“grydscaen: rogue” is a cyberpunk novella about the teenage Level 9 hacktivist Rom becoming a cyberterrorist hacker member of the subversive Packrat hackers. rogue is part of the tech noir novella series which includes the signature novel “grydscaen: dark.” This excerpt of rogue is being shared as promo for the release November 5th release “grydscaen: desecration” the newest novel in the grydscaen series. In this chapter we meet Lino Dejarre, the son of the Viceroy. He is an art school graduate, naïve, young aristocrat and newly conscripted clandestine psychic operative of the Psi Faction.
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Rogue – Part 7 (Excerpt)
Mr. Stuart, the lead minister walked with the Viceroy of the Pacific Territories down the hall in the palace. They were going to see Lino, the Viceroy’s son. They walked slowly down the hall letting it linger, they were on the way to the Imperial Guard practice area. The Viceroy talked about trivialities as they walked.
The Viceroy was carrying with him the Imperial Sword that represented the royal family, the Dejarre family. The sword was usually in the relic room on the altar behind the relic box holding the crown of the last emperor. The Imperial Sword had a cross bar at the end of the hilt before the blade laden with jewels, it was a katana from the Jannassee Islands of the finest quality and make. It had a black onyx jewel in the center of the cross bar that marked the position of Viceroy. Mr. Stuart was curious why he had it.
“Why did you bring the Imperial Sword?” asked Mr. Stuart.
The Viceroy was quiet as they walked and didn’t say anything until they got to the door outside the practice room.
“My son needs some discipline and this is the only one way I see that we can get this done,” said the Viceroy.
“With a real sword, your Majesty?”
“Yes, with a real sword. My effeminate son needs to get the life breathed back into him. His relationship with that boy is distracting him,” said the Viceroy.
“You mean that acting student and musician that he goes to school with?” asked Mr. Stuart.
“Exactly,” said the Viceroy and pushed the door open and it slid back and they entered the dojo.
Anis, Lino’s cousin was sitting on a bench against the wall in practice clothes, the white yukata and black hakama pants with wide legs and pleats. Shennen, the head of the Imperial Guard was in the middle of the room with Lino, also in practice clothes and they were holding bamboo swords. The back wall was covered with weapons. The area was large and open, austere with a wooden floor, it was not really inviting, it felt meditative and there was a wall covering on the back wall like a scroll that read in characters with the Jannassee Islands language in calligraphy “Warrior is All. Imperial Guard.”
Lino was 17. He was tall with shoulder length black hair that was cut around his face and he had bangs. He was skinny and lithe. He was more of a nancy boy than a warrior. He was next in line for succession to the position of Viceroy and he was a prince.
Lino was practicing with Shennen in the center of the room exchanging blows with the practice shinai. The Viceroy and Mr. Stuart watched them silently. Lino didn’t see them but Shennen did and kept up practice with Lino.
“Come on Lino, put some balls in it,” yelled Shennen.
“Stop,” said Lino and went on the attack but Shennen blocked the blows. They sparred for about 2 minutes and then Shennen struck hard and knocked the bamboo sword out of Lino’s hand. Lino stopped and looked down on it.
“Pathetic,” said the Viceroy moving forward as Lino leaned down and picked up the bamboo sword.
Anis stood up and bowed as the Viceroy approached as did Shennen. Lino just stood there holding the bamboo sword and looking down at the ground.
The Viceroy came over and yanked the bamboo sword out of Lino’s hand and handed him the Imperial Sword. Lino took it by the hilt as the Viceroy threw the bamboo sword at Anis who caught it and put it down on the bench.
“You are pathetic. You can’t even beat an Imperial Guard?” mocked the Viceroy ripping the sheath off the sword as Lino held on to it. The sword seemed to hum with a divine power as the sheath with the paper spells on it was removed. The sword almost seemed to glow.
Lino looked down on the sword as the Viceroy looked at Shennen and nodded. Shennen took his bamboo sword to the back wall and put it up and pulled a katana with a red sheath off the wall. That sword was called the ‘Death Scale’, it was used to knight Imperial Guard and it had been passed down for many generations of Imperial Guard. The sword had been in various battles, it was a weapon of last resort, to kill not to maim. Shennen pulled the sheath off the Death Scale and walked over and bowed to Lino. Shennen looked at the Viceroy who nodded.
“Now prince… defend yourself!” called out Shennen and brought up his sword.
Lino looked over at Anis first then at his father.
“Don’t look to Anis. He is a steward, he is beneath you. A member of the royal family is not supposed to hesitate. Show your resolve,” said the Viceroy crossing his arms impatient.
Lino continued to hesitate. He bowed slowly but kept the sword down unsure. Shennen would not attack him until Lino setup.
“Hurry up abomination. I am losing patience,” said the Viceroy angrily.
Lino got angry. He hated it when his father called him an abomination. He never figured out why. Lino continued hesitating.
“What is your problem? Your father, the Viceroy told you to do something. Hurry up abomination. You disappoint me,” said the Viceroy and took a step away and started to turn.
Lino seethed, he raised the sword and attacked Shennen ferociously. Lino let out a cry and caused Shennen to back up trying to block the blows. The Viceroy turned back and watched. Lino was brutal. It looked like Shennen found it hard to defend himself. Mr. Stuart was just in shock as he watched Lino with the head of the Imperial Guard sparring. He was concerned for Lino and appaled how brutal the Viceroy was to his son.
Lino continued attacking. Shennen swung and Lino doubled back as the sword flew by. Lino backed up. Shennen stopped. The sword had swiped Lino’s yukata, it came apart at the sleeve.
“What is your problem? Did I tell you to stop?” asked the Viceroy.
Lino setup again, but he was growing tired. He held there watching Shennen, waiting for an opening. Shennen blinked and moved his head and Lino attacked him. They went at it for a minute then Lino locked swords with Shennen and they came in close. Shennen was taller than Lino, he shoved Lino back and held the sword out. Lino lost his resolve and put the sword out and tapped Shennen’s sword. Shennen bashed Lino’s sword to the side and advanced. Lino took a step back. Shennen’s eyes were determined. Lino got scared and brought the sword up in two hands to defend himself. Shennen attacked and raised the sword over Lino’s head. Lino swiped from the side fast and held his blade and stopped at Shennen’s side.
“Stop!” Called out the Viceroy.
Shennen looked down at Lino’s blade, he would have sliced him deep if he hadn’t stopped the stroke. Shennen lowered his sword and backed up and bowed then looked over at the Viceroy who dismissed him. Shennen picked up the sheath and replaced the sword, put it back on the wall and walked past the Viceroy out of the room. Mr. Stuart turned around and watched Shennen go, then turned back.
“You have redeemed yourself, for now, abomination,” said the Viceroy and then walked off with Mr. Stuart behind him back into the palace. He chucked the sheath at Lino before he turned. Lino caught it in the air grabbing it with his left hand. Lino just stood there holding the sword down to the floor, then gently put the sword in the sheath as Anis came over to him.
“He doesn’t hate you,” said Anis after a moment seeing Lino just standing there. Lino raised the sword up and put it at his waist on the right side through the tie in his pants and just left Anis standing there. He went walking in his practice clothes to the relic room. Anis could tell Lino was angry. He had let his father provoke him again and show his anger. He needed to learn to control his emotions. He stopped in the hall and clenched his fist and the aegis, the manifestation of his psychic power glowed around his hand. He just held there for a moment his fist shaking as he tried to contain his rage. But Lino was only 17 and his relationship with his boyfriend Berlin was starting to get to him. He would lash out at Anis just to get it out. Lino’s boyfriend was being abusive with him and it was starting to take its toll. Lino got into the relic room and walked past the crown of the last Emperor in the glass box. He stood in front of it for a moment and then went to the back to the shrine altar. He stood in front of the altar for some time without moving. His mother came into the relic room and watched him. She stayed back, she could tell he was angry by his body language.
Lino pulled the sheathed sword out from the ties at his waist and took it in two hands ceremonially and held it parallel to the floor. He held it out in front of the altar. There was a stand for the sword sitting on top the altar. There were paper spells around the altar and Prophet talismans adorning the altar containing the power of the sword.
Lino placed the sword back in the holder and took a step back then bowed and got back up and just stood there. Julianna, his mother, the first consort and wife to the Viceroy came up to him from behind. Anis had followed Lino from the dojo, he stood at the entrance to the relic room and saw Julianna around Lino, he gave them some time.
Mr. Stuart walked by the relic room and saw Anis and continued walking, he had just finished up his meeting with the Viceroy. He had wanted to say something to him about how he treated his son Lino but he didn’t dare. He went to his office and called Elena telling her he would be late again.
Lino just stood in front of the altar and didn’t move. Julianna hugged him from behind and brought her arms over his shoulders so they grasped around his front and she leaned in.
“He doesn’t hate you, Lino. He is just trying to make you stronger. You hesitate sometimes, he wants you to own it. Don’t rely on Anis. I know he is older but he is just a steward. You are a prince of the Pacific Territories, you need to be more direct,” she said.
Lino just stood there for a while letting her words sink in and liking the feeling of her closeness, it was soothing. He gently picked up her arm and stepped away from her and turned back to her.
“He hates my boyfriend, doesn’t he?” asked Lino honestly.
“Your boyfriend is affecting your behavior. You are not concentrating. You are hardly at home or at the palace. He sees how you drink and lately even I can see this boyfriend of yours has gotten you into pills. Berlin is a bad influence on you,” said Julianna moving in and ruffling his hair.
“Mother please, we are in public,” said Lino.
Julianna looked behind her and waved over Anis who came over to them.
“Change your clothes, take Lino out somewhere. Go have fun. His father has gotten him depressed,” she said.
“Yes, my lady,” said Anis and bowed. Lino and Anis started walking away.
“All his talk of being in the military and those harsh words he uses about being a clandestine operative has gone to his head getting notions he will be other than what the Viceroy wishes. Going to art school was just a distraction. I let Lino do that to humor him so he wouldn’t disobey. He needs to listen to me now,” remarked Juliana sternly as they turned back.
“The Psi Faction is an elite group of operatives who will fight for justice against Faid Callen of the Packrats and the subversive leaders like Jester from the Jester’s hacker guild and don’t forget Jazz,” smiled Lino proud of his affiliation with the Psi Faction.
“Not is you fight like what I just saw,” smirked Anis.
“Don’t tease my son, steward! You mind your tongue!” shot back Juliana hastily but demurely silencing Anis, her voice never raising. the look in her eyes the tell of her irritation at the affront.
“My Lady, I was remiss,” Anis bowed taking a step back and leaning over with a flurry of his hand in apology.
“Don’t invite Lino’s boyfriend. If I hear Berlin, the singer from that aweful goth band Painbox he cavorts around with is out with you, both of you will have hell to pay!” ordered Julianna.
“Yes mother,” whined Lino acquiescing as they walked off to Lino’s rooms in the palace.
****
Mr. Stuart exited the subway station on Astor street in the Echelons. He was wearing protective clothing and a hat which was low down on his head. He had specifically snuck out and not let his security know where he was going.
He engaged his handheld, he was looking for the X-rated magazine shop, The Hole. He had done research on the Echelons and found that was a popular spot for picking up hosts. He followed the GPS to the store. He didn’t have any clues, this was a good enough place as any to start, he had no idea where Rom might be just that the data messenger said they had him.
“I spotted him, he is on Astor,” said one of the minions of the 50 year old minister. They had sent someone to follow Mr. Stuart.
“What is he doing?” Asked another minister who was in the 50 year old minister’s office in the palace talking into a handheld and holding it up on speaker.
“Tell Mr. Hirasawa that he is just walking, no destination yet. He seems to be going somewhere in particular. I haven’t figured out the location yet,” said the minion and continued down the street tailing Mr. Stuart.
Mr. Hirasawa, the 50 year old minister nodded and pressed the intercom button on the console on his desk. “Get me a photographer.”
“Yes sir,” came the voice on the other end of the line.
Mr. Hirasawa walked up to the minion in his office and told him to coordinate a photographer to take pictures of Mr. Stuart on the streets of the Echelons.