Renegade Alliance

by J. N. Chaney

  “Alright, Doc. Cough it up. Why didn’t you mention that Athena was so close to being fixed?”

  She spread her hands innocently. “I didn’t want to offer false promises in case something went wrong. The process was quite slow and delicate. It took help from both Carl and Sigmond to get Athena’s matrix back to normal. Or almost normal.”

  I wasn’t so sure I liked the sound of that. “Almost?”

  “Some changes did have to be made,” she admitted.

  “Please don’t be concerned, Captain. I can promise you with 100% certainty that I am still the Athena you know and love.”

  I cocked my head to the side a little and stared at the Cognitive. It was the last word that had done it for me. Since when did she talk like that?

  “What changes, exactly?” asked Abigail, fisting both hands on her hips and studying Athena with a critical eye.

  “Small things,” said Dressler, waving a hand. “It was Hygeia that gave us the final piece. Or rather her records. Too much for me to explain now but suffice it to say that she was an upgraded version of Cognitive. It’s why she appeared to be human when you first saw her.”

  “That’s why you aren’t blue anymore?” I said, glancing at Athena.

  She smiled softly, just the way I remembered, and I relaxed more. “That is correct, Captain. If you prefer, I can return myself to the visual rendering you are used to.”

  I held up a hand to stop her. “No, that’s okay. I’m just glad to have you back, whole.”

  “Thank you, Captain. Dr. Dressler is correct, but Carl also filled in places where my matrix could not be repaired. It is safe to say that I am similar to Sigmond now. I have all my memories, but my shell is slightly different. I believe this to be a good thing as my thinking has… expanded.”

  “Your speech is different,” Abigail said. “More human.”

  She was right, as I’d already noticed. Athena’s phrasing was less formal, and some of the latency was gone. It reminded me of Sigmond when he’d first obtained his new Cognitive form.

  “I’m not complaining,” I said. “Right now, all I care about is finding the Celestials. Athena, do you remember the one you threw over your shoulder like a ragdoll? I didn’t see its body anywhere.”

  “My apologies,” she told me. “I was not used to the mobile armor and was unable to neutralize the threat before it phased.”

  Dressler focused a sharp gaze on me. “Why are you asking?”

  I shrugged. “It acted differently than the others. The thing was downright vicious. It sounds crazy, but I swear it was toying with me. Does that make sense?”

  “No, you’re right,” said Abigail. “I saw what you’re talking about. It had a clear shot at us and chose to kill the Union soldiers we were trying to get to first.”

  “That is odd indeed,” murmured Dressler. “That doesn’t fit their profile. Let me bring up the helmet footage.”

  She put the feed up on one of the displays, replaying what we’d lived through just a few hours prior.

  “Fast forward through this,” I said, swiping my hand until she was past the part where we met with the first group of soldiers. Seeing them again reminded me to check in with Stein and make sure they all made it out. Then the Celestial in question entered the cam’s view and I raised a palm for Dressler to pause. “There. That one.”

  The holo resumed, and I watched as the mobile armor repeated its killing.

  “Sir, I think I can explain,” said Sigmond.

  I turned to him and waited.

  “That particular suit attempted to gain access to my armor multiple times. This was the identifier used.” Sigmond flicked his wrist and a number appeared on the display.

  “That looks familiar,” I muttered.

  “Yes. It is the same identifier that used the transportation device.”

  “The one that took Athena’s memories,” Abigail recalled.

  “Correct.”

  “That explains why he seemed to have it out for you,” noted Dressler. “You would have been the last thing he saw after nearly being killed before his escape.”

  I considered the idea of a vengeful Celestial for a moment, scratching my belt with my thumb as I turned the idea over in my head. “This could be good news,” I decided.

  Abigail’s eyes widened and she shook her head. “Really, how do you figure? Because it sounds to me like a Celestial is gunning for you.”

  I grinned. “Exactly. The Celestials, who are supposed to be devoid of emotion. They showed a weakness. Or, this one has anyway.”

  “How do we use that to our advantage?” mused Dressler.

  “Since this one is holding a grudge, it’ll probably come after me again,” I said. “The Celestials don’t know we cracked their hard light tech. If Dressler and Davon can make me some kind of special armor using their fancy new accessories, I might have a chance of capturing that thing alive. I don’t mind acting as bait.”

  Abigail shook her head. “I don’t like it, Jace. You know if we do apprehend one, they aren’t liable to tell us anything, even if we ask Carl to translate.”

  I understood her reservation. In all honesty, I wasn’t excited about the idea myself, but I figured the possibility of extracting some information from the enemy might prove useful in the long run. “Don’t worry, Abby. We can give it some thought and decide later. I’m pretty beat right now anyway.”

  “Fine,” she said.

  I’d probably hear more from her about my little proposition later, but for now I was just happy to be back on the ship and out of that warzone.

  I glanced to Athena. “One last thing, before I forget,” I said, walking up to the Cognitive and tapping her on the shoulder. “Welcome back.”

  Abigail and I woke up a few hours later in our quarters on the Star. She turned to me in the dark and laid a hand on my face.

  “You need to shave,” she murmured, fingering my stubble.

  “So do you,” I teased back. The joke earned me a gasp and light slap on the arm. “I’m kidding, nun.”

  “Better be, Renegade.”

  She cut off my response by fastening her lips to mine. I ran a hand through her sleep tangled hair and pulled her closer.

  After a brief shower and breakfast, we took Lex to see the hydroponics bay. With everything going on, I hadn’t had the chance, and Dr. Hitchens had sent some homework along that had to do with gardening or something. Despite the perpetual state of conflict, something had to be normal.

  Inside, I was surprised at how big the place was. Dressler’s team had done a hell of a job getting the place in shape. I dragged in a breath, appreciating the pureness that was so different from the recycled air in the rest of Tartarus.

  Bursts of green showed up everywhere. On tables in growing trays, on tall shelves, and in ground plots. Technicians wearing white uniforms moved among the plants. Some tended, watering and adjusting lights, others observed, carefully recording notes in their data pads.

  There were still a few hours until the last S.G. Point, so we took our time. Lex wandered around, happy as usual. Nothing about her looked different, except maybe that she seemed to have grown another centimeter or two. Other than that, Lex looked like the same skinny kid I was used to seeing, and I was glad not to have to worry about her suddenly changing from Hygeia’s serum.

  If anything, she was more herself than I’d ever seen her. Bright, bubbly, and full of youthful mischief. None of the techs seemed to mind her as she wandered around them, standing on tiptoes to peer into the pots and trays.

  “What’s this assignment again?” I asked Abigail.

  “Lex is supposed to study plants and identify those in different stages of growth. She’ll send Professor Hitchens back pictures and her notes.”

  “Looks like she’s having fun,” I observed.

  Abigail nodded. “She seems more coordinated, which is a plus. Though I suppose even if she did fall nothing would happen.”

  Just ahead, Lex paused to talk to a woman
pushing what looked like a hand tiller. “Do you need help, Dr. Lee?”

  The woman, Dr. Lee, stopped what she was doing and wiped an arm across her brow. “This spigot seems to have gotten stuck, Lex.”

  “Mr. Jace is coming. He’s pretty strong. I bet he can help you,” replied Lex.

  From the easy dialogue between the two, I assumed that the doctor was one of Dressler’s. I remembered her saying something about knowing the person in charge of the hydro bay but had forgotten her name. Her short black hair was starting to show some silver, though it streaked through as if it had been done that way on purpose.

  When Abigail and I caught up to the pair, Dr. Lee offered us a bright smile and held out a hand. “You must be Captain Hughes and Miss Pryar. Nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  I shook the offered hand, as did Abby. “Nice to meet you too, Doc. I have to admit, agriculture isn’t really my thing, but the bay looks great.”

  “Yes, it does,” said Abigail, nodding. “I didn’t expect it to be so far along. It’s only been a couple of weeks.”

  “We brought a lot with us,” she explained. “Some of it already well into their growing cycles. This space is perfect. The lights already had a daylight setting and that’s been helpful. Carl keeps the temperature steady and it’s been pretty smooth. At least until I couldn’t get this handle to turn.”

  “Let me take a look,” I offered.

  “Please, I’d rather not have to call one of the repair crew.” Dr. Lee stepped back and waved a hand at the pipe.

  I ignored Abigail’s raised eyebrow. We both knew I wasn’t a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination, but I figured it couldn’t be that hard. Stepping closer, I leaned down and got a good grip on the little handle, then gave it a yank. It didn’t budge.

  “Sorry,” I said after trying a few more times. “Must be jammed.”

  The doctor’s pad went off then, chirping noisily. “Sorry, give me just one second.” She tapped her ear comm and retreated a few steps.

  “Can I try, Abby?” asked Lex, pointing at the handle.

  Abigail nodded. “Sure, Lex.”

  Excited, the kid wrapped her fingers around it and pulled hard. There was a loud pop as something gave, and Lex’s momentum propelled her back. Water sprayed out of the pipe where it had broken, soaking Lex and making her squeal.

  Dr. Lee came rushing back. “What in the heavens happened?”

  I helped Lex up and away from the continuous spray while Abigail tried to explain.

  “Goodness. I guess I’ll be calling maintenance after all.”

  “Sorry, Dr. Lee,” said Lex. “It was an accident.”

  “Oh that’s okay. I’m sure we have a spare around here. The plants just got a little extra watering is all.” She winked at Lex. “Looks like you did too. Let me find you a towel or something.”

  When she was gone again, I inspected the handle. The part that had broken away from the pipe looked bent a little. The pipe itself showed similar damage. “You okay, Lex?”

  She nodded, but her teeth started to chatter. The warm air in the bay wasn’t quite enough to shield her from the cooler wet clothes.

  “Well, that’s new,” muttered Abigail. I could sense the concern in her voice.

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  Abigail didn’t take her eyes off of Lex. “You couldn’t get it to move, but Lex pulled that thing free like it was nothing. I don’t think that was a case of you loosening it for her.”

  “So, what are you thinking? She has super strength?” I asked.

  “Well, I don’t know about super, but she’s definitely stronger than before,” said Abigail. She leaned in closer to me, lowering her voice. “We need to get her looked at right away.”

  “Cool!” shouted Lex, looking back and forth between us with wide eyes and a toothy grin.

  Dr. Lee came back, halting the conversation, and handed Lex a fluffy white towel. “Here you go. Maintenance is on their way. We’ll have this taken care of in no time.”

  “Great,” I told her. “We’ll get out of your hair, Doc. Sorry about the mess.”

  She flapped a hand. “Seriously, don’t worry. It’s not the first spill and it won’t be the last.”

  19

  With Aldera so close, the discussion on Lex’s new abilities would have to wait. Alphonse helmed the Dawn again, activating the phasing capability just before we opened the rift.

  As luck would have it, there was no need for the subterfuge. The moment we left the Tartarus-created tunnel, multiple transmissions came in, detailing the attack. It had been quick, and only a few enemy ships remained, which were easily overtaken by our forces.

  “They couldn’t have been here for long. They weren’t that far ahead of us,” said Abigail, surveying the aftermath.

  From what we could make out, the Celestials hadn’t even bothered to use their mobile armor troops. I rubbed my chin, thinking over the other attacks.

  “It’s like they just bombarded the surface, tangled with reactionary forces, and left,” murmured Petra.

  Octavia tapped a finger on her armrest. “I’ve seen tactics like this before. Back during the Zazi conflict.”

  I remembered hearing about the Zazi conflict about a decade before. The whole thing started when the Union space fleet mistakenly attacked a Sarkonian military station named Zazi. It set off a chain reaction that resulted in both sides declaring war on each other.

  That had been a dark period for anyone in either territory. An unintended side effect had been the rise of the ravagers. Long before the war, a group of space pirates had gone from simple robberies to larger and more dangerous criminal acts, organizing into something resembling their own government, though that might have been too generous a term. After Zazi, the Ravagers had become damn near unstoppable.

  It was the last time—at least until I came along—that the Union and Sarkonian Empire worked together. It reminded me of Octavia’s history with the Union, something she rarely talked about. “That was with the ravagers, right?”

  She nodded. “The Ravagers were a lot more powerful back then. They obviously didn’t follow any laws or regulations.”

  “Still don’t,” Freddie muttered.

  “True,” said Octavia. “But it was worse when the Union and Sarkonians were battling each other over every piece of territory they came across. The Ravagers took advantage of that chaos and started their own faction. One of their favorite maneuvers was to perform flyover bombings on a colony, then land and pillage whatever was still standing.”

  “Which is exactly what the Celestials are doing,” said Abigail.

  I scoffed. “But what’s the point? This is like petty vandalism for them. They could just glass the planet from orbit if they wanted to.”

  “It’s causing a major disruption,” Petra pointed out. “Look at us. We’re chasing them all over the galaxy, wasting valuable time and resources.”

  Recalling how the Celestials had left survivors at all the attack sites made me think of something else. Before leaving for Novo, we’d discussed the Celestials and their motivations. They always had a bigger plan.

  “That’s precisely what the ravagers were looking to do,” cut in Octavia. “It worked for a time, too. The ravages might be primitive and vicious, but they also knew how to hit, and hit hard. It took the Androsia Convention to calm things down and get the upper hand.”

  “So, they’re trying to spread us thin. And it’s working,” I said, then pushed up to pace the bridge. “How do we use that to predict where they’re going to hit next?”

  “I’m not sure,” admitted Octavia. “But knowledge is powerful.”

  She wasn’t wrong, I just couldn’t help thinking that I preferred my pistols when it came to weapons. Turning to the command center, I instructed Sigmond to patch me through to Alphonse, who answered immediately.

  “Captain?” he said.

  “Put the word out through the gal-net to every major colony and key s
ystem that could be worth a damn to the enemy. The Celestials can attack at any time, anywhere. Get with Lieutenant Rackham and Major Sanchez to come up with a list of high risk locations that might be targeted next. We’ll send you a list of criteria.”

  “That’s a good start,” the Constable replied.

  Something about the way he said it caught my attention, and I fixed a questioning look on the younger man. “You have something to add, Al?”

  He inclined his head, diplomatic as always. “I do, in fact. Getting everyone prepared for an attack is important, I agree. However, I feel we would be remiss if we didn’t come up with a way to monitor the hostiles.”

  “And how do we go about that?”

  One corner of his mouth lifted up into a smug grin. “The Union has a number of beacons scattered throughout their territories, among other places. They were decommissioned some time ago, but I’m sure with Carl’s help they could be reconfigured.”

  “Smart,” said Octavia. “If you can set them to scan for Celestial ships or transmissions, it would provide an early warning system and give people a chance to hide or run.”

  “Do it,” I ordered. “And check with the Empire. I’m willing to bet they might have something similar inside their own territory.”

  Alphonse’s face blinked off and Abigail came to stand next to me. “And in the meantime? Do we go after them or stay here?”

  I turned to look at my crew. “Octavia made a good point. They want us to keep chasing them all over the godsdamned system. I say we stay put and come up with a better plan. And, until we do that, help where we can. There’s bound to be a lot of wounded people and we have a hell of a medbay.”

  “An excellent idea, sir,” said Sigmond. “Since Mr. Malloy is currently occupied, would you like me to send out the rescue drones?”

  “Yeah, Siggy, you do that. Octavia, Freddie, and Petra, I want you to coordinate with the other manned assistance crews. Help ferry the injured to Tartarus or the Dawn.”

  When they had gone, Abigail turned to me. “Now what? I assumed you had something in mind?”