Mastery of the Stars: Mastery of the Stars, #1

By M J Dees

Finding himself suspended upside down from a burning tree above a pack of ravenous beasts was a bit of a surprise for Sevan.

It had been one heck of a week. One minute he'd been struggling to meet his Corporation targets, the next he'd been promoted...

And then he'd found himself on a stolen freighter with the Resistance, on their way to find the President of the system.

But sometimes, stuff like that just happens... right?

When he discovers that the President is really a ball of gas, and the Corporation is trying to destroy the presidential cruiser on which he's trapped, that's when he starts to lose his sense of humour.

It couldn't possibly get worse ... or could it?

If this book was the illegitimate offspring of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Star Wars, they would probably put it up for adoption.

Mastery of the Stars is the first novel in the light-hearted Mastery of the Stars space opera series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M J Dees
• Release date: Mar 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215589878

M J Dees

M J Dees has published eleven novels and ranging from humour to dystopia to political to historical to space opera. He makes his online home at mjdees.com. You can connect with him on Twitter at @mjdeeswriter, on Facebook at mjdeeswriter and you should send him an email at [e-mail] if the mood strikes you.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1: THE WORST DISASTER IMAGINABLE

Sevan stood on the shuttle. It was an old ship with many internal attachments that shook and rattled. Passengers packed the ship, way beyond the number that Sevan assumed must have been permissible under Concession regulations and he held on tight to a metal bar which did little to stop him from being thrown around.

He looked with envy at the passenger sitting on the guard’s seat. He looked like he might be high on something and Sevan knew he wasn’t the guard. Sevan hadn’t seen an actual guard on a shuttle for years, they expected passengers to fend for themselves and they often had to.

The passenger rocked backwards and forwards as the shuttle lurched from side to side. Sevan wondered what the nature of the training for shuttle pilots was, he assumed they must recruit them from the desert cart racers which Sevan used to enjoy watching as a youngster. Sevan noticed how blue the passenger’s skin was and thought he must be from one of the ‘communities’ as the Concession named them.

Sevan was blue as well, but he was much closer to the standard turquoise which the Concession often reminded the populous through their propaganda was the colour of true citizenship. He wasn’t the green side of turquoise like the elite but nobody of that hue would be found dead on a shuttle. In fact, if one was found on a shuttle then they were probably dead.

Just as these thoughts were passing between Sevan’s antennae, the deep blue passenger fell off the guard’s seat and skidded across the floor, coming to a rest in a pool of ambiguous liquid. He remained there, motionless, dead maybe, but not well and in need of immediate help.

Sevan didn’t lose a moment before leaping into action. He jumped into the vacated guard’s seat before any of the other passengers could have the same idea.

He didn’t always get these regional shuttles that the system’s ruling corporation theoretically operated but which were in reality run by private individuals who would pay bribes to operate the route between the Concession and the neighbouring colonies. Sevan preferred the concessions own shuttles which were just as packed but were newer and more reliable.

Sevan had been to visit his aunt. He was worried she was losing her marbles. The Concession workers commonly considered the marbles, small spheres at the end of the antenna, to be the source of sanity. All his aunt did was complain about the Concession and the corporation turning them all into slaves, while Sevan told her she should consider herself lucky that the Concession was there to provide for them at all.

His aunt wasn’t his main preoccupation, however. Today had been the representation lottery, and it terrified Sevan that, despite the huge odds against it, they might select him as the one to represent the workers on the Concession council. Sevan couldn't think of anything worse than being summoned to sit on the Concession council.

As the shuttle docked in the terminal, Sevan could see what looked like hundreds of other shuttles docking, awaiting passengers or already moving away from the terminal. Huge conveyors were carrying passengers to and from the many levels.

Sevan disembarked. From a distance, the terminal with its many lights had looked impressive but close up Sevan could see that the terminal looked old and tatty like it was falling apart bit by bit. As he walked along the corridor, a roofing tile fell off, crushing a fellow commuter.

Outside the terminal it was raining and puddles were burning into the road. Sevan had no option than to make a run for it and then rinse off the acidic liquid as soon as he reached his container. His container was on level 110 of a stack which was only a short distance from the terminal.

*

On the following day, he got a seat on a Concession shuttle. The only way he could do this was to get one which went the long way round. Direct shuttles were always packed to the air locks, so Sevan would get up earlier than he needed and compensate for the extra time with a place on one of the uncomfortable hard seats. Even today, the day before Binge, the shuttle was busy. Sevan wondered why they couldn’t run more shuttles even though he knew the answer - it cost credits.

Sevan hated Binge, the one day in the solar circle when all the workers had the day off and got high. It was a messy affair and, at 23 circles, Sevan felt too old for that kind of frivolity. He would rather sit in his container and watch a good story but rules were rules, and he didn’t want to risk being penalised.

He felt anxious. Not because of Binge but because today the Council would announce the results of the representation lottery.  Sevan knew the odds of his number coming out of the machine were astronomical. He offered a silent prayer to the Giant Sky Cup and hoped it was listening.

Throughout his life, Sevan had avoided attention. He enjoyed nothing more than being ignored. Being selected for the council would be the worst disaster imaginable. They would plaster his face all over the story screens at every corner of the colony and everyone would know who he was, it would ruin his glorious anonymity forever.

He tried to take his marbles off things by listening to his entertainment implant but he was tiring of the Concession playlist, though he would never admit that to anyone for fear of being penalised.

Sevan’s shuttle was getting close to the terminal where he would need to change into a second shuttle to get him close enough to his assigned department. It would be a lot easier if the Council had allocated a container closer to his department, but he assumed they had their reasons.

On the second shuttle, he also got a seat. He couldn’t believe it. This was an omen, a sign from the Giant Cup. Everything would be okay. The recorded voice asking him to hold tight, to not defecate on the shuttle and to enjoy his journey didn’t annoy him as it usually did. Today would be a good day and it was Binge tomorrow and that wouldn’t be as bad as he was expecting either.

His department was located in an area filled with so many commercial container stacks that the starlight didn’t quite reach ground level and Sevan was glad that the walk from the shuttle terminal to his department’s stack was a short one.

Sevan felt a new wave of anxiety rising within him. This time it wasn’t because of the lottery or Binge day, it was because in a few moments he would enter his department’s stack and he would have to get to his work area without bumping into his nemesis, Fore. Fore was a bully who used to lie in wait for Sevan and then pounce on him with a barrage of humiliating taunts. Sometimes, Sevan would have to take tortuous routes to his work area to avoid contact with Fore and he wasn’t always successful. Today was one of those days.

Sevan!

His antennae quivered at the sound of Fore’s voice.

Sevan! Why are you running away? I’m not going to eat you, or am I? Fore caught up with him and flashed all three rows of his sharp teeth.

Fore prided himself on being the green side of turquoise but Sevan figured he couldn’t be all that special if he was working in the stacks for the concession.

What do you want, Fore?

Oooo. Somebody got up on the wrong side of the container, Fore mocked.

At times like this, Binge didn’t seem so bad. Sevan would rather be off his antennae on fushy fushy juice than listening to Fore.

Leave me alone. I have work to do, Sevan grumbled.

Haven’t you heard? I guess you are not in the loop, Fore laughed. There is an assembly, they're going to announce the results of the lottery.

That was all Sevan needed. He was struggling to meet his targets as it was, the last thing he needed was to waste time in a pointless meeting just to see which poor fusher they would sacrifice to the media sideshow of the Concession Representation Council.

He followed Fore to the arena where the workers were gathering to hear the announcement. Workers, who were meeting their targets, seemed happy for a bit of time off and most were looking forward to the day off for Binge tomorrow.

Security around the arena was heavier than usual and Sevan wondered whether they were expecting another terrorist attack. The thought made him even more nervous.

Sevan watched as Thertee, one of the Concession supervisors, tuned in the huge screen which would display the results of the lottery. The huge screen crackled into life and images of the council chamber came into focus. He felt tired and wished he could sit down.

When the council members came into focus, Sevan realised how green they all were. He was sure they hadn’t been as green last year. They made Thertee look blue, even though Thertee was the greenest of anyone whom Sevan had met in real life.

Fore seemed to be getting into the spirit of things.

What would you do if your name came out of the lottery? Sevan asked.

I would be honoured, he said standing straighter. I’m the material they are looking for and it wouldn’t surprise me if I was chosen.

But it’s a lottery.

Exactly, it wouldn’t surprise me if they chose me in the lottery.

But that’s not how lotteries work. Oh, never mind.

Sevan prepared himself for the long haul. He knew that before they would draw the name, there would be a line of council members queuing up to deliver long tedious speeches designed to reinforce their own importance.

There was a scuffle behind them and Sevan turned to see a pair of very dark blue antennae disappearing into the crowd, pursued by several members of the security forces.

Resistance, said Fore, not taking his eyes off the big screen.

Resistance? What are they resisting? The Concession gives us work and accommodation and food. Some people don’t know when they are well off.

Some people are never satisfied.

Exactly, said Sevan. He caught himself agreeing with Fore and the sensation was most irritating.

The speeches began and Sevan’s eyes began to glaze over. The speeches were almost identical year in and year out and, although he agreed with their sentiment, he was eager to get back to his work. Those targets wouldn’t meet themselves.

When the last council member had delivered his final dramatic phrase, they made preparations for the draw. Sevan watched as they moved the huge machine into place containing thousands of balls, each printed with the name of a worker.

The huge crowd had fallen silent now, many of the workers were praying to the Giant Cup in the Sky that their name would be the one drawn. Sevan was praying to the Giant Cup in the Sky that they would get on with it so he could get back to his targets.

The Chief Council Member pressed a button, which turned on the machine and a great cage, containing thousands of balls began to turn. It was so quiet you could hear an antenna twitch.

After what seemed to Sevan like an eternity, the Chief Council Member pressed a second button which released one ball. Sevan noticed the ball was just the blue side of turquoise. It rolled down the wire track and fell into the waiting hand of the Chief Council Member who lifted it up to read the name.

The worker selected to be this year’s representative on the Concession Council is...

The Chief Council Member held up the name for everyone in the arena to see.

Sevan fainted.

CHAPTER 2: THE CAVERN OF MYSTERY

Sevan awoke and looked around. He appeared to be in what he imagined to be some kind of container except that it was much larger than his own.

Ah, the sleeper awakes.

It was Thertee, carrying two cups one of which he handed to Sevan.

Welcome to my cavern of mystery. You've been out for some time. You got your marbles in a twist.

The truth began to seep back into Sevan’s antennae as he remembered what had happened at the lottery draw.

The lottery!

Calm down, drink your juice. Don't worry, it’s not fushy fushy juice, we'll save that for tomorrow.

Sevan took a sip of his juice but it did little to make him feel less anxious.

What will happen to me?

You are going to be the worker’s representative on the Concession Council.

But I don’t want to be.

I’m afraid that has very little to do with it. The Council has chosen you to serve and serve you must.

Can’t they choose someone else? We'll tell them they've made a mistake.

I don’t think that will go down very well, Thertee laughed. Do you remember a few years ago there was a representative chosen called Tuuth?

Wasn’t he the one who died in a freak accident on the way to the Council chamber?

That was no freak accident. Tuuth was adamant that he would turn down his appointment.  They eliminated him before he could open his mouth and embarrass the Council.

Sevan took a gulp of his juice.

There are several truths that you should know before I take you to the Council. It may be difficult to hear Sevan, but you must hear because time is running out.

What do you mean?

How long have you been working for the Concession Sevan?

I don’t know, as long as I can remember.

That’s right Sevan, as long as you can remember. Can you remember life before the concession?

Sevan thought about it.

Well, yes, I think so.

What can you remember?

Erm...

The Concession wants you to believe you had a life before the Concession but the Concessionis your life and will be unless you can do something about it.

Me? Why?

Sevan, do you know why they call this The Doomed Planet? Because this planet is doomed, we are doomed. Our only purpose here is to mine the minerals the corporation requires. As soon as the Concession becomes unprofitable, which is sooner than you think, they will liquidate the concession, the planet. They will liquidate us.

Liquidate?

You think you are a willing worker here, Sevan, the Concession gives you everything you need but in reality you are a slave, we are all slaves. We only exist to work for the concession. Think about it, what kind of life do you have other than working for the concession?

Binge?

They only give you Binge to take your mind off how pointless your life is.

How do you know all this?

That’s not important right now. What is important is that they have chosen you as the new representative and only you have the power to save us.

What? Sevan almost choked on his juice. I get anxious about getting up in the morning, how do you expect me to take on the corporation?

Not the corporation Sevan, it’s bigger than that.

What’s bigger than the corporation? I can’t do anything, I’m nobody.

Which is why they chose you as the workers representative. Failing to meet your targets, chronic anxiety, what better individual.  You present no threat to the corporation, at least that’s what they think.

What do you mean chosen? It’s a lottery. The council couldn’t have chosen me.

They didn’t choose you Sevan, the corporation did. The corporation controls everything that happens in the concession, they even turn us against each other to keep us in our place.

How?

Green versus blue?

But you are one of the worst at saying green is better than blue, Thertee.

I know, and it makes me sick, Sevan, but I must remain above suspicion.  If the corporation, or the council, suspected I was anything but one hundred percent loyal it would jeopardise all our efforts to save our race.

It all seems far-fetched Thertee. Are you sure you haven’t being doing a bit too much of the old fushy fushy juice?

Thertee laughed.

Let me show you something,

Thertee switched on a screen and twiddled a few knobs. When the picture crackled into view, Sevan could see that it was coverage of the lottery draw, in particular the machine containing the thousands of balls. Thertee twiddled a few more knobs, and the image zoomed in on the balls in the machine.

Look, Sevan.

Sevan walked over to the screen and peered at the balls. After a couple of moments, he realised that every ball had his name printed on it.

How could no one notice this?

You'd be surprised what a bit of mass delirium can do. Half the workers started taking fushy fushy juice yesterday to prepare for Binge.

But the council members.

They are always high.

On fushy fushy juice?

No, on these.

Thertee produced a small tablet from an only slightly larger box.

You should have one. It might help with your anxiety.

Thertee handed Sevan the pill.

I’m not sure, Sevan looked at the pill resting in his palm.

Come on Sevan, if you are going to save us you will need to take risks.

Sevan popped the pill into his mouth and washed it down with the last of his juice.

How do you feel?

I feel very anxious, like my throat is closing, like I’m not going to be able to breathe. Make it stop.

Oh dear. Maybe that was a bad idea.

Sevan held onto his seat as if the floor was hundreds of feet below and he might fall off at any moment.

I thought you were giving me something to help me, Sevan gasped.

Well, it helps most people to feel relaxed. I should have known that it would make you more anxious, Thertee said as he prepared an herbal tea. Listen Sevan, I wouldn’t have chosen you for this mission either but I don’t have any choice, you’re the only option.

Thertee took the cup of herbal tea and sat next to Sevan.

Will that help me calm down? Sevan asked, looking at the cup.

This? Oh no, this isn’t for you, it’s for me. I deserve it.

Thertee moved just far enough away from Sevan so that his cup was out of reach.

That pill was meant to calm you down enough for me to tell you the plan, Thertee grumbled. Never mind, I’ll just have to tell it to you while you are in this state and hope you remember most of it.

Can’t you tell me later?

No, this will be the last time when I can guarantee to be alone with you.

Well don’t you have some pills in your cavern of mystery that would reveal everything to me?

A magic pill that reveals the truth to you so you understand that your entire life so far had been a lie? Don’t be silly that would be ridiculous.

Sevan didn’t think it such a bad idea. He wished there was another magic pill he could take which would allow him to forget all this and go back to the life he was living before; ignorant of all this truth. Even the work bully, Fore, didn’t seem so bad anymore.

So why do you call this the cavern of mysteries then? Sevan grumbled.

Because here is where I keep all the secrets, all the truths, all the evidence about who we were and where we came from.

And they let you keep it here?

If they knew what I kept here in my cavern of mysteries, they would execute me for sure.

How do they not know?

Oh, I’m above suspicion. Such a loyal servant for so many years. If you got into difficulties during your mission, I would be quite unable to help you. And if you dare repeat anything I am about to tell you, I would deny it as the ravings of one who has had too much fushy fushy juice.

That’s nice to know.

Yes, you are on your own.

So what were you going to tell me? I don’t suppose it’s not too late to not know is it?

Do you realise how many negatives were in that sentence? You must learn to look at the positives.

Are there any?

I’m sure there must be if you look hard enough.

All this thinking was making Sevan dizzy, and he decided it would be better if he just concentrated on two things: not moving and breathing.

We have a contact in the corporation who will arrange a visit for the Concession Council.

To the corporation? Sevan was so shocked he almost forgets to both stay still and breathe.

That’s only half of it. Our contact in the Corporation is high ranking. He will get you onto a corporation freighter so you can go to see Man.

Man?

President Man.

President Man? The president of the whole region? Are you mad? How am I supposed to get anywhere near him? And what am I supposed to say if I did? Sevan had given up on breathing and trying to stay still all together.

This is what you have to listen to, Sevan. I may not have time to tell you again.

You need to tell President Man about Barnes?

Barnes?

That’s right. The corporation is flouting hundreds of system regulations by keeping us here and treating us like slaves. It’s Barnes who is responsible. If we can let President Man know what is happening and get rid of Barnes, then we could end this persecution once and for all.

Why has no one thought about telling President Man before?

It’s not that easy Sevan. We are never allowed to communicate with the corporation, except through the Commission Council, and a worker has never communicated with the system outside of the corporation. The opportunity to get you on board a corporation freighter is too good to miss, we don’t know when we’ll get another chance, Sevan. It’s now or never. You or no one. We have no choice, Sevan, you are our only hope.

So let’s assume, for argument’s sake, that this friend of yours gets me on the freighter. What the cavernous sink plug am I supposed to do then?

There I cannot help you, Thertee admitted. Our contact assures me that there will be an agent on the freighter to help you but beyond that I cannot say.

Sevan didn’t feel at all reassured, the sense of anxiety continued to rise.

Look up there, said Thertee, pointing through an aperture in the container wall. The Giant Cup is full tonight. It’s an omen.

What do you mean? The Giant Cup is always full on Binge Eve. That’s how they decide it’s time for Binge.

Come on Sevan, work with me. I’m clutching at antennae here.

I’m not going to get out of this am I? Sevan sighed.

Thertee shook his antennae.

No. You don't want to end up like Tuuth do you?

It was Sevan’s turn to shake his antennae.

There was a bang on the container door.

Come, said Thertee in an authoritative voice.

The door opened and a member of the security force entered.

Sir, the guard said with deference.

Yes, what is it? Thertee’s tone was impatient.

The guard swallowed hard and straightened to his full height before speaking.

The Council requests the presence of the representative.

Sevan fainted.

CHAPTER 3: THE CALLING

When Sevan awoke, the security forces led him through cavernous tunnels followed at a polite distance by Thertee. Sevan felt terrible. It was all he could do to walk straight. He kept his eyes fixed on the guard leading the way. Any glance to either side would set off a dizziness that threatened to topple his balance.

They arrived at a set of huge doors which appeared to swing open of their own accord when they approached. As the doors opened, they revealed the huge council chamber, large considering the small number of council members, all of whom appeared to have gathered to welcome Sevan. He observed how green they looked in relation to himself and he felt self-conscious. The chamber itself was oval, most of the ceiling was made of glass through which Sevan could see beautiful hues of the darkening sky. Rows of pillars which reached up to an ornate vaulted perimeter supported the huge expanse of glass. The detail in the ornamentation was so fine that Sevan assumed a previous civilisation must have created the chamber. Nothing he had seen on the Concession matched the quality of the work in this room.

Sevan, so good to meet you, said the Chief Council Member. Sevan recognised him from the various times he had seen him on the big screen addressing the workers, that very morning being the most recent occasion.

And you, said Sevan. He gave an awkward bow, and they shook antennae.

Thank you, Thertee, that will be all, said the Chief Council Member.

Thertee bowed and backed out of the room but not before offering Sevan a wink and a smile. Two members of the security forces closed the huge doors behind him.

Congratulations, the Chief Council Member continued. If you use your marbles, Sevan. You could be onto a good thing here. Did you enjoy your work?

Yes, Sevan realised his answer had been too eager.

Oh come, come, Sevan, we know what it’s like out there, living and working in those containers. You won’t have to worry about that any more. I’m sure you’ll find your quarters even more comfortable than those of Thertee. This is as good as it gets for a worker like you, Sevan, you were very fortunate that we drew your name.

May I ask you a question?

Of course.

Is it a lottery or was I chosen?

The Chief Council Member laughed.

Has Thertee been filling your antennae with conspiracy theories? He does that to all the new representatives. The Chief Council Member leant closer and lowered his voice, Between you and me, Sevan, I think Thertee is losing his marbles. I’m not sure he is up to the job anymore, but he’s been here for so long that I can’t bring myself to get rid of him.

The Chief Council Member started walking around the chamber and Sevan sensed that he required him to follow.

I imagine he told you we are all slaves here on the concession, didn’t he?

Well... Sevan didn’t want to get Thertee into trouble.

Do we look like slaves to you, Sevan? Have you ever felt like a slave?

Well...

No, I didn’t think so. Slaves don’t have representatives on the council, do they? And yet here you are, Sevan. I think you could go places, Sevan. You just have to play the game, if you know what I mean, Sevan. Do you know what I mean?

Er...I think so.

I mean, it’s like all this green blue rubbish. We are all turquoise, aren’t we? Look at you and me, we can get on fine together, can't we? We’re both turquoise.

Sevan nodded, but he knew that he was the blue side of turquoise while the Chief Council Member was the green side of turquoise, there was no doubt about that. He also knew that workers doing menial jobs tended to be darker shades of blue while supervisors were usually all shades of green. As he surveyed the other council members in the chamber, Sevan saw the greenest shades of turquoise he had ever encountered and the Chief Council Member was the greenest of all.

May I ask you a question, Chief Council Member? Sevan swallowed hard.

Please call me CCM, or just sir.

Yes, sir. I was just wondering whether there was any truth in the rumour that when we have depleted all the ore, they will liquidise the planet.

Was that Thertee as well? CCM laughed.

Well...

I wouldn’t worry, Sevan. We’re not about to run out of Ore soon.

It’s just that I’ve been struggling to meet my quotas and I wondered whether scarcity might be a contributing factor.

I wouldn’t worry about that, Sevan. You won’t need to be fulfilling any quotas soon, as long as you play the game. You understand?

Sevan nodded, but he did not understand what game they expected him to play.

Magnificent isn’t it? the CCM said, staring up at the ceiling.

Sevan wasn’t sure whether he was referring to the ornate architecture or the Giant Cup visible through the glass.

Yes, it is. Sevan just stared upwards looking at both marvels.

"The