The emotion in Clint Stone’s voice when he finished speaking was vast. In his voice, I could hear the sorrow of his loss, deep and painful. I could hear the betrayal, when a being he had thought his friend was responsible for the deaths of everyone he knew, everyone he loved. I could hear the regret and guilt, as Clint felt he was responsible for the deaths of his world. He had told them it would be alright, but the Swrun had broken their word and Clint’s people had paid for it. It was not his fault, but Clint thought it was. And under it all, I could hear the strong undercurrent of anger and hatred that came from his soul, hatred for everything Swrun.
This sentiment was loudly shared by the Beiwa. “Those, those utter beasts!” he shouted, sputtering with rage. “They have done terrible things, but I would think that total genocide would be beyond even the most depraved of beings.”
The rest of the Council’s faces drew tight with the anger they felt as well. Even Cerberus was angry with something other than Clint. I watched as his face contorted with rage and thoughtfulness. It was an interesting combination. The two expressions warred across his face until they settled in to a sullen brooding. Seeming coming to a decision, Cerberus stood. “Upon hearing this new side, I am in agreement to let Clint Stone into the Rebellion.”
He sat back down, eyes turned away from Clint. The Hryth next to him nodded as well. “Aye. I will vote for him.”
Clint stood in the center of the chamber, shaking with the rage of his memories. For as long as I had known him, Clint had always kept his past to himself, only revealing the smallest pieces, only after a long ordeal. For him to bring it all out here showed the depth of his determination to join with the Rebellion. True, it had been brought out in anger, but Clint could control his anger when he wished. Most of the time.
I did not know how to process what I had just heard. I had known Clint’s past was a dark place, but I had just thought it was his family that he lost. As dark as that was, the loss of his whole race to a being he trusted must have done things to him that I didn’t even want to think about. And it was the Emperor of the Swrun Empire that had done it. Clint’s threat that he was going to remove the Emperor’s head hadn’t just been an idle one, he truly, deeply meant that he was going to see the Emperor dead. He could focus his rage on a single being and let it go. Two, if you counted the Admiral who killed his children and led the attack on Earth. I knew Clint did. It was justice, I suppose, that the perpetrators of those terrible crimes were to face a retribution unlike anything else in this universe.
Skuar cleared his throat, his silver-fuzzed face unreadable. “By the decree of this Council, Clint Stone is deemed enlisted in the Rebellion against the Swrun Empire.”
“Here, here,” said the Guen. The rest of the Council nodded their heads in agreement.
Skuar turned his face to me. “Now it is your turn. Why do you wish to fight in the Rebellion?”
I paused. Why did I want to join the Rebellion? I had never really thought about it. I had just been following Clint around for the last two years. I didn’t really decide that I wanted to, in the beginning. I had gone with him because there had been no other choice, he was the only way off of Nwas. I had meant to leave after we had touched down in the nearest port, but I had stayed.
I didn’t really know why. He had been a stranger, full of anger and odd. I had wanted to leave, but I had stayed. I was glad I had. Clint had shown me that there were other things in life than personal gains. I had been a greedy, selfish being when Clint and I had first met. He had been as well, but now I knew why. I had just been like that because it had been easy.
Had I not gone with Clint Stone, I would likely still be that selfish jahen, thieving and wretched. Now, I was like a being from a fairy tale. I saved the lives of innocents, fought tyrants, and travelled with other legendary beings. When I had been younger, my mother used to tell me of the stories of the great heroes and how the people looked up to them and adored them. But the heroes of those stories had done the things they had done, not for glory or fame or riches, but because it was right. I knew then why I wanted to join the Rebellion.
“Because it is right,” I said. “Because I need to. If I won’t do it, who will? This galaxy is on the brink of complete domination by the Swrun, and I am able to help stop them. This is why I would join, to do what is right. I have no personal hatred for the Swrun, no reason that I wish them all dead. But I know they must be stopped and I would help in that endeavor.”
The Council stared down at me, their faces blank and unreadable. I tried to read their faces, but it was difficult. I shifted in my place, waiting for them to say something.
“Aye,” said the Hryth. I looked up. He nodded at me, his face still blank.
“Aye,” chorused the rest of the Council. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding. I was in. I was officially a rebel. The thought almost made me chuckle, but I stopped myself.
Skuar stood. “By decree of this Council, Tedix Jaku is deemed enlisted in the Rebellion against the Swrun Empire.” He looked down at us. “Congratulations. Now the hard part begins. You will be evaluated and placed in the area best suited for your talents. I do not doubt that you will be warriors, but one must make sure.”
He motioned with his hand and Gem stepped forward. “Good luck,” Skaur said as Gem led us from the room. The doors swung shut behind us and we walked out into the base of the rebels, preparing to fight the Empire. For the first time, we would have other people helping us in our war. It was a strange thought.