by L. Fergus
“We do?” said Kita as the group returned to the table.
“What’s all that flame of yours good for?”
“Burning things?”
“Do I have to teach you Texas-style BBQ?”
“Uhm, what in the Crushing Depths is that?” said Kita with a questioning look.
“I doubt the kitty cats have BBQ sauce around here. Maybe you can smoke them.”
“What?”
“Kita, honey, just pick up the meat and cook it,” said Anthrax.
Kita picked up a filet from Defiance’s tray and heated her hand. She held it until it smelled done and gave it back.
Defiance took a bite. “Not bad. If you ever need a day job, you could become a BBQ pit master.”
A crewmember in a yellow jumpsuit entered the galley and approached the table. “Captain Kita?”
Kita turned in her chair. “Yes?”
“Collector would like to speak with you.”
Kita nodded. “Ok, take me to the communications room.”
“Can we come?” said Phoenix.
Kita shrugged. “Sure.”
“We’re going to stay and eat,” said Panther for her and Defiance.
The three young Angels got up and followed Kita and the sailor out of the galley.
“Kita,” called Valentine.
“Yes, Denver?”
“I…I wanted to know if it would be ok if I connected my computer to yours. I miss you.”
Kita smiled. Valentine was the daughter of the AI Omega, and she had a computer in her head like Kita. It was nice to be needed. She missed having the connection to Valentine. “Of course you can. I’m afraid there’s not much to do. I don’t have an empire that needs to be run.”
“That’s ok. Just being connected to you makes me feel better.”
“How are you doing?” Kita said, concerned.
“I’m doing ok. Kylee keeps me busy. Keeping her from destroying everything is hard.”
“Are you two doing ok?”
“Yeah, we’re fine. I just don’t think she realizes how draining she is.”
Kita understood Valentine’s complaint. Phoenix’s constant energy and motion could be overwhelming. She’d been that way since Kita had found her at age eight. Years without a break could take an incredible emotional toll.
“I remember. Don’t worry. I’m here now and can help. I was hoping she’d grow some and learn how to lead.”
“She did. She’s a good leader when it doesn’t become a fight, but she never stops, and it can be a constant battle keeping her on track. She just wants to destroy everything not thinking if she should.”
That had been a major worry of Kita’s when she’d chosen Phoenix to lead. Could she control herself? She was always impulsive, never thinking things through. But, there were times when she did, and Phoenix had great results. Kita had hoped she’d grow into it and having her sister as co-leader would balance her out.
“That’s good to hear. I’m glad Kylee’s grown. I’m excited to see how you and she have turned out.”
“Thanks. I don’t think we’ve disappointed you.”
“You’re both here and in one piece. I can’t ask for more.”
“Sometimes not for lack of trying.”
Kita chuckled. “That’s part of growing up. I hope you learned from your mistakes.”
“I have, I’m not sure about Kylee,” said Valentine.
“I’m sure somewhere in that brain of hers the lessons have taken root.”
“I hope so. I’m just glad she’s damned near invincible and can get out of trouble.”
Kita chuckled. That had been by design.
“Don’t worry, Denver. I know she’s a handful, but you did a good job, and she loves you. Have you told her what’s bothering you?”
“No.”
“I know she wouldn’t like to see you distressed. If you had told her, I’m sure she’d try and accommodate you.”
“I was afraid she’d see me as weak and leave me.”
Kita stepped back and put her arm around Valentine.
“Denver, Kylee would never leave you, but you have to do what is right for you. Wearing yourself down until you’re nothing doesn’t help you or her.”
“But, what if she—”
“You let me worry about her for now. I’ll make sure she stays in one piece. You need to worry about you. Enjoy being with Kylee, don’t worry about what she does. And, take some time for yourself. I’m sorry this ship is so sparse, but Enterprise has some luxuries you can take advantage of, including a library of Earth material that’s mostly up-to-date.”
“That would be nice. It would be great to update my databases,” said Valentine.
“You could go shopping, too.”
“I do need to get one of my ear cuffs repaired. We left in such a hurry I didn’t have time to grab the others.”
“We’ll get you some more. I’m sure the VI can copy the design.”
“I don’t have any money.”
Kita laughed. “Don’t worry about that. We’ve got the company credit card.”
“Thanks…Mom.”
“Mom?”
Valentine’s hand appeared from under her cloak to show off the ring on her finger.
“Oh, congratulations!” Kita kissed Valentine on the side of the head.
“Thanks. We haven’t had a wedding yet. Kylee keeps putting it off.” Valentine looked despondent.
“As soon as we’re settled somewhere we’ll have one.”
“It sounds like we’re going to Earth. I can think of some great places there.”
“If you want it in UEE space we can make it happen.”
“I’ve always dreamed of the Mediterranean Sea.”
Is that Omega talking?
The group entered the communications section of the ship. They wound through the different workstations to a set of doors. Beyond the doors was the quantum communicator. The Angels stepped inside, and an image of Collector appeared.
“Captain Kita, we meet again.”
Kita cocked her head, not liking the tone he conveyed. “Collector.”
“I’ve received some interesting reports over the last few hours. Some are mysterious, others are…provocative.”
“If you’re trying to intimidate me I can get one of your flunkies in here. If you have a problem with something I’ve done spit it out and we can settle it.”
“Snowy said you were a person that preferred action. My first report is about the mysterious destruction of both the Deep Space Prison and Ragji. The DSP showed no signs of being destroyed by a weapon but was ripped apart. Ragji was destroyed by a blast more powerful than any weapon in any arsenal. The origin of the blast is an axis vertically through the ship. There were forty thousand people on that ship, most of them Djinn. It’s a staggering loss for the young king. They are offering a substantial reward for anyone with information.”
“Physics,” said Kita.
“Physics?” said Collector taking a puff of his pipe.
The doors opened, and Snowy and Sahara entered. “Collector, we came as soon as you called,” said Snowy.
“Snowy, yes, in the after action report against Ragji it was recorded that you stated having seen the type of energy burst that destroyed Ragji. Is this correct?”
Snowy went rigid. Kita smirked at her friend. Who are you going to side with Snowy?
“That is correct. I don’t know how they happen, but I know Kita has a way of creating them.”
Kita grinned at Snowy. Her ears went flat against her head, and her whiskers drooped.
“This knowledge is secret to only certain Angels,” said Kita. “It’s not something we’re allowed to divulge to anyone.”
“And if I make it a condition of my continued support?” said Collector as he steepled his fingers.
“Then you might as well let us off here, and we’ll find our own way back to Enterprise. It’s not something we will share for any price.”
“Know
ing it can be done is ninety percent of the battle. My scientists will discover its secrets.”
“Good luck,” said Toxic. “With your infantile understanding of physics, it’ll only take you several million years. You’re talking about power beyond your comprehension. You don’t even understand how everything is put together yet. How can you conceive ripping it apart?”
“Kara, please,” whispered Snowy.
“What? His scientists can’t even figure out how to do this…” Toxic put her hands together. When she opened them, there was an eight-inch dagger in her hand. “Recognize this, Collector?”
Collector reached inside his coat. His nose wrinkled into a snarl. “I expect that returned.”
Toxic held the dagger between her hands and pushed them together. “There you go.”
“Knowledge is power,” said Kita.
“In that, we are in agreement,” said Collector. “From my reports, you have rescued your Angels and recovered your sword?”
“Yes. Thanks to your crew they are recovering from their ordeal.”
“Can you explain why you disobeyed me?” Collector said in a relaxed, but intimidating manner.
Kita traced her tongue around one of her canines. “Because I find slavery reprehensible. Those people were there to buy an Angel. I should have killed Takkat for the two Aurorians he had chained in his bedroom.”
“Snowy informed me you were without morals.”
Kita glared at Snowy, who looked at the floor. “Not without, just my own. I don’t mind a lot of things, but slavery bothers me, especially when it’s one of my Angels.”
“This does not build trust between us.”
Kita folded her arms. “You wanted my help, remember? If you want the help of the powerful, you have to be willing to take them on their own terms. You have my Angels and me for your little war. Let us worry about how to accomplish things.”
“From now on, Snowy and Sahara will accompany you to protect my interests. This is non-negotiable. I have gathered information on Enterprise and the Angels Rene Sheppard and Amanda Gering. The ship is conducting drills with the Diamock and Verisom fleets out in the Bermilli Expanse. You will board a freighter, jump near Enterprise, and take shuttles to capture it. My people will observe and report once you’ve taken the ship.”
Kita ground her teeth over having terms dictated to her. Defiance and Sheppard weren’t going to like having unknown personnel aboard the ship. Maybe she could fool them into thinking the laundry was a top-secret reactor.
“Anything else?” Kita hissed.
“Yes. The Diamock and Varisom crew and fleets are not to be harmed.”
Kita smiled condescendingly. “Of course not.”
“You’re dismissed. Snowy, Sahara, I want to talk to you.”
Kita turned and sneered as the door opened and she led the other Angels out. Dismiss me? Keep thinking you’re in charge.
Kita felt the familiar drop of her stomach to her toes as the freighter made the jump to FTL. Her vision returned, and she was still standing on the small bridge of Halkix.
“Jump complete,” said Defiance as she took off her helmet and set it next to the FTL controls. “We’ve got a five-mile drift from the target. Enterprise just appeared on the scopes, setting course for her now.”
“Is that drift good or bad?” said Toxic.
“That’s phenomenal. Normally drift is measured in hundreds or thousands of miles.”
“That’s what happens when you use the best computers in the universe,” Phoenix said dismissively.
“Yes, glowbug, but I’ll be dreaming of numbers for a week,” said Valentine.
Kita and Kamikaze nodded in agreement.
“Uh-oh. We’ve been noticed,” said Defiance. She leaned over and put the freighter’s communications on speaker.
“This is the Fordina. You have entered a restricted area. Identify yourself.”
“They renamed my ship?” snarled Defiance.
“That’s not a human voice,” said Valor.
“Feed them the song and dance about us having a bad FTL jump and our engines are busted,” said Kita. “I’ll try and contact Sheppard and Amanda.” Kita switched to the comm. “Rene? Amanda? Can you hear me?”
“Kita?” the two Angels replied together.
“By the Crushing Depths, it’s good to hear your voices. Are you alright?”
“I…We’re fine, just in the brig,” said Sheppard.
Kita gasped. “What happened?”
“I turned over control of the ship. I didn’t know if I should fight for it, so I let the Tet have it. I’m sorry. I didn’t know what you had planned. The crew followed us and is locked up in their quarters.”
“When did this happen?”
“Shortly after your trial. The Diamocks ordered us into dock and marched several infantry companies aboard before we could react. The Diamock and Verisom are operating her now as a training vessel to train their ships against fighter and bomber attacks.”
“Ok, I’m here with help to free you and the ship,” said Kita. “We’re on a freighter approaching Enterprise’s position. Can you girls break out and secure the engine room?”
“Sure. We’re not far from there.”
“Good. I’ll send some of the girls to meet you after we secure the bridge.”
“What girls do you have with you?” said Sheppard.
“The Valkyries are back.”
“By the emperor. They’re going to kill me!” cried Sheppard.
“Rene, it’s ok. I’ve talked to them about you. You’ll have some apologizing to do and take a few verbal lumps, but no one is going to kill you. I promise.”
“Ok…”
“How are you, Amanda?” said Kita.
“Fine, just bored. I’ve mastered the tempest in a teacup.”
Kita chuckled. “Now you can make a bigger storm.”
“We’re ready to go on your command,” said Sheppard.
“Once the alarms sound, go.”
“Wilco,” said Sheppard.
“You girls be safe and don’t worry about killing anyone. We’re not working for them anymore.”
“Who are we working for?” said Stormy.
“A group that wants to take us to Earth.”
“Home?”
“Sure. I think it’s time we got out of Tet space.”
“I agree with that,” said Sheppard, “but going to the UEE takes us to Galina.”
“That’s the idea,” said Kita. “You girls be safe.”
“See you when you get here.”
“There’s nothing I can do about it. We’re trying to get the maneuver engines online so we can move,” snarled Defiance at the picture of a Verisom officer.
“How far out are we?” said Kita as she reached over and killed the connection with the Fordina.
“Two miles,” said Defiance.
“Good. Start the engines and set a course so we’ll pass by them. I don’t want to hit them.”
Defiance tapped on the freighter’s flight controls. Through the floor, Kita felt the boost of acceleration from the ship’s engines coming online.
“Ok, back to the cargo area,” Kita ordered to the others.
Kita and her group met with the rest of the Angels in the cargo area.
“Time to go?” said Babydoll from the inside of a shuttle.
“Yes, but we’re not taking shuttles over. We’re going to drop in on top of them.” Babydoll grinned. She dissolved, changing into a dimensionless black cloud. “Kami, take your mother. Vee, take Hali. Denver, take Jess. Kerri, take Sahara. Leaf, take Zen. I’ll take Casey.”
“Kita, we’re supposed to take the shuttles,” said Snowy.
“And I’m changing the plan. This will give us the element of surprise.”
“No,” yelled Snowy. “We’ve worked out a plan. Casey can take control from the hangar area, and we’ll lock the ship down from there.”
Kita held up a hand. “We’re still going to do that, but f
rom the bridge. I don’t want to give the ship a chance to recover. The bridge will give us maximum control of the ship the fastest and prevent casualties on both sides.”
“That’s never been in your calculations for any plan—ever,” snapped Snowy.
“There’s a first time for everything,” Kita replied sweetly.
“If this is a double-cross you will pay,” said Sahara.
“Pray you don’t have to collect,” said Babydoll.
“What exactly are we doing?” said Defiance.
“Going to Enterprise. Sorry, this is going to get a little chilly,” said Kita as she transformed into her cloud. She moved around Defiance and swallowed the Angel. “Ready?” Kita called to the others in the monotone voice all black clouds had.
She received affirmatives from the others. Kita led the group of black, white, and gray clouds out through the roof of the freighter and into space.
As Kita crossed the distance between Halkix and Fordina, she looked out at the stars. The Bermilli Expanse was home to some spectacular views of the Gerix and Comi nebulas. Clouds of young stars burned brightly. Red and orange dust mixed with gases glowing blue and green, creating a sight she’d never seen in the galaxy before.
Kita drifted over the top of Fordina and dropped down through the large dome window into the ship’s sprawling bridge. Most of the workstations sat empty. The holographic table was off. Kita settled next to the table, disgorged her passenger, and then shifted back to her Angelic form. The other Angels did the same.
“B—by the E—Emperor, that is c—cold,” said Valor after Valentine let her go.
“Computer, authenticate Princess Casey Bush,” yelled Defiance.
“Who are you? What are you doing aboard Fordina?” said a Verisom female getting up from her workstation.
“Computer!” screamed Defiance.
“Taking back her ship,” said Kita to the Verisom.
“What’s wrong with my ship?” Defiance yelled at the Verisom.
“This ship belongs to a joint mission between the Diamock and Verisom fleets.”
“It belongs to no one but me,” roared Defiance. She waved her hand and encased the Verisom’s legs in ice.
The rest of the Verisom and Diamock crewmembers rose from their seats.
“I suggest you sit your ugly mugs down,” said Toxic as she drew her swords.