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 Gabe
Trace Dallagra
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