” said Melo. “It’s difficult for us to grasp as Curators, for we don’t cling to the past as others do, but we must try. Everyone learns about the old commonwealth and a united humanity that disappeared with the Collapse. They hear about the old times characterised by rampant prosperity and technological development. It’s a tempting image for many, and who knows how many people would jump at the chance to try and bring it back.”
“That’s why they’ve been attacking worlds, isn’t it? They want to try and reunite the galaxy, and I bet they won’t let anyone stand in their way.” She shook her head. “Well, that just makes everything a lot worse.”
“How come?” asked Magnus.
“Because people who are motivated by their beliefs tend to be a lot harder to negotiate with,” said Pablo. “If they’re willing to attack planets to achieve their goals, I doubt diplomacy is high on their priority list.”
Isi puffed out her cheeks. The sofa squeaked as Magnus shifted around.
“We still don’t know much about the history of this New Commonwealth, but I wanted to keep you all up to date,” said Melo. “I agree with Isi that it makes your jobs harder. It also makes the mission that much more important.”
“Have the Republic or Union responded to us yet?” she said.
“They have, and the response has been as expected. They’re not willing to listen to us.”
They sat in silence, Magnus’s foot tapping away.
“Then we should focus on who can help us.” Isi rubbed her brow. “I know Magnus and I have started to draft a list of people to visit.”
“We have also compiled a list for you, but there are two standout names on it. General Marienne Kassar of the Union and Governor Violeta Amar of Arausio,” said Melo. “They appear to be best placed to help us.”
She nodded along with the others. “The general was on our list as well. She has the closest military force to Oranje. She could help find out for sure what happened.”
“She’s a good candidate. My only concern with her would be her current standing with her superiors,” he said. “However, I don’t believe we can be picky right now.”
“Our search had been focusing on people who could visit Oranje, so we’ve not read much on Governor Amar,” said Magnus.
“She’s the most influential governor in September and has access to a lot of resources. But much like General Kassar, she is sidelined within her nation, which could make things difficult.”
“There isn’t anything easy about what we are trying to do,” said Pablo. “If they are the best candidates, we should visit them.”
“Take your time to think about it. You don’t have to decide right now. I’ll try and get a few more names for you to consider. There are still a few days to go before you can leave. Oh, that reminds me, Isi.” He smiled at her. “I think you will enjoy this piece of news. The Word is being prepared for your use and has been fitted with some new engines: Draco-500s.”
Her fingers stopped tapping.
“The Word?”
“That is correct,” he said.
“You mean the legendary craft of the original Three?”
“That’s the one.”
“You put my engines on it?”
“Well, yours are the best.”
“I, well, I… don’t know what to say to that.”
“That must be a first,” said Magnus, which even got a laugh from her.
“You should leave when The Word is ready, so try and finalise your plans before you go. You will have some time on The Word to plan, but that should be for final preparations, not major changes.”
“I think we can all come to an agreement on what we will do,” said Pablo.
“You can always vote amongst yourselves on what you want to do, but I’d hope you all can agree for now, or else it may not be a good sign of things to come,” said Melo.
“I’m sure we’ll work something out,” she said, smiling at Magnus and Pablo.
Magnus smiled back; Pablo sat still.
Melo craned his neck to get a glimpse out a window. “Looks like everyone is waiting for us. Are you all ready?”
“Yes,” said Isi and Pablo as Magnus nodded his head rapidly, tapping his foot on the floor again.
“Then it’s time for the ceremony of the Three.”
Isi took a deep breath as they rose from their seats and moved to the main exit from the White Elephant. The doors were translucent from the inside, and they could see what looked like a sea of people waiting for them on the grass outside. A stage had been erected beneath the statue of the Three.
“Do you all remember your cue?” said Melo.
They nodded.
“Good. Then I shall begin.” He opened the doors, and a wall of sound hit them before they closed behind him. They had queued at the door, with Isi at the back, but her height gave her a great view of the crowd. It was a bewildering array of colours, with hair and clothes in more styles than she could ever possibly hope to list. Pseudos were in the crowd as well, and also on screens around the square. The pseudos appeared in forms both human and others much, much stranger. She even spotted one that seemed to be a mathematical formula. The crowd applauded and cheered as Melo walked towards them. Many people held their mobiles and tablets up to record the event, and camera drones hovered in the air. Reaching the stage, he waved to the crowd and waited for everyone to fall silent.
“My fellow Curators of September, today is a momentous day. We face a challenge unlike any in our history. A hostile force, the New Commonwealth of Man, is attacking worlds. Nuking them as they go, they’re trying to hide the truth from us. We believe there is about to be a full-scale invasion of September. Nothing like this has happened since the Collapse.
“Our focus always has been and always will be protecting the Net so that every human has access to it, but sometimes that is not enough. We’ve decided that we cannot sit on the sidelines this time and let events happen around us. We must warn everyone in September of what is coming so they can be prepared. We have decided to send out the Three. It’s a rare occasion in our history that this happens, but nothing could be more appropriate given the seriousness of what we face.
“We choose three of our own to go out and speak on behalf of us all, to plead our case and do what they can to make a difference. But this mission is different; there has been nothing like this before. This Three will set out not just to warn, but to make allies and help make sure this threat from outside September is stopped. If they fail, millions will die. If they succeed, they will have changed the course of history. It is a heavy responsibility to put on anyone’s shoulders, but we must do it all the same. Three people were put forward to fulfil this crucial role, and you’ve approved them with your votes. It is time to meet your Three!”
That was their cue. The doors opened, and they walked out in a line. The only noise she could hear was the clicking of mobiles and tablets taking pictures as flashes filled the crowd. The crowd seemed to swirl and move in front of them. At the stage, she moved to the left, with Pablo standing in the middle and Magnus on the right. A pair of people dressed in white stood behind each of them, with baskets in their arms.
“Isidora Jain, Magnus Kimura, and Pablo Khanna: these are your Three,” said Melo.
“Isi.” She tried to suppress a grin. “That’s my name.”
There was laughter and giggles from the crowd. Melo just raised an eyebrow at her.
“Apologies.” He did a mock bow in her direction. “Isidora Jain, who is known as Isi.”
More laughter and cheers came from the crowd.
“These are the Three. They represent the best of us. I can’t think of three people who could do a better job than them. However, they are not the Three yet. First, they must take the oath of the Three.”
He paused to allow the crowd a moment of applause and cheering. He turned around and walked closer to Magnus. He was staring at some fixed point in the distance.
“Do you agree to take on the role of the Three and all the responsibilities that come with it?”
“We do,” they all said in unison.
“Do you agree to do everything possible to fulfil your mission?”
“We do.”
“Do you agree to represent not just yourselves but all of us?”
“We do.”
“Do you agree to work together to overcome any obstacles and to make decisions as one?”
“We do.”
“Then you are ready to be the Three.” Melo faced the crowd again. “They have taken the Oath. Now they can wear the clothes.”
The two people beside each of them stepped forward and began to undress them, removing their tops and trousers. Melo continued to address the crowd.
“We choose three for one reason. It is the smallest number of people you can have a vote with. We cherish our democracy, and so there is no more fitting number than Three.”
Isi now stood wearing just her bra as her trousers were being removed.
“They will work together, but if the situation demands it, they can vote on what to do. This should be an option of last resort, but it is there for them.”
With the trousers gone, the helpers stepped back. She glanced to her side to see Pablo and Magnus in their underwear as well.
“The Three represent us all, and the clothing they wear symbolises this.”
The helpers moved forward again, first putting white sleeves on her arms.
“The white clothes will cover their bodies to hide much of what makes them look individual. It shows that they are putting aside their own needs and desires for the greater good of us all. As the Three, they are performing a task vital for all Curators, not themselves.”
A white tank top and trousers were now placed on her. Pablo and Magnus were being dressed almost identically, but only Magnus had sleeves to cover his tattoos as well. Pablo didn’t seem to have any of his own—at least any that were visible. Then the final part of the outfit was brought out from the baskets, a white mask to cover her face, with gaps for their eyes and mouths. The helpers placed its strap on the back of her head and moved it into place.
“They have taken the oath, and now they wear the clothing. Curators of September, I give you the Three.”
Melo moved off the platform with a bow as they walked to the front. Waves of applause and cheering flooded from the crowds, along with a flickering wave of camera flashes. The Three now stood as pillars of white amongst the colourful crowd. She waved and smiled at them. Pablo and Magnus were doing the same, and she realised no one could see her expression. That would take some getting used to.
After many minutes, the crowd settled down, and they moved up to the microphone to give short speeches of their own. Isi went first.
“Thank you all so much for your support. It’s hard to describe how this feels right now. I fought long and hard for this to happen, but it never crossed my mind that I would be part of the Three. I wish I could promise that we’ll succeed, but so much of what is happening is unknown that it would be a foolish promise to make. What I can say is that I will do every damn thing I can and more. I will not rest until every option has been exhausted. I will give everything I can to save September from what is coming. Thank you all again.”
More cheers and applause came from the crowd as she stepped away and blew kisses at them with a huge grin on her face. She could hear a few bottles of fizz being popped in the crowd. The station looked to be in the mood for a big party, and what better excuse for one? Pablo stepped forward, but she was too focused on the people in the crowd to listen to what he was saying. She scanned the faces for one she recognised until she saw someone waving at her.
It was Lucie, who was trying to push her way to the front. She waved back. Lucie stopped and held up a large, half empty bottle and winked at her. She winked back and sighed. The Three had to go back into the White Elephant once the ceremony was over, so she wouldn’t get a chance to see her or to join in the party. A hand then appeared on Lucie’s shoulder, a rather attractive young woman moved into view, and Lucie put her arm around her waist. Isi smiled to herself; looked like Lucie was doing fine as always.
More loud cheers from the crowd made her look around. Pablo had finished his speech, and she hadn’t processed any of it. Then it was Magnus’s turn to step forward.
“I feel I can only repeat what the others have said,” he began. “It’s a privilege and an honour to be chosen for this role. We will do everything we can to complete this task we have been given, and I can promise we will represent all of you. I would like to say that there isn’t a better group of people in the universe to be a part of. It makes me so happy to be doing this for all of you. Thank you.”
He got the loudest cheers of any of them, though she couldn’t help feeling, with all the bottles being opened, the crowd would have cheered anything at that moment in time. Magnus stepped away from the microphone, and the three of them moved to the back of the podium to allow more pictures to be taken. She looked around for Lucie again but couldn’t make her out in the sea of dancing and celebrating bodies.
“I’m going to miss this crazy lot,” she said.
“Me too,” said Magnus.
“Remember, they’re what we are working to protect. Everything we do is for them,” said Pablo.
“I know. That’s why I agreed to do this.”
“Anyone you going to miss in particular?” asked Magnus.
“Too many to count.” She wrapped her arms around their shoulders and pulled them closer. “Luckily, I think we’ll bring enough crazy with us.”
“Speak for yourself.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I was.” She winked before casting her eye over the crowd again and watching the party. “Come on, we’ve got lots to be getting on with, and I’m sure they’ll be fine on their own.”
Together, they headed back into the White Elephant as the celebrations continued without them.
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