“So, what if the President and a few others devise a strategy to shift the narrative? They use a secret plan called Requiem to sow chaos. They employ factions of the UNF, SI, and some others – including our anonymous friend Nexus. He seems to keep tabs on everyone. Maybe he’s actually running the show.”
When Shireena raised a brow, Trevor responded:
“Stay with me on this. They know what they’re doing is illegal. If their secret ever got out, the Collectorate would implode. So they have to be careful. That means their numbers are small. They have to work outside the normal chain of command.
“As the conflict grows, they gain momentum to change the Constitution. This is important because any formal declaration of war must be legal. If the UNF acts on its own, people will see it as a coup. The first step toward martial law.
“The President works behind the scenes to build a coalition for MR-44. The chance for passage is slim. She knows it. So do her allies in Requiem. They devise backup schemes in case it fails.
“In the meantime, they know Amity will be critical to their plans. But the station is vulnerable. They develop a proposal for a new outer defense. The real problem is inside. There are Black Star cells. I uncovered the first. They have no idea how many there are, so they need a way to clean out the station of any undesirables.
“Problem is, the Amity Charter restricts profiling. They need to put people into place who will work around the obstacles. I showed them one way by handing off Hoshi Oda and Bien Thet to SI. Not long after, I’m promoted to Chief. I’m empowered to write new protocols for resident expulsion. Hannibal Dorrit is sent away.
“Then along comes Mau Ping. The same day I learn about him, Nexus tells me of an existential threat. Says I’ll put my life on the line to solve it. Maybe he’s testing me. He wants to know how much I’ll risk for the station.”
Shireena laid a finger over his lips.
“Are you suggesting Nexus long knew the threat Mau posed?”
Of all the angles Trevor considered, this seemed like the largest stretch, yet it fit snugly into the puzzle.
“I doubt there’s very little Nexus doesn’t know. He’s too well positioned between worlds. I’d wager he tracked Mau for years. One of these ‘pieces on the board’ he talks about.”
“Do you think he anticipated what Mau might do to you?”
“Pass along the Void energy? Yeah. How that figures into his goal still eludes me, but this bit doesn’t: Thomas introduced me to the Mau problem in the same hour Nexus contacted me. Almost as if ...”
Shireena sat up straight. Her cheeks dropped. Trevor bet she had never considered such a link.
“You believe Thomas and Nexus are connected?”
“It fits. Thomas surely sent the message to Murrill accusing me of going after Murrill’s job. Who else would bear that kind of grudge? Thomas has been able to keep a close eye on me for seven months. He’d be a perfect source of intel. I don’t believe in coincidence.”
He hated this bit because Shireena had to face Thomas each day at work. Trevor pushed on.
“So, Nexus contacts me the morning of the MR-44 vote. With so much at stake, what does he say? Mention ‘Requiem’ in the confab. Look for a reaction.
“What if Nexus wanted to see how far I’d run with it? Another test. He knew Lana Devonshire had uncovered the truth about Requiem. Nexus wanted to know if she’d share that intel with me. They had already planned to kill her – maybe Nexus gave the order, maybe Nagano, maybe someone at SI. Freemantle. The man I suspect to be Director Knightley.
“It was another test. Would I keep the secret? By then, Nexus must’ve known I was struggling with the Void energy. What happened? MR-44 failed, but I used the Enzathi to end the kidnapping. The President put on a brave face for the public, and I received a call from Freemantle telling me Requiem was no longer under investigation. Speak of it to no one.
“He wouldn’t have made the demand unless SI was involved. Devonshire almost exposed it. Still, I complied. Shut my mouth.
“I didn’t seek answers when they announced Devonshire’s retirement. I helped maintain order, covered up the truth, skirted past a few more regulations, and hid what was going on inside me. See the picture?”
Shireena reached for the bourbon. She swirled the deep brown liquid but did not drink.
“They’re using you to clean up the station, but if you make one wrong move ...”
He didn’t lose her. Yet.
“They have enough evidence to sweep me away. Murrill tried to use the same leverage, but I beat him to the punch. I don’t have that kind of power if Haas, Nexus, the UNF, and SI are aligned against me. I’m their perfect tool. I’ll do their bidding – now with the gracious help of three more SI agents – because I don’t have a cudfrucking choice.
“The last time I heard from Nexus, he congratulated me on the promotion. He doesn’t call me anymore either because there’s nothing else I can do for him, or because he’s out of tests. Shireena, I’m the most powerful Governor in the history of this station ... and it’s an illusion. I’m their pawn.”
Shireena couldn’t sit still. She paced, drink in hand.
“OK. Let’s say you nailed it. Point by point. What next?”
Trevor exhaled a robust cloud of smoke.
“I don’t know. It’s one thing to knit the past together. The future is ... I’m flying blind. Whatever they planned as a backup to MR-44 is happening soon. If I had to guess? Within days. I won’t get answers from Haas, Nagano, or Roe.”
“Then what? We sit back and wait for the next shoe to drop?”
Trevor sensed the walls sliding inward just a touch.
“Ana turns eight tomorrow. She’ll have a huge party. I want it to be the best day of her life. No threats hanging about.”
“And the day after?”
“We try a different route.”
“Such as?”
The idea made Trevor’s blood run cold, but he saw no other avenue.
“Thomas Quinlan. It’s long past due. I have to deal with him.”
