She stopped to say, “Dion wants to join our team. He might be good, you know.”
“Can’t hear you.” At the moment, Dion was the furthest thing from his thoughts. Older, smarter, and considerably bigger, he would be a great addition to someone’s team—only not his. Dion would try to take it over, and Jacob wasn’t sure it was a fight he could win. Two hours more of this racket.
Definitely going to go deaf.
They ducked behind two canisters and some pipes to set up a watch. He felt a jab in his ribs and squinted into the dim light. Two shadowy forms skulked down the tight passage. He held the signaler tightly in his hand and pushed the button two times, two times more and repeated. Beside him, Jennie shrank behind the tank and waited with him.
A woman skulked past as the deafening noise from the overhead pipes and processing plant continued. Jacob remained rock still in the shadows until the man passed. A blinding flash of awareness made him jerk back. “Da!” he gasped.
Chapter 15
Going for a Walk
Jacob hurried back to their unit. They had caught Da and locked him up. Mom would have to know before some well-meaning friend spilled the beans.
The whole horrible scene of two shifts ago flashed in his memory: mom’s screaming, dad’s yelling, a chair flying against the wall, and dad gathering his things and storming out. Some strange woman’s name had echoed around the small unit. Now it was just the three of them. Mom, him, and the little one.
He found her sitting at their sad, banged-up table, a cup of tea in hand, staring at the wall.
With a quick turn toward him, accompanied by a wan smile, she said, “Oh, there you are. Back from classes early?”
“Mom… Dad’s in trouble. They caught him…”
“…contaminating the water system. Yes, I heard. News travels fast around here.” She sat up stiffly and pursed her lips. “I warned him that bunch was up to no good, but he just said I was jealous. Bulldocks. That woman can have him. You do more for this family than he ever did.” She took a sip of tea and eyed him across the cup. “You’re the man of the family now, Jacob. I’ll be counting on you for us to survive.”
The words fell on him like a boulder. He was a thirteen-year-old kid. If his Da couldn’t support them, how could he? His father had been wrong to do what he did, but still he was his Da. Guilt washed through him at his innocent betrayal.
“They might space him, Ma.”
She rocked back in her chair. “Damn, I wish they would.” She wrapped her new sweater, the one he had recently given her, tighter around her. “I can depend on you, can’t I?” She placed the cup carefully on the table. “I’ve got the kid to look after, and I’m too weak to work in the fields. I need you, Jacob. Your Da might die because he was misled by fancy talk and big dreams…” she looked away, “… but more likely because he was a bully and an idiot.”
He remembered the excuses, the beatings, the terror of even talking to his father, hoping to escape the simplest conversation without hurt. To survive, to have his family survive, his best current option would be to work with Trajan. If he did that, he would set himself on a dangerous path.
His decision made, he said, “Then, tell me what you know about what he was up to with this LOST organization.” He went to the cabinet, lifted out a cup, and poured in the last of the hot water from the small kettle. She handed him her strainer with loose tea, and he sat down to listen.
***
Elise leaned over the back of Jensen’s shoulder, studying the celestial map that he displayed on his screen. Joss Wylie’s curly, wheat-colored hair tickled her cheek as he, too, leaned in to see.
“With all the great minds working on this problem, you’d think we’d have a better idea of what’s out there,” Elise grumbled.
Jensen looked up. “Planets are hard to see. Many don’t reflect light. We can sometimes locate them when they transit a bright star or cause another body to wobble. But it’s tricky. Also, the fleet is traveling so fast that getting a fix is difficult. Everything is moving at incredible speeds, including this ship. However,” he placed a finger on a smudge, “That star system appeals to several in the fleet, so the vote is to head in that direction.”
Joss shifted next to her. “There are a lot of stars whirling around out there, and stars will most likely have planets.”
“That’s the hope,” Jensen agreed. “Still, it’s a long way off, even with jump capability. Twenty-five or more light years.”
“Commander Reardon has called a Captains’ Conference for next shift.” She glanced at the board. “And I have a meeting with Administrator Stoddard in fifteen minutes in my office. I understand he runs the organizational part of the ship. Tango, you have the con.”
“I have the con,” Tango responded. “I’ll hold her steady and stay clear of other ships. Rather boring, actually, now that we’ve spread the formation again.”
She squinted at him. He looked different. “What did you do? You changed something.”
Swiveling to face her, he raised an eyebrow. “You noticed. I cut my ponytail. All that hair floating around almost got me killed when we lost gravity. Besides, second-in-command needs a respectable hairstyle.” He patted his brown, now shorter, disheveled mop.
She wrinkled her nose. “It’s a good look. I’m sure all the women on board will appreciate a shorter, neater, hairstyle.”
His brown eyes sparkled at her as several crew members doubled over giggling, coughing, and all around laughing at her comment.
She straightened up, perplexed and a bit miffed at their reaction. “Okay then, carry on.”
***
“Greetings, Captain Fujeint.” Frank Stoddard, the ship administrator, nodded at her. His responsibility was to keep the other crews on task, the people supplied, and the ship operational. If discipline was called for, he administered it.
She noted a face that looked like it had been rough-hewn from rock. A heavy brow sat above pale hazel eyes that scrutinized her. Balding on top, wisps of smoke-colored hair straggled all along the sides and back. Thin lips smiled a cold smile. He made her shiver.
The handshake, abrupt but strong, conveyed a message of authority. Sitting across from her at a small table, he smoothed out his gray jacket adorned with a small, black bowtie at his throat.
She eased into an opposite chair. “I plan to space the people who attempted to drug the water supply, and I want to schedule it as soon as possible so we can put the whole ugly mess behind us.” She slid official papers across the table to him.
Scanning the room, his eyes came back and rested on the papers as if they were a pile of manure.
He brushed back a wispy strand of hair. Again, he gave that distant smile that never quite reached the eyes. “What you need to understand, Elise, is that my job as administrator is to run this ship while your job is to fly it. To be honest, I’m not inclined to space those two quite so fast. For a first offense, it seems a bit harsh.” He moved the pieces of papers around, slid them back to her, and offered her a calm stare.
She jerked upright. “They tried to contaminate our water supply.” She hadn’t expected this.
“We have no proof of that.” He shrugged.
“The guards found drugs on them!” She couldn’t believe what he was saying.
He wrinkled his nose. “Granted, a questionable substance was found in the area, but no proof as to how it got there. Actually, it’s possible that the guards could have planted it there to incriminate those two.”
Shaking her head, she refused that idea. “No way.” A chill shuddered through her. Where was he going with this?
“I suspect there’s a conspiracy among certain guards to frame those who oppose your plans.” He rubbed his nose. “A contingent backs me and my ideas of how this ship should be managed, but there are others who are afraid of my power.”
“That’s absurd. Those people had no business being there. They sneaked in through a restricted utility corridor with an illegal substance.
I want them spaced.” Her fist slammed the table. “This was not the first time the water supply has been breached.”
He exhaled a heavy sigh. “I see you don’t understand the situation.” He shifted forward. “It’s really a matter of numbers.” He lifted a hand. “Let’s see, five on the bridge…usually three or four at a time. Let’s make it four.” Four fingers waggled at her. “And five hundred others on the ship under my administration. Okay, let’s say there are fifty men who will do what I say without a quibble.” A hand waved on the other side. Leaning back, he put up both hands and wiggled all his fingers. “A matter of numbers. So I say we wait until they’re proven guilty, and that’s not looking like the case at the moment.”
Appalled, she stared at him. “I’m captain of the ship. I am in command.”
“Yes, yes. Of the bridge. You follow orders from fleet Commander Reardon and fly the ship where he says it must go. Ship functioning is your responsibility too. You did a nice job with the gravity problem. I was amazed at your quick action. So, yes, I agree that you carry the title of captain.”
“No, I decide what happens on this ship.”
“Now there’s where you’re wrong.” He flicked a glance over at the unmoving form of Trajan. “You may also want to consider those who say they protect you.” He smiled again. “Careless guards often get hurt when a crowd riots or an ambush occurs. Can’t be helped. All part of the job. Also, there’s a kid that I’d be worried about if I were you. He’s a thief, and it’s possible he was the one who brought in the poison if it proves to be poison. The lab is ready to claim it was fluoride.”
“I didn’t get a lab report saying it was fluoride.” Her face heated up as she tried to stifle her anger.
He slanted his head. “I did.” He pushed back his chair. “Hardly seems an act punishable by death, now does it? But that sneaky kid. I’d warn him to be careful. Kids like him wander into dangerous spaces on a ship like this, and if he plays too near an airlock, he could find himself on the other side. You might warn him to be careful where he goes from now on and who he talks to.”
“What kid? Who are you talking about?” She swung around to stare at Trajan and noticed the tightening of his expression.
Frank Stoddard stood up and glanced at his wrist computer. “I have a meeting with the other administrators now. I want to update them on our little understanding, so they realize you are clear about your responsibilities.”
She stood up. She had no answers at the moment. Watching Stoddard leave, she couldn’t believe what had just happened—and Trajan. What part did he play?
As soon as Stoddard left, she whirled around. “What boy? What boy is that piece of trash talking about? Trajan! Answer me.”
Her guard shifted uneasily. She saw guilt deep within his dark stare. He blew out a breath as she waited for an answer. Finally, he said, “I placed him as a perimeter observer only. He was instructed to not get involved, only to signal if anyone came through the utility maintenance tunnel.”
“Why do I think there’s more to the story?”
His fists tightened. “Because it turns out he’s Tom Monroe’s son. He had no idea his father would be there.” He faced her. “And neither did I.”
What a mess. “How old is this boy?”
His eyes studied the floor. “He says he’s thirteen.”
“Is he a thief like Frank insinuated?”
A variety of expressions: stubbornness, anger, guilt, and finally capitulation danced across his face. He didn’t want to say the truth, but he would.
“I caught him stealing food to feed his starving mother. Actually, his father works at the garden and demanded that he steal for the family. I’ll handle it.”
“Will he even trust you now?”
A shrug was her answer.
“Can I trust you? The man as much as said you’re unreliable.”
She saw how deeply her words cut. When he answered, his rich baritone voice sounded ragged. “Yes, with your life.”
“It seems I already have, and this is what I get.”
He flinched.
“Okay, go settle this. I don’t want a kid’s death on my hands.”
Chapter 16
Fleet Report
She remained physically in her seat in the cramped stateroom, but holographically she joined thirty-nine other captains around Commander Derek Reardon’s imaginary council table on the flagship The New World.
Startled, Elise noticed the Commander’s hair had turned from his previous salt and pepper to a silver gray and now almost matched his smoky-gray eyes. His normally animated features appeared tired and haggard.
He called the meeting to order. “First item of business is the successful completion of our efforts to replenish a major portion of our water supply. We also were able to mine much-needed metals for ship repair and replacement parts. Aside from a brief jostling of asteroid equipment with minimal damage, I consider the operation a success. We managed to dump the contaminated water and refill our tanks. Our analysis determined that the contaminant wasn’t poison but a birth control hormone. I have ordered a task force to uncover the culprits and ascertain its effects. Each of you will hear from me soon.”
Drumming his fingers on his tablet, he lifted his eyes to the group. “I’m finding too much traffic among our ships. Captains, use your shuttles sparingly and be mindful of where other ships in the fleet are located. Several have flown dangerously close during these exchanges, inviting possible collisions, so I want the fleet spread out more. I have sent designated routes to all captains. I can’t emphasize this too much. Shuttles are to be used for critical business only and not casual larks or social calls. We need to conserve our resources better.”
Captain Longstaff leaned forward. “Try telling that to my Aunt Sophie. She’s hell-bent on a visit to her daughter over on The Valiant to check up on her new son-in-law.” His comments brought a few chuckles and various head-nods, along with commiserating noises.
Commander Reardon shot the man a stony glare. “I’d suggest you rein in your relatives, Henry, or face the consequences.” He cleared his throat and squinted at the notes on his Etab to find his place. Putting a finger on a spot, he looked up. “To continue ...another item is the lack of advanced notice to the 3D printing lab. With our supply of metal replenished, many people are asking for parts replacements without giving advanced notice. Due to this increased activity, the Storage Locker is backed up and needs to start scheduling all new orders ahead of time.”
Several groans greeted this announcement.
Ignoring the noise, the Commander carried on. “As you know, overcrowding is a critical problem that leads to frayed tempers and irritable people. Implementing activities for those with no jobs or increasing safety personnel are two ways to alleviate possible problems.”
“It’s not that easy,” one of the captains muttered.
A number of assents to that comment traveled around the table.
The Commander raised his voice over the grumble. “Another item of concern is the number of chickens that have been diagnosed with an unknown disease. Husbandry urges you to examine your flocks to check their state of health. Be vigilant here as our coops are dwindling. If you can spare any healthy poultry, contact my communications desk to arrange transfer to those ships who have lost theirs.”
The Commander straightened up and scanned the table. To his right, a large monitor displayed an image of a disc-shaped solar system. “Now…” He clapped his hands together and touched a cursor. Moving it around, he said, “We have discovered we are still in the Milky Way, but far enough off course to place us in uncharted territory. Hence our confusion. Several astrogators have targeted a system they predict contains a potentially habitable world. There are billions of stars in this galaxy, and we hope to make one of them our new home. Unfortunately, most solar systems are quite distant and will require numerous jumps. Even though our destination lies beyond our lifespan, our children may find a home We are currently…”<
br />
“Aargh.” Everyone swiveled to stare at Captain Bundai as he slid off his chair onto the floor.
“What the …” Commander Reardon quickly contacted Bundai’s ship through his comm. “Something’s wrong with your captain. Get a medical team to his stateroom immediately.”
Within minutes, a fresh face appeared in the holographic field, and Captain Bundai staggered away under escort.
“What’s the matter over there?” Commander Reardon demanded.
The new face leaned forward. “A touch of the flu, sir. It’s been going around the ship. I’m James Howard, our second-in-command. I’ll stand in for him and report your comments to the captain.”
A murmur traveled around the table, and several captains exchanged worried glances.
Elise felt her face. Dry and hot to the touch, she’d considered her fatigue and nausea to be a result of stress from recent events. Alarmed, she considered illness instead.
“Commander, a severe flu has recently struck my ship.” Elise recognized Charles Dance’s voice. “The disease is virulent. Symptoms start with a high fever, developing rapidly into nausea, vomiting, dehydration, and painful rashes.”
That made her catch her breath. Were those rashes the same as the skin discoloration on the hand and wrist of the Medlab director from Charles’s ship? She had shaken his hand.
Another captain chimed in that her ship also was experiencing a flu-like disease.
“Is this a result of the water contamination?” Naomi Johnson, from The Pilgrim’s Pride, leaned forward, a worried frown creasing her pale brow.
Elise pressed a comm button and signaled that she wanted to speak.
A World Too Far (Terran Trilogy Book 1) Page 7