The Halls
Have Ears
2000 short story by
Jonathan Hicks Thirty-five years after Episode
IV – A New Hope The clamour of voices was enough to make Ocern
stand from his small seat and hold up his hand for calm. He let his gaze
wander around the small-enclosed amphitheatre and waited for the senators to
quieten. Lights cast a dim glow that cast a shaking
reflection of Ocern’s thin wiry form over the wall as he walked to the centre
of the chamber and in front of the amassed. The rest of the room was bathed
in orange light giving a strange tint to the senator’s faces as they watched
their governor expectantly. Ocern could hear a snore from the back, at the
top of the tiers where it was darkest. “My
fellow senators,” he began. “I understand your fear. I understand that this
is not the news we wanted to hear from our borders. But we must face facts;
Leogard has fallen.” “And
with it one of our greatest generals!” a voice drifted from the rear. “You
must bear in mind,” Ocern continued, ignoring the man who had spoken, “that
since our alliance with the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances there has
been no such loss. The war with Ki-Ki goes well, with fortresses and ports
taken along the border. Why, only last week we defended...” “And see
how they responded!” someone shouted. “Ki-Ki takes Leogard!” Ocern was trying very hard to keep things in
perspective, maybe trying to make things sound better than they actually
were, and he could see that he was failing. It was late, the senators were
tired and displeased that they had been forced to stay up so long when they
could be back at their abodes indulging in their various vices. It worried
him, angered him, that they were more concerned with their pleasures than
they were for the security of the Setnin Sector. He shook his head. “We have
debated the importance of this all evening,” Ocern said in a loud voice to
quell the rising volume. “We have tried to fathom what kind of impact this
will have on the Setnin Sector but all I hear, in this room, are beings squabbling
about what the loss of our planets would mean to them! “You all
will lose the trade agreements, correct? That’s why you wish to send all our
forces to retake Leogard, not to reclaim our system but to secure safe
passage of a profitable business. And you are far more concerned about the
proximity of your interests to the new borders on the shifting map of the
Sector you would leave us undefended so that our thousands of troops could
stand at the edges of your worthless systems!” The senators started to cry out with indignation,
more with the fact that Ocern had pointed out the truth than levy an
unfounded accusation. Ocern held up his fist. “I was
not elected the Governor so that I could talk endlessly about what we stand
to lose from this as individuals! I worry more from what this means as a loss
for a Sector! Retire if you wish. Call me
when you have lost your own ideas of self-importance!” The senators were stood in their seats jeering and
shouting as Ocern walked from the hall, through the archway that sat between
the tiers of the senate chamber. He could feel the rising anger in his bones
but was too tired from trying to convince the Chamber of Systems of the real
issues surrounding the loss of Leogard. He was cold and exhausted. His aide appeared from the darkness and approached
the senate leader with a heavy woollen cloak. The woman smiled as she helped
Ocern with the garment, holding it open so that he could slip his arms
through the sleeves. Ocern, his large nose glistening with a nervous sweat
and his bright blue eyes shining from under his heavy brow, looked at his
servant and sighed. “Well,
Trace,” he said, casting a quick glance back down the hall and to the chamber
where he could still hear the senators raving. “That should give them
something to mull over.” “Are you
sure it wasn’t a mistake, Gabe?” Trace Dallagra said as she tied the cord of
the robe around Ocern’s waist. “If there’s something a senator hates...” “It’s
the truth,” Ocern finished for her. “I’m sick and bored of endless debates
from senators who are trying to twist policy so that it suits their coffers,
Trace. I climbed my way to this position so that I could make a difference,
although what I say in there actually makes very little difference. The Galactic Alliance is the true power in the
Setnin Sector. The Chamber of Systems is little more than a front to appease
the people.” Trace looked about, hoping that there were no other people in the shadows who had heard Ocern’s comment. She started to guide him to the door. “Such
remarks are treasonous,” she whispered.
“Treasonous? I thought that abusing power was treason.” Ocern waved a
hand back down towards the chamber. “If that is so then those men in there
should be shot for their ministrations.” “Ocern,
please...” “They
read their reports and judge how it will affect them, not the sector. They’re
so complacent and conceited they’ve forgotten why they wear their badges of
office. The glory of the Setnin Sector has been put aside for their own
purposes.” Trace was trying to move him to the door faster,
all the while glancing around at the dark alcoves that seemed to grow ears as
she watched. She thought she saw a person in the dim light but saw it was
just a shadow. Ocern saw the direction of her gaze and huffed a smile. “And the Republic,” he
pointed out the huge window at the planet of Zelon. “They're the worst of
them all. Enforce power by manipulating those weaker than them.” Trace gasped. “You can't say that!” “I
shouldn't have been made Governor. I think it's a useless job,
meaningless..."
“Enough!” Trace cried. “Gabe, you are so loose with your words! You
are tired and angry with the chambers, please
shut up!” Her words fell to an almost inaudible whisper. "There
could be spies everywhere.” “I know, Trace, I know. Don't fret. I have
always lived by my principles and I would feel disgusted with myself if I
allowed them to be suppressed for fear of my own life. Someone has to speak
so. I know now is not the time to express them but the time will come.” They exited the chambers and into the open
entranceway. Benesk glittered about them like glowing embers, the nightlights
of lamps and dwellings flickered in the dark of the moon. They started across
the open area towards a collection of buildings on the far side of the
enclosed area at the edge of a small pool. “You
never told me that,” Trace whispered. “Told
you what?” “That
you regret taking the office of governor.” “It is
not something I am proud of remembering,” Ocern said. “Then
why did you take the office?” “I was
an ex-smuggler and I knew the sector well. I was petitioned by others into
the chambers.” They walked in silence until they arrived at the
door to the buildings. Trace pressed the buzzer and a guard on the other side
unlocked it, sliding the door open and allowing them entrance. They hurried
up a small staircase and into Ocern’s dwelling proper. It was vast and open,
with a view across the moon from the open balcony. Ocern removed his cloak
and threw it over a couch while Trace poured a cup of chav from a dispenser. “I worry
about you, Gabe. Every day you speak more and more openly about your feelings
towards the Galactic Alliance. It cannot have escaped their attention.” “Hah!”
Ocern took the offered cup and took a long draught. “If they did know they
probably wouldn’t do anything. They care nothing for the decisions of the
Chambers.” He looked over the moon's surface. The sky filled with stars.
“That is something we have in common, I suppose,” he said in a husky voice. “The
senators won’t allow your words to lie,” Trace said. “They will petition for
your removal at the very worst, grumble about your appointment at the very
least. Either way, you have not made your position a safe one.” “My dear
Trace,” Ocern laughed, holding out his arm so that he could encircle his
friend's shoulders with it. “This is why I hired you as an advisor. I feel I
must do something. I have gone far beyond the restrictions of a politician,
that includes far too much lying and pacing about the true subject. I must
now tell it as it is.” Trace placed her hand on Ocern’s arm. “It scares
me sometimes.”
"Not half as much as it scares me. Goodnight." Ocern walked to his bedchamber and Trace Dallagra
thought about going to her own bed, also. Before she did she took a small device from her
pocket and played back the last recording. 'Not half as much as it scares me.
Goodnight'. She clicked off the device and smiled, knowing
that before she retired she would have to add this recording to her
collection of Ocern's rantings. Hmmm... Governor of Chancai, she
thought, and walked for the exit. That'll look really good on my resume. The Halls
Have Ears
2000 short story by
Jonathan Hicks Thirty-five years after Episode
IV – A New Hope Histories – A short tale showing the
response by the Setnin Council to the Invasion of Leogard. This also
shows the division between the interests of Chamber members and Ocern Gabe’s
disillusionment with the office appointed to him.
Cast of Characters Ocern GabeTrace Dallagra |