by J. N. Chaney
"Rejon promised to return Gunner’s body," I said. "I’ll hold him to that, but you have to trust me and be patient."
When Rejon emerged, he wore armor and had a large pistol in a drop holster. Five men in lightweight armor weapons made a line behind him.
"X, is that armor powered?" I asked.
"I am detecting significant power signatures and EVA features. Don’t underestimate them," X-37 warned.
"Thanks," I muttered.
"I have convinced my people not to kill you, but you won’t be allowed to move through our base without an armed guard. These men are elite soldiers in our best armor. They are experts with our most powerful weapons," Rejon declared.
"Good for them," I said. "Don’t care, don’t have time for this, and don’t want trouble."
"That’s good, Reaper," Rejon said. "My people have been working for generation after generation to escape this planet and this system. You’ve ruined that. Even if we can rebuild what was lost, we would be defenseless in the void, and you have brought these Union hunters down upon us."
"You shouldn’t have fired the SIC at them without a way to follow up. All that did was piss them off," I said.
"You know about the ship immobilization cannons?" he asked. "How?"
"We saw them fired," I said.
"You know what he means," X-37 said.
I didn’t respond to my LAI.
Rejon countered, "You have seen them work, but when you call them by name, I know your ship computers and your internal computer has gleaned more information than most of my people believe possible."
"He’s not an insert, he’s a limited artificial intelligence installed in my nerve-ware. I call him X or X-37, and he gets touchy if you compare him to a computer," I said, doubting any of this was reassuring the man.
"Why did you come, Reaper?" Rejon asked.
"Because I’ve tried twice to get onto Nebs’s ship without success," I said.
"You want to assassinate him?" Rejon asked, face unreadable.
"Remind me not to play poker with you," I said. "Assassination is an ugly term, but yeah, I want to take him out, steal his ship, and ferment rebellion against the Union."
"What is poker?"
"Don’t worry about it," I said. "If you can convince me you have the ability to fight Nebs, I have something you want."
"What could you possibly have that we need?" Rejon snorted, clearly thinking the idea was ridiculous.
"Well, during one of our escapes from Nebs, we flew into a rather large ship. We found the missing parts to your SIC network. If you can get your capital ships into space, you won’t be defenseless," I said.
"There is something else," Horvath said. "The Union attacked my people in much the same way they attacked yours. Our fleets could provide the follow up strike after you disable their ships."
"Proceed with caution, Reaper Cain," X-37 advised privately. "Horvath is speaking far above his rank."
"Thanks, X," I said, then moved another step closer to Rejon. At this range, I could take him out before the guards reacted—not that I had any intention of assassinating the guy. It was just something that always popped into my head. I always had a plan to kill everyone I met. "Let’s work together, Rejon."
The man maintained his hard, unreasonable face. "Come with me."
22
Inside the concealed blast door was a narrow passage leading to an elevator barely big enough for five people. With the guards, there were eight of us.
It was cozy. I tried to steal cigars from Rejon and his soldiers, but none of them had anything that useful. Their culture seemed to be focused on their ability to salvage wreckage and mine asteroids. I'd never seen so many people who were ready to spacewalk at a moment’s notice.
The rickety conveyance bumped downward, rock walls visible through the cage. X-37 filled the time by pointing out dozens of safety hazards.
"What does your internal computer, your limited AI, tell you?" Rejon asked.
"Nothing useful," I answered. "He advises against putting your hands outside of the cage."
"So it treats you like a child?" Rejon asked with a shitty smile.
"Sometimes," I said. "You know we have the SIC networker with us. You could kill us and take it."
"Yes," Rejon said. "But not without cost in lives and honor. Don’t presume to believe you know me or my people."
"You haven’t seen Cain fight," Horvath said.
I shot him a look, hoping he would drop it and shut his mouth.
"There won’t be any fighting," I said. "We came to make a deal, not die."
"Good," Rejon said. "Your opinion of us may change for the better when we show you the greenhouse."
We continued downward. The elevator cage lacked rust despite its crude design and rudimentary construction. The deeper we went, the more I wondered about Xad and the scavengers. How long had they been here? What type of civilization could spend generations trying to scrounge enough parts to put an exodus fleet back together.
I also really wanted to know what happened to all of these ships. There might be enemies worse than the Union in this part of the galaxy.
"I hope this rattle trap can take us back to the surface when we’re done negotiating," I said.
"Don’t worry yourself," Rejon replied.
"What happened to the fleets in this system?" I asked to pass some time.
"We were ready to leave this system for another when the Alondiss attacked. Nothing prepared us for their treachery," Rejon said. "That was long ago."
Horvath stood rigid. I shook my head, wondering why the hell I hadn’t asked better questions in the beginning.
"The Alondiss? Tell me about them," I said.
"There was a time when my people were fractious, nations constantly at war. When we settled the second planet, it became worse. We were in the middle of a long war for control of the system when the Alondiss attacked in force. By the time we developed the SIC, it was too late," Rejon said. "Our historians say we drove them from the system in a grand battle, but I suspect it was more complicated than that. There have always been theories that they happened on us by accident while en route to another destination."
"The people who attacked my home, Wallach, are called the Alon," Horvath said in a low voice.
"They must be the same," Rejon said. "Perhaps our people will be allies after all."
"Only if you can prove you’re not cannibals who ate one of their soldiers," I said.
"That was poorly timed and insensitive," X-37 said, like I didn’t know I’d just pissed in the punch bowl.
Rejon faced the door and didn’t speak for the rest of the trip to their underground nation.
"You really should get some sleep, or perhaps take a class on how to talk to people," X-37 admonished.
The door to the lift opened to reveal a brightly lit world, the likes of which I’d never seen. Contrary to the greasy elevator cage, this place was a technological marvel. Rejon and his guards escorted us across the wide ledge that overlooked neat farmland and settlements for as far as I could see.
A light as bright as a sun glowed from the ceiling several thousand meters above us.
"This is your greenhouse?"
Rejon looked toward the artificial sun. "We had been building generation ships for a century before the Alondiss arrived. Once our leaders knew the war was lost, they converted some of the technology and implemented a plan to survive the onslaught."
"Why were you building generation ships?" I asked.
"At the time, my ancestors were facing a population crisis. The more people who crowded Xad and her sister planet, Prejin, the more we fought wars," Rejon explained.
"Is there an underground civilization like this on Prejin?" I asked.
"No. It was lost completely to the Alondiss," Rejon said. "They were our enemies for countless years, but when the invaders came, they sacrificed themselves to defend the system. Most of the ancient wreckage we have been attempting to salvage is from the P
rejin fleet."
"There are other ships in the space graveyard, Reaper Cain. He is not telling you everything," X-37 said. "Jelly and I discussed the differences in the wreckage at length before Nebs started shooting the place up. Please run your vision across this cavern so that I can make a record."
I complied, then resumed my talks with Rejon. "How many other fleets came into this system and got waylaid by your SIC?"
"I am not proud of everything we have done to survive," Rejon said. "There were other fleets over the centuries. When they proved hostile, we did what we had to do."
"Like you were pirates," I suggested.
Rejon faced me angrily. "We defended ourselves. If any of the invaders had offered to help us, we would have gladly accepted. You are missing what is important. How likely is it that every extraterrestrial contact was human?"
"I don’t follow," I said. Intelligent alien life wasn’t something I had ever cared about. There were either aliens in the universe or there weren’t. "Are you saying the Alon are aliens?"
"No, they are human, or appear human. But how can that be? Nature has produced all manner of creatures. Logically, not all sentient races would be so similar to us," Rejon said, standing near the edge of the platform to look over his home.
"Makes sense," I said.
"Yes, it does, Reaper. And it suggests we have common ancestors. If that is true, why do we kill each other?" he asked.
"Why did Xad fight with Prejin?" I asked.
"That is another good question," Rejon said. "We do not want enemies, we want allies wherever we can find them."
"Life is complicated. You have to pick sides, me and the people of Wallach or the Union," I said. "It doesn't matter who you like, it only matters which of us is most likely to mistreat your people."
"You’re right," Rejon agreed. "As true as that is, I must also choose the winning side."
"What will it take to convince you I’m the winning side?" I asked.
"Let’s start by putting the SIC networkers to the test," Rejon said.
The guards stayed close, too close in my opinion. Sure they had stun clubs, but they also had pistols and long guns—better choices if they were actually going to attack someone like me.
"We’ll take the tram to the shipyard, where you will turn over the devices for analysis. My people will determine if they are real and functional," Rejon said.
"You haven’t agreed to help my people," I said. "I need assurances."
"We won’t join the Union," Rejon said.
"That’s not enough." I thought the man was saving face, refusing to agree too quickly in front of the guards and whoever was watching through the bodywork cameras on their shoulder rigs.
"It is the best I can do for you," he said. "If the SIC network can be brought on line, I will give you an answer."
"You already fired the weapon at the Union flagship," Horvath pointed out.
"At great cost," Rejon explained. "And against my orders. If I had not been held on your ship, the Union would never have learned our secrets."
I could have argued but didn’t. Nebs hadn’t attacked since our last encounter, which probably meant he was as busy with repairs on the Dark Lance as Novasdaughter and Henshaw were on the Nightmare.
That didn’t mean I had all the time in the world. I would be patient until it was time to not be patient.
"X, can you update our mission clock?" I said. "Calculate how long I can afford to spend on bureaucratic red tape?"
"You have three and a half hours before this will become problematic. My analysis suggests a low probability that the government of Xad will come to a decision by then," X-37 said.
"What did your internal intelligence tell you?" Rejon asked.
"He said you need to pull some strings and get shit done," I said.
Rejon summoned a team of engineers, briefed them, and then asked Horvath for the devices, which he turned over reluctantly.
"Work fast," Rejon said to his engineers. "I need proof to present to the council."
"Yes, Rejon," the leader of the engineers said.
Rejon returned and addressed Horvath. "Come with me. I will show you what happened to your friend."
We walked to a pristine structure that was either a library or a mortuary. Tension kept conversation to a minimum.
Horvath broke first. "I don’t think your people are cannibals. I see your farms. Forgive me for thinking the worst of your people."
"It is understandable," Rejon said. "They brought your friend Gunner here while I was still on the Jellybird. He was preserved in a space casket. It will be up to you and his family what we do with him."
"What do you mean?" Horvath asked.
"We can bury him here, with honor and respect. Or hold him until transport can be made to his home," Rejon said.
"I don’t know which is better," Horvath said after a lengthy pause. "I think his family will want him brought home."
Rejon nodded. "Then that will be done when it is possible. I will leave you here to mourn or pay respects, whichever it is that your people would do in this situation. In the meantime, I must consult with Reaper Cain in private."
Rejon took me to an underground shipyard where one of five ships were moored, hidden from any invasion fleet that might come to the system. He spoke of history, things his people had endured over the ages, and the problems they had faced relocating their people underground.
"You’ve been salvaging the debris fields for hundreds of years so you can launch these ships and flee the system?" I asked.
"Yes, that is our dilemma," Rejon said. "Until you arrived, many of us believed it would never happen."
"I’m just one man with a couple of ships," I told him. "Why would that make a difference?"
"In all of recorded history, there have been seven invasion fleets, each from completely different civilizations. We have seen enemies worse than your Union pursuers. What we have never seen was a small group stand against such a foe," Rejon said. "This has convinced some that there is a place for us in the galaxy beyond our hiding place."
"I just want to rescue the Bold Freedom from the comet and leave," I said.
"The people on that ship are good people. We have done what we can for them," Rejon said.
"You could have brought them fuel from one of these capital ships you are hiding here," I pointed out.
"That is against our most sacred laws. Nothing can be taken from the exodus fleet," Rejon said.
"What will it take to get your help fighting the Union?" I asked.
"We can fight the Union. What I need to assure my people is help after the war is won," Rejon said. "We need a guardian who has been to other systems and knows what dangers we might encounter. We need someone like you."
"I’m not comfortable with this, Rejon. Your people are either going to have me thrown in a cell for bringing the wrath of the Union or give me a job," I said.
"Let’s see if the devices you brought are what we need. Then we will make a decision together," he said.
23
We crossed a good portion of the agricultural district on our way to the council chamber. I made observations, then pressed Rejon to tell the truth. I made sure to do it while Horvath was out of earshot.
He watched me, maybe or maybe not sensing what I was talking about, but I suspected he was also preoccupied with his own thoughts. The man was a soldier who lost his best friend. Unable to immediately strike those responsible, he had transferred much of his rage to the scavengers. The convenient belief had now been reversed.
Maybe we would talk about it later over a glass of whiskey. Right now, I needed to get information from Rejon.
"You don't have as much food as it looks like, do you?" I asked. "That's why you're so desperate to leave this place. You can't sustain your population."
"We have food, as long as everyone remains within their ration allotment," he explained. "Other resources are a bigger problem. We cannot stay and we cannot leave. The ship immobiliz
ation cannon is key to our defenses. Without it, we will be a large target that is vulnerable. It's better to hide and die, or some of my people believe."
I used a hand signal to make sure X-37 was getting all of this.
"I am making a log, Reaper Cain," X-37 said. "However, there is news I should share with you. Novasdaughter intercepted a scout probe. At first, she believed it was something belonging to Nebs."
I used another hand signal that only X-37 could interpret and that no one else would even see unless they knew what to look for.
"We believe this is a tool of the Alon, as the Wallach people call them. It can only indicate that there will be more of them soon,” X-37 explained.
I controlled my expression but realized Rejon knew something was up from the suspicious look he cast my way. When I didn't elaborate, he presented me to the Council.
The venue was a cave large enough to shelter a thousand people or more. Currently, there were only council people and security elements. It was darker than the agricultural area, with guards at each of its four access points. Councilman Gable was their leader, but there were at least twenty other very important people staring me down.
"This man is Halek Cain, an elite soldier of the Union who fired upon our salvage settlements," Rejon introduced me. "He fell out of favor with his people and now they hunt him."
"You always had a way with understatement, Rejon," Gable said.
"I don’t believe we have time to chronicle his life story, but suffice to say he stood up to them and became an outlaw," Rejon said. "His enemies have proven by their actions to be our enemies as well."
"He brought them here," a woman named Janine accused.
Rejon started to argue, but I interrupted him. "That is what it is. Maybe they would have found you on their own, and maybe not. What I can promise you is that they want your ship immobilization cannon and will wipe out your entire civilization to get it. Nebs is the worst of the worst. He will take what he wants and not leave any evidence behind."