by Eden Ember
They illuminated the other ship, and I was in no doubt now. But it was impossible. I squinted. Was that really the Torq Runner?
The ship’s shields announced they were at 95%. We were taking fire from the side of the ship I was on. I was in a fucking airlock - there was no way that one hatch door would be strong enough to save me from a direct hit.
I had to get out of here. And fast.
I scanned the room again, I even tried the buttons at the inner door, but it wouldn’t open. Everything shook again.
91%
I leaned back against the door, eyes closed. So this would be it. This is how I’d die.
I let out a deep sigh before opening my eyes.
Of course!
If I could climb up the fallen boxes, maybe I could kick one of those vents open. They looked about the same size as the ones I’d spend too long cleaning on the Torq Runner - the same ship that was firing at me right now.
I climbed the boxes with renewed strength. Elgan was coming for me, he would save me... that was if his fire didn’t kill me first.
Chapter Ten
Elgan
Kefiz arrived that evening with food to my holding cell. It was a job far beneath him, but it was the only time they allowed me any interaction with the crew. That was the protocol.
Gandrox hadn’t needed to issue the orders for me to go to the secure cells, I had enough honor to make my way there as soon as we docked back on board.
“Is Derkhed’s ship still in orbit?” I asked him as he handed me a plate of food.
He didn’t make eye contact.
“Why haven’t we left Corigore yet?” I persisted.
He leaned against the wall, his own plate in one hand, a fork in the other. Kefiz shot me a sly look. “That quiet Terran, Jules, is it? The engineer. She has insisted on running extra tests with the new fuel, checking efficiences and what have you.”
“The simulations would have been accurate.”
He pointed at me, a morsel of ferunwal meat fell from his fork as he gestured. “You’re a smart male, but you’re kinda dumb.” He retrieved the food, popping it into his mouth, chewing as he continued. “Allegra, Jules, all of them, they’re holding things up. Biding time while Allegra reasons with Gandrox to let you out of here.” He paused.
“If he doesn’t agree to go after this Derhked guy, are you going to leave the Torq Runner to go it alone?”
Allegra had been busy. From anyone else, it would have been an act of defiance, betrayal to the captain.
“Someone will get into a lot of trouble about this.” I sighed.
“Gandrox is an exceptional guy, we all know it. Saved my ass enough times.” Kefiz said, heaping another mouthful. “And I can see where he was coming from, we are on a mission here.”
I bristled.
“Wait.” he said, “That’s his job. Keep us to our mission, make sure we complete it. I guess he’s only going on his own understanding of meeting his fated.”
“Well,” I chuckled, “That didn’t go so either.”
“True love never does, eh?” he shot me a knowing look. “Anyway, I don’t think the decision sat well with Gandrox.”
“But Derkhed’s ship is long gone - at least that’s what you’ve told me.”
“I said nothing!” he protested.
“You didn’t have to, my friend.” I raked my fingers through my hair. “She’s already long gone. Whether Gandrox changes his decision by himself or with Allegra’s help, Diamond could be anywhere in a dozen different quadrants by now, more by the morning.”
“You never let me finish, do you?” Kefiz challenged. “I was about to say that the reason I know the decision doesn’t sit well with Gandrox is because he’s called in a favor from a Truid we both know.”
“Rendrell.” we said together.
“Yep.” he nodded. “Rendrell’s on the XIE-597 space station right now and working his tracking magic.” He circled his fork in the air. “Somewhere out there, he’s hacking into the travel signature of, what, two hundred ships, looking for a big old bastard by the name of Derkhed on the Updread.”
I sat my plate down, no longer hungry.
“Then we must go!” I said. “Or at least, when I’m released from this cell, I’ll know the direction to travel.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” he cautioned. “A ship of his size has dozens of small craft on board, any of them could travel elsewhere with Diamond onboard. You could look for Diamond and find a whoremonger instead. We both know that the travel signatures of those small ships are too weak for Rendrell to follow.”
“Thank you.” I said, honestly. “I know it’s unlikely I’ll ever see her again, and if I do, I doubt she’ll even want to see me. But I…”
“Yeah,” he rolled his eyes. “You love her.” He gestured for me to hand him my plate. “You gonna eat that?” he asked.
I shook my head as I gave the plate to him. “You’ve saved my ass enough times too, Elgan. If this is what you want, then we all want to help you do it.”
“And Gandrox?” I asked, feeling the pain of betrayal in my gut - his for not understanding or caring about the dire situation Diamond would have to endure; and mine for even considering going against the only captain I’d ever respected.
The cell door opened, Gandrox stood there, his mouth a thin, grim line across his face. “Gandrox will do everything within his power to reunite you with your mate.”
Gandrox released me from the cell and brought me and Kefiz to the flight deck where Allegra was already waiting.
“It was a fortunate coincidence to find you with Elgan,” Gandrox eyed Kefiz, “It is far beneath the duties of the chief security officer to bring sustenance to a prisoner.”
“I learned from my captain that I should do my best not to ask something from my subordinates that I would not do myself, sir.” Kefiz said, impassively. “You are a wise captain and it is good for the crew to see us all working.”
Allegra stood a little way back with Jules and tried to hide her laugh with a cough.
“Well, I have my Chief Security Officer, my Chief Navigator and an expert engineer…” He turned to give Allegra a soft smile. “And my Allegra, my mate - the one I would be nothing without.”
He gave me a tight smile. “I have had reason to reconsider my decision.”
Kefiz elbowed me, “See?” he beamed.
“Thank you, Gandrox.” I said, approaching him to salute him. Instead, Gandrox clasped my shoulder. “We will find her, my faithful friend, and we shall return your mate to safety.” While for many others, they could have said more, but neither of us needed the words. Actions mattered and time was crucial.
He turned his attention to the entire room. “You are all here because I have received news from Rendrell.”
I already knew Rendrell’s task to find the Updread had started within five hours of our return to the Torq Runner. It had taken him almost thirty to find it.
Impressive, if you looked at it from a neutral standpoint, considering the amount of traffic around Coriogre, the busiest trade post on this side of the Burlah System. However, his efforts could be for naught if you looked at it from my perspective.
“So, Jules, if you are now happy to bring the alternative, new fuel system online, maybe we can make our departure from Coriogre?”
“Already on it, Captain.” she beamed, her fingers tapping a dance on her comms device as she spoke.
“Kefiz, have you made progress with finding schematics for the Updread?”
“Aye.” Kefiz rubbed his hands together. “It’s a Xeionian cruiser, they build most of them in the same fashion. Some are bigger than others, but the look-see I had before it left was very useful.”
“And you’re certain Derkhed’s ship didn’t notice you?”
“All these years, fighting the Zeta Empire, sneaking into places that I shouldn’t have been, and you think a whoremonger is the one who will detect me?” Kefiz looked disappointed. “I may not have had o
ur best navigator, but I’m on this ship for a good reason.”
Gandrox brought a map up on the screen. “This is where Rendrell has located the Updread.” A small red dot flashed, a pale pink line showed their trajectory.
I recognized the place instantly.
“How soon can you get us there?” Gandrox asked.
I thought for a moment. “Jules, the additional fuel...” I scratched my chin. “With the additional weight of the fuel we’re carrying, does it negate the proposed speed improvements you’d calculated?”
“No, I based my estimates on carrying a full fuel load.” She stood proudly. “And she’ll only go faster again as our fuel is used.”
“Good.” I said, moving closer to the display, tapping into the controls beside it. “Because if they continue on that trajectory, at that speed, it’ll only take us… 36 hours to catch up.”
“What?” The shock was audible in Allegra’s voice. “Aren’t we going to to into hyper speed?”
“That is with hyper speed engaged.” I admitted.
Allegra balled her fists. “We then need to haul ass! Our girl will not be left with those bastards for that long!”
Jules never stopped working, sending all the power she could to making the Torq Runner move faster than ever. Every non-essential power drain on the ship had been turned off, halting full sections of the ship’s work to redirect the extra power to our hyper speed.
Rendrell updated us often, so we altered our course when needed. Derkhed’s journey was erratic, speeding up and slowing down. At one point, he’d brought his ship to a sudden stop, allowing it to drift in space. Between us, we’d decided the most likely reason was that his ship was having engine problems.
I only hoped the Updread’s flight problems didn’t mean that there were other system problems on board. A problem with air filtration or oxygenation capacitors would mean a life-or-death situation for Diamond and I doubted they would have any Terran-safe breathing apparatus on board for her.
Kefiz updated me on what he’d observed of the ship and where he believed the weakest points would be. He explained that Xeionian cruisers were well known for having a weak point near their airlocks - Jules explained it as a double-vaulted issue with the air vents that route near the airlocks and a low voltage pressure capacitor.
And with the size of the airlocks, their atmosphere shields would struggle to patch the hole.
We decided that the most likely place he’d keep Diamond would be in one of the security holding cells. They were deep within the center of the ship, just like the cell I’d been in.
Even with a weak airlock, there would be enough sealed doors that her oxygen supply would not be compromised if we blasted through the airlocks. It was perfect, Kefiz would blast the ship, focusing on neutralizing their missiles and distracting them until I gave him the mark that I had retrieved Diamond. Then Kefiz’s men would blast open their airlocks, short-circuit the capacitors to open the airlock’s inner doors. They’d be inside the ship within minutes. Derkhed would have no choice but to send all his guards to defend his ship.
Meanwhile, I’d take a Varbox. I’d blast a small, Varbox-sized hole through landing bay doors, go directly to the holding cells, find Diamond and give Kefiz the mark to attack the airlocks. I’d kill any of the Updread crew who were stupid enough to come in our way as we returned to the Varbox. Then we’d leave. Once we were back on the Torq Runner, Kefiz’s men would retreat.
With the fire the Torq Runner would rain on them, it was possible they wouldn’t even notice such a small ship as a Varbox approaching. That would be the best outcome.
When the Torq Runner came within missile range, we started preparing to attack the lower airlocks. The sheer force of the first heavy missiles leaving the Torq Runner made the floor shake as they left.
Gandrox embraced me in the way of our warriors. “Fight well, Elgan. May Decators see your valor.”
Allegra rushed at me, throwing her arms around me as I stood beside the Varbox ship, “Be safe, Elgan. And bring her home.”
A damp patch on my tunic betrayed the tears that spilled from Allegra’s eyes. “Don’t die, ok?” she said, forcing a wry smile onto her face. “I’ll never hear the end of it from Gandrox if I was wrong about this whole Diamond-saving-mission.”
“Well, when you put it that way…” I gave a dry laugh. “I don’t intend to.” I smiled, wondering why the sight of a Terran female with red-rimmed eyes made me feel so uncomfortable. Crying seemed to be a hobby for them.
Gandrox ushered his mate away as I boarded the Varbox and squeezed into the pilot seat. At least there was a small cargo area just behind me. While it would be cramped, it would be enough room for Diamond on our return.
I positioned the small ship just behind our primary missile launcher, giving Kefiz the signal that I was in place and to release the next missile at will. I watched the mechanism prepare… I knew its movements, its countdown. Instinctively, I counted, my finger on the turbo-nuclear accelerator. Three. Two. One!
The Varbox responded instantly to my commands: full throttle ahead. Under any other circumstance, it was an exhilarating ship with such quick responses and speed that I could fly, undetected, behind a missile almost the full way to the airlocks. Moments before the impact, I changed my course to fly beneath the ship, turning a hard right to journey to the back and where I knew their auxiliary loading bay would be. The gravitational forces pulled hard against me, but the Varbox obeyed my command.
Minutes later I’d blasted a hole into the bay’s door and brought the ship to a halt inside. I opened the Varbox’s door tentatively, my sub-laser gun ready to kill anyone I met.
The Varbox wobbled on its feet and I watched as a small bench that was closer to the hole slid across the floor before being sucked slowly through the hole and into oblivion. Their atmospheric shields weren’t as strong as I’d expected. They wouldn’t cope with the large break that our missiles would cause.
Shooting through the airlocks might disintegrate the atmospheric shields entirely.
“I’m in.” I said as I reached for the landing clips, wincing at the noise they made when I attached them to the Varbox’s docks. “Shields aren’t strong enough to withstand a full breach.” I spoke quietly into my comms device, praying to Decators that they wouldn’t intercept a rogue signal. “Destroy no more than one air lock. But keep firing to keep them busy. Wait for my mark.”
“Understood.” Kefiz’s voice crackled into my earpiece.
I snuck from the landing bay towards the middle of the ship. I expected I’d find a ramp soon and then I’d head towards the lower decks. Diamond could be nowhere else.
The journey was slow, and I’d had to retrace my steps a few times. The other cells had been unlocked. This had to be the one.
I pulled the first canister from my pocket. I sprayed the foam around the door, it oozed into the tiniest of crevices, hissing and popping as it worked its way into the mechanism. A quick look around ensured that there was no one coming, except there was. I could hear the heavy marching footsteps of guards in formation echoing along the corridors. They were at a distance now, but hearing the foam explode would draw them to me.
I couldn’t take that risk with Diamond beside me. Nor could I wait in the hope they’d pass.
I wasn’t to give Kefiz my mark until later, but I whispered into my comms. I’d make sure Diamond would be on the Varbox and hurtling back towards the Torq Runner in less than three minutes. Kefiz’s response was instant, as was the shudder that shook the entire ship. He’d had a missile targeted and ready to respond the instant I’d gave him the command. That would be enough to distract guards.
“Diamond.” I shouted to the door, “Diamond, if you can hear me, stand back!”
I activated the probe capsule on the bottom of the canister, two sharp, metallic probes appeared. Then I jammed them into the foam and quickly moved away.
The foam exploded, hurtling fragments of the door in all directions. I hoped
Diamond had heard my warning.
Before I could check, I felt something sharp scratch my neck. I tried to swat it away, but my arms were too heavy. Blackness clawed at my vision, but it didn’t overpower me. I watched as three guards charged from the locked room.
She hadn’t been there at all.
I tried to call her name, “Diamond!” but the sound came slow and echoed deep in my ears.
I could do nothing but watch as they dragged me away.
A deep male voice spoke, instructing someone that they had detained me. “Good. His friends are very interested in our airlocks.” A tinny voice said. “Throw him in an empty one on our port side.”
It was hazy; but wasn’t there something bad about the air locks? I stretched my jaw and blinked. I ignored the painful smack as my head landed on the floor. They’d dropped me somewhere.
Realization dawned on me as I heard a heavy door hissing shut. Someone had drugged me. I shook my head, pushing the stupor away.
My brain insisted there was a huge, urgent problem that needed my attention. I looked around. Fuck.
I was in an air lock.
I reached to press my comms device, only to feel the sharp scratch of broken metal slice my finger. The blast, or the guards, had broke my comms device.
Their drug lost its power as the truth of my situation came into sharp focus.
Kefiz was firing everything he had at the airlocks because he thought I’d be half way back to the Varbox by now. I needed to get out of there.
I slammed myself into the airlock door a dozen times before giving up. It would not budge. I reached for my backup foam explosive. There were two choices: spread it thinly to cover the entire door mechanism, or concentrate the full canister onto one area and hope blowing that small section to pieces would be enough to crawl through.
I looked closer at the door, estimating the thickness of the door by what I could see through the interior port window. The door was at least a cubit thick. Even if I directed all the foam to one place, would it even be able to creep far enough into the sill?