by Ryk Brown
“Can you at least neutralize them?”
The doctor shook her head. “Not without harming the host… Not yet. But we should be able to come up with something without having to crack their control codes. At the very least, we could command our own nanites to go after and destroy the Jung nanites, but that would most likely only work on those individuals with low numbers of Jung nanites within them.”
“Well, that’s better than nothing,” the admiral admitted. “Get me a way to detect them as soon as you can, Doctor. Something that is portable, easy to use, and that we can utilize everywhere.”
“Yes, sir.”
Admiral Dumar pressed the button to end the video communication link. He leaned back in his chair and sighed as he rubbed his temples. Now I’ve got two battlefronts, he thought. Outer space and inner space.
* * *
Deliza and Yanni peered out the window of the limousine as it rolled across the Aitkenna spaceport tarmac, heading for Captain Navarro’s private shuttle.
“That’s his private shuttle?” Yanni gasped in astonishment. “It’s huge! It’s more like a space yacht or something! How much money does a captain make around here?”
“Remember, the Avendahl belongs to House Navarro,” Deliza explained, unfazed by the size of the ship. “Compared to the cost of the Avendahl, this ship is nothing.”
“Come on, Deliza, it’s a space yacht, for cryin’ out loud.”
Deliza smiled. “Okay, it’s a space yacht. I admit it. It’s huge, it’s expensive, and it’s probably incredibly ostentatious inside. But remember, these ships were all built during the reign of Caius. Such displays of wealth and power were encouraged among the nobles. It made them more dependent on the empire and it spoiled them to no end, so that they would never want to return to their previous, less extravagant lifestyles.”
“Oh, stop it,” Yanni said. “Stop trying to be a princess and just admit that you’re excited to go on a space yacht.”
Deliza tried to maintain a dignified composure, but quickly failed as the car came to a stop. “Okay, it’s a space yacht!” she exclaimed, no longer able to contain her excitement. She quickly regained her composure as a guard came and opened her door for her from the outside. She took his hand and stepped up out of the limousine. Yanni climbed out of the vehicle after her, trying unsuccessfully to hide the smile on his face as he took in the entire length of the ship.
“Miss Ta’Akar, Mister Hiller,” Captain Navarro greeted them both as he approached. “Welcome to my personal pride and joy, the Mirai,” he announced, sweeping his arm in grand fashion in a wide arc toward the ship.
“After your eldest?” Deliza asked.
“Indeed.”
“A touching gesture by a father,” she approved.
“I’d like to introduce your crew,” Captain Navarro began. “First, we have Lieutenant Chandler, the pilot and ship’s commanding officer.”
“Pleasure, ma’am,” the lieutenant said, nodding respectfully.
“This is the copilot, and engineer, Ensign Nambianno,” Captain Navarro continued as he headed down the line. “Sergeant Isan, the ship’s chief steward, Sergeant Liamo, the ship’s cook, and finally Sergeant Annakeros, the assistant steward.”
“It takes five people to operate this ship?” Yanni asked in disbelief.
“It can be flown by a single pilot,” Captain Navarro explained, “but it takes a full crew to operate and care for her properly.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet all of you,” Deliza told the crew. “We’ll try not to be too much trouble during our long journey.”
“I assure you, they will take good care of you, wherever you may choose to travel,” Captain Navarro promised.
“Excuse me?” Yanni said.
“We’re going to Sol,” Deliza reminded the captain.
“Yes, I know,” Captain Navarro replied. “However, to ensure your safety, I have instructed the crew of the Mirai to remain near you at all times, in case you need transportation in a hurry.”
“Captain, that won’t be necessary,” Deliza argued.
“On the contrary, it is quite necessary. I made a promise to your father just before his death, a promise to see to your safety, and I intend to keep that promise to the best of my ability. As long as you are away from the Pentaurus cluster and out of my sphere of influence, this ship is the best of my ability.”
Deliza took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh. She turned to Captain Navarro. “I am humbled by your gracious offer, Captain. My father’s instincts about you were correct. You are an honorable man,” she added, placing her hand on his upper arm.
“My great grandfather once told me that all anyone truly owns is their reputation, and that nothing speaks of one’s reputation than one’s own deeds.” Captain Navarro looked at the Mirai fondly. “I shall miss her,” he admitted. He looked back at Deliza. “But she now has a more worthy mission than hauling a spoiled captain and his family around on vacation.”
“Would you like to show us around?” Deliza asked.
“Would that I could,” the captain replied. “Unfortunately, I have pressing business to which I must attend.” He bowed his head to them both before departing. “Until we meet again.”
Deliza nodded respectfully as Captain Navarro turned and walked away, headed for one of the Avendahl’s nearby combat jumpers. She turned and looked at the Mirai’s crew. “I trust we can depart shortly?”
“Once Mister Hiller has inspected the cargo, yes,” the lieutenant confirmed.
“If you will follow me, ma’am, I will help you both find your way aboard and show you around the ship,” Sergeant Isan offered.
“Lead the way, Sergeant,” Yanni replied, excited to see the ship up close.
The rest of the Mirai’s crew turned and headed toward the boarding ramp, taking care not to walk on the long, red carpet laid out for the guests. Sergeant Isan paused long enough for the crew to get a head start, and to make sure that the ground crew was taking care of their guests’ modest luggage. He smiled at Deliza and Yanni, then turned and headed toward the ship as well, also walking alongside the carpet.
They followed the sergeant up the boarding ramp steps to the passenger hatch in the middle of the Mirai’s port side. As they entered the ship, the sergeant took their coats, handing them to his assistant to carefully store for the journey. He gestured aft. “After you.”
Deliza turned and headed down the short central corridor, past several storage lockers, as well as a steep staircase that led below decks. She stepped over the raised threshold of the next hatch and entered the ship’s main salon. It was spacious and luxurious, with an abnormally high ceiling at the forward end that angled upward as it continued aft. There were large windows on all sides, as well as several more overhead. At the aft end was a balcony that over looked the entire cabin, with a stairwell at each end. Through a set of double doors at the center of the balcony, Deliza could see into the spacious master suite.
The main salon was well furnished, but not overly done, which surprised Deliza. She had seen pictures of far more ornate ships used by the nobles of Takara, and the fact that this one was more understated reaffirmed her opinion of the leader of House Navarro.
“My God,” Yanni said under his breath.
Deliza turned and flashed him an irritated look, followed by a controlled smile.
“Beats the hell out of a utility shuttle,” he added.
“The main salon has everything you might need to relax during your time aboard,” Sergeant Isan explained, as he pointed to the various amenities of the room. “There is a refreshment center and wet bar here, in the forward area, with a small dining area to starboard. A viewing screen drops down from the overhead and we carry a vast library of entertainment videos from all of the industrialized worlds in the
Pentaurus sector. The master suite is upstairs and there are six more staterooms aft through the central corridor. All functions are operated via remotes conveniently placed throughout the main salon and in the master suite as well as the staterooms. Should you need anything at all, there is a call button on each of the remotes. Are there any questions, ma’am?”
“No, thank you,” Deliza replied. “I’m sure we will be quite comfortable.”
“As soon as Mister Hiller has inspected the cargo, and I have checked that the ship is ready for departure, Sergeant Annakeros will be by to brief you on all the safety procedures for your journey.”
“Very well,” Deliza agreed.
“Mister Hiller, if you would please follow me aft, I will show you to the main cargo hold.”
“Thank you, Sergeant.” Yanni turned and smiled at Deliza as the sergeant headed aft. “I’ll be right back.”
CHAPTER SIX
Jessica entered the small office being used as an interrogation room at the Ghatazhak base on Porto Santo. The guard outside the door closed and locked it behind her as she approached the table in the middle of the room.
Jessica looked at the young woman sitting quietly on the other side of the table. She was about the same age as her, with long, wavy red hair that had been neatly tied back. She appeared fit and of average build, and had already been redressed in the standard orange jumpsuit given to all prisoners. The woman looked frightened, making only brief eye contact before looking away.
“Hello,” she greeted as she pulled out a chair and sat down. “I’m Lieutenant Commander Nash.”
“Nash? Are you related to Captain Nash?”
Jessica looked at her oddly, surprised by her question. “I am. He is my brother.”
The women caught Jessica’s use of the present tense, relief washing over her face. “Then he is alive?”
“Yes, he is,” Jessica replied.
“We were speaking, and then there were explosions, and alarms, and… I was afraid he had done something terrible, that he…”
“Had blown himself up? Not exactly. I take it then, that you’re Kaya Allemahn?”
“Yes.”
“My brother spoke of you.”
“I hope he does not think badly of me,” she said. “I was only saying what I was told to say.”
“I think he figured that much out,” Jessica assured her. “That’s why I’m talking to you, instead of a Ghatazhak interrogator.”
“Ghatazhak?”
“The men that boarded your ship,” Jessica explained.
“Oh my, yes. They were very frightening. Such eyes… Without emotion… Like machines.”
“Yeah, they have their moments.”
“May I ask a question?” Kaya wondered.
“Sure.”
“Where am I?”
“You’re on an Alliance military base, on an island, in the middle of an ocean,” Jessica clarified.
“On what world?”
Jessica thought for a moment. “Well, you’re going to find out sooner or later… You’re on Earth.”
A look of panic flashed across Kaya’s face.
“Don’t worry,” Jessica told her, “there is no plague here. We’re not a bunch of crazed wacko’s trying to infect the galaxy. Surprise… The Jung lied to you.”
The panic turned to confusion as Kaya started to think things through. “But, this cannot be Earth. We were in that transport for only minutes. We could not have left the system…”
“Trust me, Kaya, you’re on Earth.”
“I do not believe you,” Kaya said, shaking her head. “What you say cannot be true.”
Jessica reached over and unlocked Kaya’s restraints. “Come here,” she said, motioning for Kaya to follow as she got up and headed for the window. She threw back the curtains, revealing a view of the Atlantic Ocean. “You have any oceans like that in the Tau Ceti system?”
Kaya rose and made her way cautiously to the window, unsure of what she’d find. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell agape as she looked out through the barred window at a vast ocean stretching out to the horizon. “This cannot be,” she whispered in disbelief.
“You’re just going to have to trust me on this one, Kaya,” Jessica said as she returned to her seat. “I don’t have any more evidence than that at the moment.”
Kaya continued to stare out the window in wonder as Jessica sat back down. “As far as I know, the Jung don’t allow women in their military. So what were you and your girlfriends doing aboard the Jar-Benakh? Civilian contractors? Tour group? Housekeeping? Am I getting any warmer?”
Kaya closed her eyes for a moment, overwhelmed by the realization that she had somehow been magically transported to another star system. But then she opened her eyes again, and that very reality was staring her in the face. “There are no such bodies of water on any of the Cetian worlds,” she muttered, the truth finally settling in.
“So, how about it?” Jessica pressed, “what were you doing aboard the Jar-Benakh?”
Kaya looked down in shame. “It is not something that a woman can easily talk about.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Jessica sighed. “Look, Kaya, nobody is judging you here. I’m just looking for answers. The Jung are bad, we all know that, so there’s no reason for you to feel ashamed.”
Kaya looked up again, her gaze returning to the ocean outside. “I have been on the Jar-Benakh for three years now. I was attending the university at Collend when I was taken. I was in my final year.”
“Taken by the Jung?”
“No, by Koharans. Men who sell young women to the Jung, as slaves.”
“Okay, that’s a different twist. These men, did they sell you to a Jung officer on the Jar-Benakh?”
“Technically, we belonged to the captain.”
“All of you?”
“Yes. He would share us with his officers, as rewards for good performance. Each night, they would come and choose their companion for the evening. Sometimes, they would keep us for the night, sometimes for the day. If we were lucky, one would favor us and convince the captain to let us serve the one officer for an extended period.” Kaya turned back to Jessica and started walking back to her seat. “It was often better than being ravaged by a different pig each night, especially if you were lucky enough to be selected by an officer that didn’t enjoy beating his companion.” Kaya sat down, holding her head up with some modicum of pride. “I was the favorite of Major Goya, and had been so for more than three weeks.”
“And Major Goya didn’t get off on beating women?”
“He was a pig, but he did not beat me.”
“What was the major’s job on the Jar-Benakh?” Jessica asked.
“He was chief of security. That is how I ended up speaking to your brother. The task of negotiating your brother’s surrender fell upon Major Goya. He was quite fluent in the Cetian languages, however his English was poor.”
“How is it you speak such good English?” Jessica wondered.
“I studied classic human languages at the university. English is considered the language of scholars. It was the universal language throughout the sector, up until the great plague.”
“Is that why the major chose you? Because you could speak English?”
“Partly. He hoped for a surface assignment on Earth, once the Jar-Benakh and the rest of the fleet were reassigned there.” A wry smile formed on her lips. “He would not have gotten that assignment. His English was very bad.”
“So, was this harem arrangement unique to the Jar-Benakh?”
“Before I was sold, I heard the men speaking of more than one ship. I heard them speaking about how to obtain more women, about making more money as more ships arrived. I believe they provided women to all the Jung ships.”
“I have spoken with the other women. Most are like myself, from less-wealthy families, from small towns. Even if my parents were to ask, it is doubtful that anyone would do anything. The local authorities are not allowed to conduct criminal investigations and most families cannot afford to hire private investigators. Many of us were forced to send messages to our families, telling them lies about how we found wonderful new lives working for the Jung on other worlds.”
“To be honest, I’m a little surprised by all of this,” Jessica admitted. “I always thought the Jung military was more disciplined, that their officers had a sense of duty and honor.”
“It is different among each clan,” Kaya explained. “One of the women had been traded from the Jar-Toritor. She spoke of much better treatment than on the Jar-Benakh.”
“And that ship was run by a different clan?”
“Yes. The Mogan clan. The Jar-Benakh was of the Kirton clan.”
“Yet both clans are okay with keeping sex slaves onboard military ships?”
“They are men without women and they are a long way from home,” Kaya said, almost sympathetically. “It is expected of such men.”
“They couldn’t just have brothels on the surface, like everyone else?”
“Brothels?”
“Houses of prostitution,” Jessica explained.
“The Jung serving aboard ships rarely travel to the surface,” Kaya said. “At least not the officers.”
“Hmm. That’s interesting. The Jung do put a lot of boots on the ground, though.”
“They are of different clans, I suspect.”
“Interesting.”
“May I ask another question?”
“Go ahead,” Jessica replied.
“Will you be returning us to our homes?”
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Jessica admitted. She thought about all the Jung ships they had destroyed in recent months, wondering how many innocent young women had died, every time she had pressed a button to fire one of the Aurora’s weapons. “I can promise you one thing, though. None of you are going back to the Jung, that’s for sure.”