The song of a little gho.., p.1
The Song of a Little Ghost, page 1
part #6 of The Silent Assassin Series
“Plant as many flowers as you want, but in hell they will all char to cinders.
Whose fault is it that you burn in flames: your selves or your judges?
And if wealth buys the way out of sin, would you kill to gain its favour?
Love may count in the end, but the end can’t be reached without a start.
Tis the ghastly beast they can see, their vote to set you ablaze.
So here I ask again, is fire the world you wish to live in?
Or a sea of breeze you need to strive your life with to be?”
— The Silent Assassin —
PREVIOUSLY ON BOOK FIVE
An unknown fleet warped into Planet Gleicherde’s orbit and intruded the war between The Crowned Confederacy and Gleicherde’s rebellious government. An admiral named Denis Khristoforovich Lavrov—styling himself as The Patriot of War—led his armies into Gleicherde’s surface and opened fire on both sides. They announced themselves to be the vanguard forces of a spacefaring civilisation called The Cypriot Brotherhood.
Trapped in the war, Audi Prabian and his mercenary companions: Nagisawa Chizuru, Jane Drake, and Jonathan Mills fought their way through battles across one continent to escape the planet. However, they attracted Denis’ attention and he initiated a hunt for the mercenaries.
Although initially only interested in escape, Audi abandoned his three companions after Denis murdered a group of children. Using his strategic trickeries and wit, Audi lured Denis into a one-on-one battle and emerged victorious, but not before Gleicherden military deployed an aerial fortress to level the city down along with the spaceport: his only avenue of escape. With the help of the mercenaries, Denis defeated the gargantuan airship and completed his conquest of Gleicherde.
Audi and Denis almost parted amicably, until Denis killed a mother and his baby to save a dog from a falling building. Enraged with his choice, Audi vowed to defeat Denis and his Brotherhood soldiers the next time they meet.
But Denis is the least of Audi’s and The Crowned Confederacy’s concern. His three fellow admirals visited his flagship and independently announced their scheme to conflagrate planets in famine, plague, and mass deaths. Unlike Denis, they have little care for the ultimate purpose of the Brotherhood. In response, Denis began accelerating his plans of war and conquest before the other admirals manage to touch any world.
Brotherhood admirals are on the race to conquer as many Crowned Confederacy planets they can. The Crowned Confederacy itself is suffering from internal instability and economic crisis. What is the fate awaiting mankind ahead?
A darker act in humanity’s history begins.
THE SILENT ASSASSIN
ACT II: LAGOON BLUE
BOOK SIX
THE SONG OF A
LITTLE GHOST
© Adrian P. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce
This book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
Cover art by Adrian P
Illustrations and digital art by Adrian P
Visit the official website below to experience a deeper immersion to the series’ universe:
https://projectsilentassas.wixsite.com/thesilentassassin
CONTENTS INCLUDE:
Interactive short story on the origins of The Crowned Confederacy of Mankind, from the 21st Century to the 28th Century, featuring the First Monarch of Mankind during the The Great Conflict of 2026 (World War III), prior to his ascendancy.
Artwork
A cinematic trailer of the series
And many more immersion materials to indulge in!
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS OF THE SERIES
AUDI PRABIAN—The main protagonist of the series: a 23-year-old mercenary many casually referred to as the ‘Bandana Boy’, a reference to his trademark look. He is the apprentice of The Silent Assassin, a legendary mercenary feared by The Crowned Confederacy for triggering massive chaos decades earlier. In battle, he possesses neither unique powers nor advanced technology, opting for non-conventional gadgetries and pure wit to outsmart stronger enemies.
NAGISAWA CHIZURU—The 25-year-old CEO of Nagisawa Corporation, the largest financial conglomerate in the Crowned Confederacy. Chizuru inherited her wealth and position from her parents who were assassinated three years prior to Book 06. She lives a double life as a mercenary who wields a cutting-edge CH-11 “Yumiya” Sniper Rifle and unmatched marksmanship skill to follow.
JANE DRAKE—The 24-year-old scientist who works as Nagisawa Corporation’s Head of Research and Development team. She was a former member of Omega Kepler, a brutal mercenary group, and was personally responsible for the death of Chizuru’s parents. She uses her Bionika power to transform her body parts into shapes of weapon, such as bone arm-blade, elastic whip, and boulder-hands. While her power is activated, she is impervious to bullets from small arms.
JONATHAN MILLS—A 30-year-old cyborg in the payroll of Nagisawa Corporation as a security staff. He was Jane’s second-in-command when Omega Kepler was active, and showed boundless brutality in battle using his integrated weapon modules, such as built-in rocket pods and transformable arm. But more than just a cybernetically-enhanced mercenary, Jonathan was also a former member of Red Berets: Crowned Confederacy’s Special Operations Unit.
HORLIX AURELLUS LEONARD-TANUYA—The 28-year-old former Crown Prince of The Crowned Confederacy. Horlix was exiled after the Royal Court sentenced him guilty for murdering his own cousin, Prince Maxim. However, a mysterious civilisation called The Cypriot Brotherhood kidnapped and recruited him as one of their military officer.
DENIS KHRISTOFOROVICH LAVROV—The youngest of Cypriot Brotherhood’s Four Admirals of Apocalypse, styling himself as ‘The Patriot of War’. In Book 05, the 33-year-old man (then 30) led his fleet, Fleet Voina, to war against The Crowned Confederacy and triumphed. However, he was defeated in a duel against Audi, who swore to defeat him again the next time they meet. Denis’s Bionika power is Space Manipulation.
BOBBI BRAUN—De facto leader of War Maidens, Fleet Voina’s elite force. The 28-year-old woman is the Cypriot Brotherhood’s top warriors. Bobbi is also The Silent Assassin’s apprentice and Audi’s childhood friend. Her Bionika power is Gravity Manipulation.
MAIN ROYAL FAMILY CHARACTERS
Monarch GIOVANNI EDMOND TANUYA—The Crowned Confederacy’s absolute sovereign, although in recent years he ceased tending to governance duty, preferring the Civilian Sector’s leadership—the Prime Minister and his cabinets—to administer the galaxy. He believed in the people’s self-governance, but begun regretting this stance after witnessing political chaos resulting from his distance. He is Horlix’s step-father.
Queen CINDY ARIEL LEONARD-TANUYA—The most powerful woman in the galaxy. Compared to her husband, Queen Cindy has been more active in handling government issues, although made difficult by recently strengthened civilian rule. She is Horlix’s step-mother and biological paternal aunt.
Grand Admiral EVAN ANGELUS TANUYA—The highest commanding officer of Crowned Confederacy’s Military Sector. Evan oversaw the military campaign in Gleicherde against local rebels and Cypriot Brotherhood, and returned alive with knowledge of a powerful threat to his nation. Evan is Monarch Giovanni’s younger twin brother, and father of the late Prince Maxim.
Crown Prince CHRISTOPHER TURNER TANUYA—The 25-year-old current heir-apparent to Crowned Confederacy’s throne, inherited after Horlix is side-lined from the succession. Christopher maintains close relationships with major party leaders and rich corporate magnates, effectively controlling civilian economic and political affairs from behind the scene. He is the only son of Giovanni’s and Evan’s little brother, Prince Maddox.
Princess VICTORIA SCYTHE TANUYA—A 19-year-old princess whose political popularity was overshadowed by her older cousins. However, Horlix’s exile pulled his supporters under Victoria’s umbrella, earning her enough support to mount powerful political manoeuvres to oppose Christopher’s corporatist agenda. She is the only daughter of Giovanni’s and Evan’s little sister, Princess Gabriella.
PROLOGUE
On the hundredth meter of her run, the teenage girl tumbled forward and fell to the ground. A siren rung loud across the marathon track and three medical drones flew over the school grounds towards her. She was unconscious. The drones deployed their arms and picked her up to a sitting position. One attached to her head like a hat, another formed a spine support on her back, and the last one morphed into a frame on her legs. The leg drone powered its turbine and flew, carrying her through the sky towards a medic tent on a green field in front of the school building.
The drone flew in and landed the teenage girl onto a bed. Two nurses and a doctor approached her. “Heatstroke,” the doctor said. “Cool her, quick!”
The nurses opened a gel container and applied the gel within onto their hands. They took the drones off her body and covered her skin with the gel. Bubbles formed within the gel as the girl took an abrupt breath. Her breath went rapid for seconds until it slowed down. She opened her eyes.
“Where…” her voice was soft. She looked at the doctor. “Mrs. Fio?”
“Thank the Creator you’re fine, Charley,” the doctor heaved a sigh. “I told you not to push yourself into this marathon. Something is wrong with your body!”
Charley scratched her auburn hair and sat up, brushing the gel off her skin. “The race. I need to go back.”
“It’s too late,” the doctor said.
“No!” Charley jumped off her bed an
The doctor caught her.
“It’s the selection match…If I don’t win, I can’t go to the interstellar championship—“
“Charley!” the doctor slapped her.
The teenage girl fell silent.
“Listen to me,” she frowned. “With your physical condition, there is no way you can win the selection match, let alone the interstellar championship! I know the importance of chasing your dream, but killing yourself in the process is not worth it!”
“But…” she gritted her teeth. “Today’s my only chance. The only window of opportunity for me to become a professional sprinter! If I don’t compete…if I don’t win—!”
“I’m sorry.”
Charley froze.
“Your friends have high hope, but the school’s medical team have been afraid for long that this day would come,” the doctor continued. “We bet on the chance that you would at least complete the course, but to think that you’ll collapse after a hundred metres,” she paused. “Your condition is worse than I thought, and I’m glad you collapsed early.”
“How could you,” Charley sobbed and teared up. “If you knew that something like this would happen since long, why don’t you work on a cure? A treatment?”
The doctor kept silent.
“This is my dream taken away,” her sobs grew rapid. “Since I was five. To run. To be faster than anyone,” she paused. “I trained every day. Every night. All for this day, but why? Why does this have to happen?”
“Charley,” she put her hand on her shoulder. “You’ve overexerted yourself—“
“Other athletes are fine!” Charley yelled in abrupt. “The sprinters from other schools are fine! Why am I not fine?”
“Maybe your body isn’t made for sprinting.”
Charley’s eyes opened wide.
“There is something called one’s birth conditions,” the doctor continued. “Some people are made to do different things. Soldiers. Teachers. Governors. Maybe you’re not destined to be a sprinter. Maybe life wants you to become something else.”
“And so I should give up? To the tyranny of my birth conditions?” Charley gritted her teeth. “Do I have to obey whatever fate dictated me to do since I was born? Am I not allowed to dream differently? Is that what you’re saying?”
“So are you willing to risk death to achieve your dream?”
Silence.
The doctor pulled a chair and sat down. “Just because you failed a dream, doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to dream again. There are plenty of other lives out there, and it is your job as a human to discover it.”
“But…”
“The school examination is coming soon,” the doctor replied. “Go on, ace the tests like the smart student you are. You’re the smartest 15-year-old I’ve ever known, I’m sure you’ll score a perfect mark easily. Any university will accept you. Any company would be willing to hire you.”
Charley entered the school cafeteria and stood in front of a machine with a large screen. It displayed pictures of food and categorised them into protein source: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Tofu, and Beans. Charlotte pressed the digital button for Beef and chose Beef Burgundy. She pressed her thumb, and within seconds, a rectangular tray with aluminium covering emerged on the side.
She took her tray and walked amidst a packed school canteen. Shouts and conversations merged into a collective incoherent buzz. Students ran. A table fought a food war when a drone hovered over it and scolded them with the principal’s voice. Charley glanced at a two familiar girls and sat on their table.
“Oh, Charley,” a girl with pigtail hair waved. “I heard what happened in the marathon. You alright now?”
“Shoosh,” another girl with hairband said. “How insensitive are you?”
Charley smiled albeit dim. “It’s okay, that was really unfortunate of me,” she said. “I didn’t know my body’s condition was that bad.”
“You must be having a bad day,” the pigtailed girl chuckled. “It’s weird though, you’ve always come up as the most energetic and hyperactive amongst us since third grade. Your health really went downhill since we start middle-school.”
Charley kept silent.
“Did you go on a bad diet or something?” the pigtail girl laughed.
The girl with hairband hit the pigtailed girl with a spoon. “Don’t mind her, Charley,” she said. “Speaking of which, can you help me study for exams again?”
“Sure,” Charley smiled. “Which exams?”
“Business Studies,” she replied. “I don’t understand the part about shareholder responsibilities.”
Charley giggled. “Shareholders don’t have responsibilities, they treat companies like a piggy bank.”
“Eh?”
“They put money in and get paid every period. Technically they can assign themselves responsibilities, if you can still call it so, but you are free to dump a coin and leave it alone—whether it becomes a good company or bad company—they don’t have to care.”
“Can I…put that on the exam paper?” the hairband girl asked. “I don’t think that’s allowed.”
“Well no, that’s just my opinion.”
“So what can I put in the paper?”
“That…” Charley paused.
The pigtailed girl sighed and walked towards Charley. She sat next to her and put a hand on her shoulder. “You need to stop. Don’t you know how many friends you’ve lost because of that?”
“Because of what?”
“I know you’re smart Charley, but you see, a lot of people don’t care about your social commentaries. They just want to talk about light-hearted topics. Celebs. Food. Hunks and babes,” she paused. “People think you’re too depressing.”
“Depressing?” Charley frowned. “I’m just saying things that people should start worrying about. We won’t be children forever, and everything I’ve talked about will affect our lives sooner or later.”
“And that’s why both of us are still friends with you,” the pigtailed girl replied. “We understand that you mean well, but not all do.”
Silence.
“So by all means talk to us whatever you want, but don’t start yammering in front of other people—“
“Yammering?”
The pigtailed girl stopped.
“Is that what you both thought of me?” Charley smiled albeit with a glare. “A girl who likes to yammer? Everything that I’ve studied hard and shared with you all with the intention to enlighten you about our world? Were you just…holding back and tried bearing with my…yammering?”
“That’s not—!”
“No, no, I understand,” Charley stood up. “You don’t have to force yourself. I understand. I completely understand. I’ve been a bother. I’ve been a pain on your backside.”
The girl with hairband stood. “Don’t think of us like that Charley, we’re here so that—“
“So that I’m not alone?”
She kept silent.
Charley stepped away from the table. “If you don’t really want to listen to me, then of course all my talks are all noisy yammering. That’s fine. I’ll spare you the trouble of listening to me.”
“I’d rather be alone than be treated as a burden.”
Charley stepped out of a transport capsule along with fifty other passengers. It was the last stop, and the capsule ascended upwards through the tunnel-tube and launched away with the speed of sound.
The sky’s gradation turned orange as she reached her home: a two-floored house with a concrete wall surrounding its perimeter. Charley pressed her thumb on a console next to the entrance door and a tiny click echoed. She opened the door. A woman stood in front of her.
“You still have your remote learning to do before dinner and bed,” the women said in French.
“I know, mama,” Charley replied. “Can’t I shower first?”
“Study comes first,” her mom said. “Your father works from morning to night without rest.”
