They walked out of the Union Club and back into the shopping complex. There were stores offering everything imaginable. From clothes to prosthetics and even worker bots. She had a feeling their three hundred station credits wouldn’t go far in the posh-looking stores, but she wasn’t interested in shopping. The thought crossed her mind that she could, if she so desired, be with someone else. The administrator had made it clear that he was interested, not that Kim could stand to be with someone twice her age and as slimy as Len Webb appeared. He was too polished, and she guessed it was to hide the secret vices he was enslaved to. Still, he had plenty of money. She could live in luxury, dining on incredible food and shopping every day if she gave him what he wanted.
Kim pushed the thought of Len Webb from her mind, knowing she was only toying with the idea because she was hurt. A glance over her shoulder showed Ben laden with food containers, hurrying after her. She didn’t slow down, and she didn’t care if he was struggling. He deserved it, she thought, even though she knew it was selfish to punish him just because he no longer found her attractive.
They left the shopping complex and got on the conveyor moving toward the Commons. Ben asked her to slow down, which only prompted her to more speed. He was standing on the conveyor, but she continued walking, letting the moving track increase her speed as she hurried back toward where their ship was docked.
When she reached the Commons, she looked back. Ben was just getting off the conveyor, and she decided not to wait for him. She went into the building and was met almost immediately by a tall man with dark complexion, shaggy hair, and stubble on his boxy chin.
“Oh, excuse me,” he said in a deep voice. “I didn’t see you coming.”
“My fault,” Kim replied. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“A fortuitous accident, then. Although, if I’m being honest, I don’t believe in accidents.”
For a second, Kim couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was the tall, handsome stranger really flirting with her? She knew she was desirable on some level, but it seemed strange to be rejected by Ben one moment, only to have a total stranger flirting with her next.
“I don’t either,” Kim said.
“I’m Farak, of the Voltair. If you have the time, I would be happy to make up for my clumsiness by purchasing you a drink, or maybe dinner?”
Ben had finally caught up, and Kim was glad he could hear their exchange.
“I can’t,” she said. “My ship is scheduled to leave soon.”
“At least give me your name, so that I can search you out under better circumstances.”
“I’m Kim Beaudry, of the Modulus Echo.”
“Kim Beaudry, that is a lovely name. One I shall not forget.”
“Another time, Farak,” Kim said.
“I look forward to it,” the tall man said. “Safe travels, Kim.”
He placed a hand gently on her shoulder before slipping out the door. Ben had moved past her, but stopped and looked back. Kim pretended to be hot, fanning her face with her hand.
“Done flirting?” Ben asked.
“My, my, things are interesting around here.”
“Sure, whatever,” Ben said.
“Look,” Kim said, “I can do whatever I want.”
“I know that.”
“I can go where I want, see whom I want.”
“Who’s stopping you? Obviously not me. I’m just a little too dense for that, you know.”
“I do now,” Kim said.
“Oh, shut up.”
“Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
“I’m not,” Ben said.
Kim thought his reply was a little too loud. Their voices echoed down the long docking corridor.
“You had your chance,” she said.
“Are you kidding me?” Ben snapped. “You’re out of your mind. One minute you’re kissing me, the next you’re mad because I can’t decipher your cryptic messages. And now you’re throwing yourself at strangers. That guy could be a wanted fugitive, for all we know. A murderer.”
“So are you,” Kim said darkly. “Look, you can’t have it both ways.”
“Have what both ways?”
“You can’t push me away and then get mad because I leave.”
“You’re leaving?” Ben said. “When did this happen? I thought you wouldn’t let anything come between you and your ship.”
“I’m not talking about leaving the ship, you simpleton. I’m talking about us.”
Ben stopped walking and just looked at her. Kim fought the urge to leave him there and turned back.
“Look, we’re about to be flying into who knows what, and you’re focused on us? That’s crazy.”
“I guess it is,” Kim said. “I thought you came looking for me for a reason, Ben. Who knew you had become so pigheaded and dull?”
“I’m not dull,” he snapped. “And for the record, I came looking for you because you’re a good pilot. Nothing else.”
“Fine with me,” Kim said.
“Good,” Ben replied.
Kim turned quickly and started walking again so he wouldn’t see the tears welling up in her eyes. All she wanted was for him to love her, and the realization of that fact felt like a knife in her heart. She didn’t want to need anyone, yet she couldn’t deny the way she felt about Ben. He wasn’t as handsome or dashing as she might have hoped, but he had a big heart. And up until the last few days, she had thought he understood her. Yet something had happened. Perhaps she had overstepped her boundaries by kissing him. Perhaps he was just too in love with the ship and there was no room left in his heart for people.
She got to the ramp and hurried inside the ship. The cargo bay wasn’t crowded, but it had triple the amount of goods stored inside. Magnum was busy securing the new arrivals. He looked up expectantly as she walked past. She ignored him and made for the stairs where she finally stopped and looked back.
“Let me know when everything is on board,” Kim said. “I’ll be in my quarters until then.”
She hurried up the stairs and into her room where she shut the door and collapsed onto her carpet. It was becoming a habit and she didn’t like it. Looking around, the brightly decorated room seemed shabby after being in the shopping district. The ship seemed old and dingy. Her heart couldn’t take much more disappointment. Long ago, she had vowed to protect herself. Invisible walls were going up around her heart, and she could feel herself locking out the world, starving her need for affection. All that mattered was flying, and she had that. She would focus on her duty and nothing else. Sleep, eat, fly, and keep flying. That was what mattered to her. That was what would keep her going despite her withering heart. She closed her eyes and let her emotions fade away until she was nothing but cold reason and deft piloting skills.
Chapter 9
“Looks like the cargo’s here,” Ben said to Magnum. “Did we get a communication device too?”
The big man nodded and pointed up to the main level.
“Great,” Ben said. “I’ll put your dinner from the station in your room. It’s good. Let me know when all of this cargo is secured and we’ll head off.”
“Okay,” Magnum said.
Ben took the food to Magnum’s room and set it on the big man’s workbench. Then he went out to the bridge where Nance was at her console.
“Any trouble?” he asked.
“Not a peep,” Nance replied. “How’d it go with the big wig?”
“Not bad,” Ben said. “We’re getting a full tank of Zexum, two hundred Imperium credits, and three hundred station credits for every drop.”
“How many drops?”
“Three on this run,” Ben said. “Is that coms device compatible with our system?”
“It is. I’ve already got it wired in. You know it’s possible that they can track us with this thing?”
“That’s a chance we’ll have to take,” Ben said. “We can’t turn down that kind of payday. Kim agreed.”
“How dangerous are the dro
ps?”
“I don’t know yet. But I don’t think they’re as bad as the Confederate run we’re about to make.”
“Okay, well, once we have everything locked down, we can go. I’ll contact flight control.”
“We have a tank of Zexum on its way,” Ben said. “That’ll be the final delivery.”
“So you caved,” Lieutenant Liachov said from the landing where she had just come down from upstairs.
“I did what I had to do to keep us flying,” Ben said. “Without fuel, we can’t take you to Brigton. I have an obligation to my crew.”
“And I have an obligation to my planet,” Rena said. “So why don’t you drop me and my squad back on Brigton Seven first, then you can run around and deliver your illicit goods to your heart’s content.”
“I haven’t looked at the plot,” Ben said. “But we aren’t wasting fuel. If the Brimex stops are closer than your world, you’ll just have to wait.”
“The tide could turn against us,” Liachov said, approaching from the stairs. She still had the heavy-looking pistol on a holster around her waist, but the rifle was gone from her back. Ben couldn’t help but notice the smooth line of her jaw and her brilliantly blue eyes. She was an attractive woman, even though she obviously eschewed the entire idea of feminine beauty.
“Every moment we delay is in the Royal Imperium’s favor,” she continued. “How can you live with that?”
“We sympathize with your plight,” Ben said. “Honestly, we do. None of us like the Royal Imperium, but we’re not rebels.”
“If you aren’t for us, you’re against us,” Liachov said, coming to stand close to Ben and just a little behind Nance.
“We aren’t against you. We’ve stuck our thumb in the Imperium Fleet’s eye more than once, but we’re not fighters.”
“You can’t just pretend the Royal Imperium isn’t a tyrannical system that keeps people in poverty and employs cruel, inhumane treatment against anyone who speaks out against them.”
“Okay,” Ben said.
“That’s it?” Rena demanded. “Okay? You’re just okay with people being killed by a government system that is corrupt at the highest levels?”
“I’m aware of the Royal Imperium’s crimes, maybe even more than most. But I’m also very aware of our capabilities. We’re a small crew. Just one ship. We’re not going to overthrow the government that controls the entire galactic arm. So please spare us the sermon and let us do our job.”
“You have no honor,” she said.
“No honor, and no time for this. I’d like it if you stayed upstairs with your people.”
“Magnum invited us to use the exercise equipment in the recreation space on the lower level,” Liachov replied. “If your plan is to make our voyage home into a long trip, I think it’s only fair that we have the chance to move around the ship.”
“You have a lot of demands,” Ben said. “And you aren’t even paying your way.”
“The Confederacy is paying you,” she shot back.
“No, the Confederacy is using us,” Ben said. “They pay us in Zexum gas, giving us just enough to finish the runs they want. Our only option is to keep working for them. Sound familiar? I think they learned the tactic from the Royal Imperium.”
“We’re nothing like them,” Liachov replied. “It’s your duty to help us.”
“Duty doesn’t keep this ship flying. You want our help, it comes at a price. Nothing’s free, Lieutenant. I’m doing the best I can, and you’re not making it any easier.”
“Nothing worth doing is easy,” she remarked.
“That’s nice. Any other platitudes you’d like to share? Or can I get back to work?”
She turned up her nose and walked quickly back to the stairs. Ben watched her go for a moment, then pulled the portable reader from the coms device the technicians had delivered.
“We’re going to the Knoxx, Dennab, and Monarch systems,” Ben said to Nance. “Fire up the navigation controls and let’s plot a course.”
“Before or after we go to the Briggs system?” Nance asked.
“We’ll go in order of whatever is closest,” Ben said. “Getting these drops done will burn up close to an entire tank of Zexum. I don’t want to waste any going back and forth.”
“Alright, I’ll get the course plotted,” Nance said.
“Good. Webb promised more info on these drops. It should be on their device. We can set out as soon as everything is ready. Until then, I’ll be in my cabin.”
“Okay,” Nance said.
Ben left the bridge and walked to his room. He glanced back toward Kim’s quarters, but the door was closed. It had turned into an exhausting day, and he simply didn’t have the strength to fight with anyone else. Instead, he went inside and closed his door, hoping it would keep his troubles at bay for just a little while.
Chapter 10
“We’ve got the cargo secured, and the passengers are settled upstairs,” Ben said.
“Is that a yes or a no?” Kim grumbled.
“Yes, we can go. Nance?”
“I’ve alerted Brimex flight control,” she said. “Standing by for release of docking mechanisms.”
“Tell them not to wait too long,” Kim said. “I’m getting antsy.”
“Let’s all just stay calm,” Ben said. “Nance, can you send the nav chart to my console?”
“One second,” she replied.
Ben’s primary screen changed to show a series of hyperspace jumps. Some were to named systems, others were to points in the middle of nowhere. Ben saw that the first two official stops were side runs for Brimex. The freedom fighters wouldn’t be pleased with that, but at least the third stop was their home world. It was probably the most dangerous part of their current run, and realizing that made Ben resent them just a little more. Still, he didn’t want to burn any bridges. Ideally, Brimex could keep them busy making less dangerous drops than the Confederacy, but it wasn’t wise to shut the door on the rebels completely.
The final stop in the Monarch system on Tudor Four would come after they delivered the freedom fighters to Brigton in the Briggs system. Ben couldn’t even remember what Holt had told them they needed to pick up, or where they wanted the Echo to deliver the goods after dropping the freedom fighters. They would have to make their plans once they were out of Briggs, which was heavily occupied with Imperium forces.
“We’re free,” Nance announced. “You’re clear all the way to the jump point.”
“Roger that,” Kim said. “Engaging thrusters.”
The ship moved forward, but there was no sensation of movement. Ben watched the large display screens, which showed the feed from the wide-angle front-facing camera. There were other ships around them, but the space directly ahead was clear. Kim waited until they were over a thousand kilometers from the space station before throttling up the ship’s engines.
“Here we go,” Kim said as she pressed the throttle forward.
“How does she feel?” Ben asked.
“Agile and hungry,” Kim said. “Bring on the Fleet.”
“I’d rather have a boring run and avoid the Imperium all together,” Ben said.
“Where’s the fun in that?” Kim said.
“I’d say surviving is fun,” Nance said. “Not being locked away on a penal world is fun.”
“Getting paid is fun,” Ben said. “When we get back to Brimex, we’ll have two full tanks of Zexum and six hundred Imperium credits that are good just about anywhere.”
“Fine,” Kim said. “Have it your way. You always do.”
Ben didn’t know what to say to that. Thankfully, Nance spoke up before he had to come up with a witty reply.
“Approaching jump point,” Nance said.
Ben pressed the intercom button so his voice would carry through the ship.
“Prepare for hyperspace transition.”
“Here we go,” Kim said. “Three, two...”
Time stretched, and the ship shot forward faster than the speed of
light. The black void of outer space changed to the soft, cloudy glow of hyperspace.
“Time to transition is six hours,” Nance said.
“My work here is done,” Kim said.
“I’m going up to explain our itinerary to our passengers,” Ben said.
“I’ll man the bridge,” Nance said.
There was a sense of comfort from everyone knowing their roles. Yet Ben still felt a chasm between him and Kim. It mystified him that one moment she could kiss him, and the next be furious because he didn’t know how to respond. The last thing he wanted was to make her feel like she had no option but to be with him, and he’d intentionally given her space. That strategy had blown up, and he was at a loss for what to do next. So, he settled for simply avoiding her.
When he got upstairs, the galley and observation deck were deserted. Ben guessed that his passengers were all in their quarters. He went to the nearest room and hit the intercom button, letting it buzz for a second. Almost immediately, the door swooshed open. Ben had to hide his grin when he saw Lieutenant Liachov in the hard-vacuum suit.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I just thought we might go over plans for the next few days.”
“Will we be in hyperspace that long?”
“No,” Ben said. “We’ll make several jumps before we get to your system. Why are you wearing the space suit?”
“It’s standard procedure,” she said. “You should be wearing one too. What if something happens to the ship? What if we come out of hyperspace surrounded by the Imperium Fleet?”
“That would be bad,” Ben said. “I don’t think the hard-vacuum suits would save you in either case.”
“Still, it’s safer,” the lieutenant said.
“Come on out to the observation deck. And maybe bring your second-in-command. I’ll get us some Chembrew ale.”
She closed the door and Ben headed for the galley. Soon he had a platter with several mugs and a pitcher of ale. The observation deck was the de facto dining room. It had a long table with bench seats on one side, and several comfortable couches and lounge chairs scavenged from old ships on the other. Above them, the transparent steel observation window showed the glowing swirl of hyperspace.
Jump Point: Kestrel Class Saga Book 2 Page 6