by Tony Healey
Horace wiped his rosy eyes. His fellow crewmates patted his arms and shoulders, offering him words of condolence and encouragement.
Klesko removed his hat and held it at his waist. "Now with all that said . . . who's ready to get their cold arses the hell off this rock?"
The soldiers cheered and embraced one another. Admiral Klesko used the opportunity to slip away, entering the former office of Maynard Wils. He made eye contact with Kort and waved him over. Kort led the way on crutches. Pazo, K1R-B, and Juke followed.
Max sidled up next to Delta, took her hand. "No matter what happens in there, you'll always be one of us."
Delta hiked a corner of her mouth and hopped down off the heater. "You always know what to say, don't you, flyboy?"
"It's a gift."
"Guess I shouldn't be surprised," Delta said. "You're apparently loaded with them."
The duo waded through the crowd of celebrating Union soldiers to enter the office. Inside, Admiral Klesko stood behind a young woman in glasses sitting at the former officer's desk and clacking away at a keyboard. She looked up as Max entered the room and blushed, quickly averting her eyes.
"Good, everyone's here," Klesko said. "Please close the door."
Max complied.
"I've already spoken to my research team and received their full report of what transpired here on Quaris, but I'd like to get your involvement documented on official record as well." Klesko laid his hands on the chair's headrest. "Ensign Davis here will transcribe, so let's start at the top, and don't leave anything out."
___***___
Admiral Klesko stared at the ceiling, scratching the five o'clock shadow growing along his jawline. The stunned silence amplified the bristling sound. Ensign Davis's fingers stilled on the keyboard. She closed her mouth with her hand, only to have her jaw drop open again.
"That's, uh, quite a remarkable story," Klesko said, finally breaking the lengthy pause in conversation. "And you're certain that it's all accurate?"
"You mean is it true?" Kort corrected. "Yes. Every bit of it."
"I see." Klesko paced behind the desk. Davis tilted her head back to watch him. "And where is this relic now?"
Delta unbuckled her utility pouch and fetched the wrapped artifact. She approached the desk and handed it over to the Admiral without resistance. Max winked at her – a small token of assurance that she'd done the right thing. No matter what punishment awaited her for her role in the weapons cache heist, it would've only been worse had she tried to hide their discovery.
Klesko accepted the bundled object from Delta and peeled back a tiny portion. The reflective material glinted. He covered the relic and stowed it in a desk drawer. "I believe we now have a sufficient enough account of events. Unless there's anything else to add you can think of."
"Yeah." Delta took a deep breath. "Might as well get this out in the open since you're going to find out anyway. Why delay the inevitable, right?"
Klesko furrowed his brow. "Go on."
Davis positioned her hands over the keyboard, ready to record.
Delta exhaled. "I have information regarding the raid on a Union weapons cache a couple years back, in which top secret prototypes were stolen."
"You do?" Klesko came around to the front of the desk. "But how could you possibly know anything about that? The incident was never disclosed to the public."
"Well, you see, I – "
"Oh, goodness!" Juke slapped his forehead. "I'm such a buffoon. My apologies, Delta, but I forgot to pass along those coordinates you sent."
"Huh?" Delta said.
"Yes, yes. Allow me to rectify my mistake." Juke pushed in front of Delta. "After defeating the relic hunter, Delta uploaded the contents of his EPD to me for further investigation. Her hunch was correct. This Demon of Sohlm character was involved in many nefarious activities, including his role as the mastermind behind the weapons cache heist. His EPD even had the location of where he's been storing the loadout." He sandwiched Delta's hand between his. "Of course, that part is still encrypted, so if you don't mind helping me, Delta, I'm sure we can uncover it together for the Admiral."
"Well, this is an unexpected and most welcome surprise," Klesko said. "If you can lead us to the stolen property, the Union will owe you yet another sincere debt of gratitude. Obtaining these items will erase a rather sizeable black eye; one we've fought hard to keep from the public."
"It'll be our pleasure, won't it, Delta?" Juke batted his eyelashes at her.
"Y-yeah . . . absolutely."
"Fantastic!" Klesko clapped his hands together. "I look forward to hearing of your success."
"Yes, sir!" Juke said.
"Well, I think we’re done here," Klesko said. "You're free to stock up on any supplies you need, and be on your way." He saluted. "Once again, the Union thanks you for your service. You've done humanity proud."
As the crew filed out through the door, Max stopped at the threshold. "Admiral?"
"Yes?" Klesko said, returning behind the desk.
"What will you do with all this samarium?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Now that you have access to all the samarium Officer Wils was hiding from the Union, what will become of it?"
Klesko raised his head with a smile. "Good day to you."
26
The Fair Maiden crew exchanged hugs and handshakes with Mayday and her research team on the docking platform. Horace took one final look at his handiwork on K1R-B's plating, and patted the droid on the head. Kort entered a code into an external panel on the ship and lowered the boarding ramp.
Pazo weaved through the mass of bodies to join Kort. He offered his hand. "Bygones be bygones, eh, mate?"
"The past is in the past." Kort smiled and shook Pazo's hand. "Let the adventure we've endured here together propel us forward . . . friend."
Pazo laughed in his loud, obnoxious way. Kort plugged his ears, which only made Pazo laugh even harder.
"Before you leave, we do have a parting gift for you, although it pales in comparison to what you've done for us," Mayday said. "After you left the camp, we salvaged your crashed starship and did what we could to repair it. And by we, I mean Horace."
Her team laughed.
"Thank you," Max said. "I appreciate that."
"Well, don't thank us yet." Adam pulled Mayday in toward his body. "It'll still need some work before it's ready to fly again, but we hear tales of an extraordinary engineer among your crew, so it shouldn't be much of a challenge."
Max chuckled. "Okay, I'll see that he tends to it."
"Come on, Juke," Kort said, standing on the ramp just outside the ship. "We'll drop you off wherever you need to go."
"Thanks, pal, but I think I'm going to stick with the Admiral a little while longer." Juke rolled his neck. "Got a few loose ends to wrap up."
Kort nodded.
The team said their final goodbyes to everyone and boarded the Fair Maiden. All the neon tags had been removed, and the ground crew repaired the damaged docking ring with a proper replacement panel.
Kort leaned his crutches against the interior and plopped down in the co-pilot's chair. "Delta, why don't you do the honors and take us out of here?"
"Really?" Delta said. "Even after . . ."
Kort shot her a stern look. "Even after what?"
Delta avoided his gaze. "Nothing."
"Good," Kort said. "Shall we depart?"
"Yes, gram – " Delta cleared her throat and planted herself in the pilot's chair. "Yes, Kort."
K1R-B pretended to faint into Max's arms.
"Don't get us in trouble," Max whispered, fighting back his urge to laugh.
K1R-B took position at the engineer's station and performed a pre-take-off systems check. "All clear."
"Roger," Delta said. "And away we go."
The Union researchers and soldiers waved farewell from the ground as the Fair Maiden ascended to the sky. Within a few seconds, their pin-sized appearances shrank into nothing, along with the crew's
cold, harsh memories of Quaris.
Delta's EPD lit up. "Hey, I just got a message from Juke."
"Already?" Max said.
She read it aloud.
Delta,
I figured I owed you an explanation about what happened back there with Admiral Klesko. You see, after I decrypted your message from ‘Tanzin,' I kept a trace on the communication source just in case it turned out to be a trap. I jammed the device's signal so that all future transmissions would be routed directly to me.
Karr attempted to divulge incriminating evidence against you – the kind that would get you locked up for good. Whatever transgressions exist in your past, I believe in the person you are today, and you now have the opportunity to atone for your mistakes. I assume you know what you must do next. I'll be waiting for your reply.
Juke
Delta wiped her eyes. Juke had given her a great gift, and the past that haunted her could finally be laid to rest. The Union would never have to know of her involvement in the weapons heist. She'd no longer have to look over her shoulder at every turn. "I won't squander this opportunity. I can't erase the sins I've committed, but I can at least start over and strive to be a better person from this point forward."
"And we'll be by your side all the way," Max said.
"Oh, that's strange," K1R-B said.
Kort swiveled his chair to face the droid. "What's the matter? Something wrong with the ship?"
"No, everything's fine. We've received a message from Ensign Davis," K1R-B said. "Shall I put it on screen?"
"Ensign Davis?" Kort asked. "Yes, send it to the main screen."
Dear Fair Maiden Crew,
I hate starting off messages with ‘Dear.' Sounds weird, doesn't it? Like something that should be reserved for romantic communications, right? Anyway, I apologize for the cloak-and-dagger routine, but I couldn't say what I'm about to tell you in front of Admiral Klesko because it would've cost me my job. Maybe worse.
After your crew left the station, someone showed up asking about you. A real big someone: a Cilicene. I've read plenty about their fascinating culture – even wrote a pretty good research paper on them in school (B+, thank you very much) – but to actually see one in person is rarer than rare. I thought for sure she would kill me, but you know what? She had impeccable manners for someone a bazillion feet tall with giant horns!
I didn't tell her about you. Well, okay, I didn't tell her much about you. I mean, I maybe, kinda, sorta pointed her in your direction, but I had no idea where you'd gone. It shouldn't have been enough to put you in any danger.
I guess it doesn't matter anyway now that you're all safe, but I thought you should know in case you cross paths with her in the future. The Cilicene aren't exactly known for giving up.
I know it's none of my business, but I can't stop wondering why she was looking for you. I didn't get the impression it was because you won a raffle of Cilicene cash and prizes. Oh! Wouldn't it be so cool if it was, though? I know how I’d spend it.
Please accept this message as a gesture of goodwill, and if you can find it in your hearts to forgive me, don't tell the Admiral. My moment of weakness would be seen as an act of treason. Even though I only supplied information to the Cilicene out of fear for my life, I doubt they'd be sympathetic to that.
Catch ya later (I hope)!
Ensign Drew Davis
P.S. Hey, Max! Call me sometime.
"Cilicene?" Max said. "But I thought they were just a myth; stories used to scare kids who won't go to sleep."
"Oh, they're real. Their race is small in number and reclusive, so not much information exists about them in the archives." Kort navigated the console controls, selecting the option to save the message. "Ensign Davis is right, though. They're a tenacious lot. Just because the Cilicene missed us on this particular excursion doesn't mean it'll stop looking. We'll need to stay vigilant."
"Any idea what it wants?" K1R-B asked.
"The Cilicene are fierce, skilled barbarians," Kort said. "They're often hired guns for special missions that require a heavy hand and no conscience."
"Hired guns?" Delta said. "So, someone sent this ‘silly-seen' or whatever you call it after us? Who?"
"That's a great question." Kort curled a finger around his upper lip. "I don't suppose we'll find the answer to our liking."
Ice chilled Max's spine. He didn't want to think about that right now, and scrambled to find another topic of conversation to take his mind off of it. "So, um, Uncle. Why did Juke stay behind on Quaris?"
"Yeah," Delta added. "He's been awfully cozy with the Union as of late. What's that all about?"
"I'm sure he has his reasons," Kort said.
This explanation failed to make sense to Max. Moreover, it troubled him. Both Kort and Juke had been acting strange since their rendezvous at the space station.
Do they think I don't notice all the secrecy? he thought.
"Uncle." Max's tone came out terser than he'd intended, his voice shaky. He paused a moment to calm himself. "What's going on between you two? And don't try to pretend it's nothing, because you know I'm smarter than that."
Kort grabbed his crutches and pushed off the chair to stand. He hobbled forward and took Max by the arm. "Walk with me, kid." The cockpit doors screeched open. "Delta, Kirby, if you’ll excuse us. I need a moment alone with my nephew. You're in charge until we get back."
"Sure thing, boss." Delta fired up the Galaxy Navigation System. "So . . . back on course for the Alna System?"
"Business as usual," Kort said.
The doors closed behind them. Kort plonked his crutches against the metal floor as he moved down the corridor. Max followed his uncle to the mess hall, guilt gnawing at his gut.
"Uncle, I'm sorry," Max said. "I didn't mean to – "
"No, no." Kort sat down at a table. He stretched his injured leg out on the bench and laid his crutches down on the floor beside him. "You're right. This family has kept far too many secrets, and that needs to stop. Please sit." He motioned to the empty bench across from him.
Adrenaline coursed through Max's veins. The air thickened around him. His skin crawled, cold and tingly. He sat on the bench; hunched over; hands folded together on top of the table; ready to listen.
"Even though you're only seventeen years old, sometimes I forget just how much of an adult you've become," Kort said. "I guess I've been trying to protect you, you know? Hoping you wouldn't have to grow up so fast. But, I realize I can't change that. You were meant for greater things than I could ever dream of, and I can't even begin to imagine how that feels."
Max nodded.
"We all love you, and we'll do anything within our power to help you fulfill your destiny." Kort twirled a half-empty salt shaker on the table, producing a dull, scraping noise. "I didn't want to distract you from the mission – heavens knows you've already got plenty on your plate – but you want full disclosure, and I'm inclined to give it to you. You deserve to know the truth."
"Thank you, Uncle," Max said. "I just don't want to be left in the dark anymore."
"Fair enough." Kort picked up the salt shaker and continued spinning it in his hands. "Juke has been working as a consultant with the Union. Remember all that data he swiped from the Oppressor's database?"
"Yes."
"Well, he traded that information to negotiate an alliance with the Union. To help us."
"I know," Max said. "That's how he was able to get Delta's pending charges dropped."
"True, but there's a lot more to it than that, kid." Kort tapped the shaker against his palm. Grains of salt spilled on to his lap. "You see, Juke's findings were so valuable that the Union has taken a profound interest in the success of our mission. They've pledged unlimited resources to help us locate the others like you; the other keys."
"That's great!" Max straightened his posture. "Isn't it? I mean, you don't seem as excited about that as I would expect."
"No, it's fantastic news. We'll need all the support we can get, and even bett
er to come from a force as powerful as the Union."
"Then what's wrong?" Max asked.
"Max . . . there's something else." Kort lowered his head, his gaze fixed upon the stilled shaker in his hands. "Juke uncovered deep Sjan Empire secrets – secrets Silas Doum never intended to leave the Oppressor."
Max gulped. "Like what?"
“It's your father, Max.” Kort raised his head to look Max in the eyes. "Your biological father, Samuel Carter. He's . . . alive."
To Be Continued . . .
About the Authors
With encouragement from friends and family, David K. Hulegaard wrote his first novel in 2010, and has cut a swath through Sci-Fi and Fantasy ever since. Lauded for his ability to create complex, meaningful characters, David’s NOBLE trilogy takes readers on an emotional journey that has garnered comparisons to the works of Philip K. Dick and Stephen King. David lives in Port Townsend, Washington with his wife Jennie, and their banana-obsessed Welsh Terrier Tobi. In his spare time, he enjoys video games, professional wrestling, and photography.
Tony Healey is a best-selling independent author. Born in 1985, he has lived his entire life in the city of Brighton, UK.
In 2011, he found his fiction published alongside Harlan Ellison and Alan Dean Foster. A year later, his sci-fi serial FAR FROM HOME became a best-selling sensation, followed by similarly successful sequels. Since then he has collaborated with authors Bernard Schaffer, Matthew Cox and William Vitka on various projects. He has also had work published by Curiosity Quills Press. He is married and has four daughters.
For the latest on Tony's various projects, visit his site www.tonyhealey.com
Support Independent Publishing and leave reviews for the books you enjoy!