After the small and unsatisfying breakfast, I spent an hour jogging up and down the corridors, something I tried to make a habit to keep my body and mind healthy. Although I normally sprinted to keep up my heart rate, the pain bouncing in my head kept my pace slow. Once done, I returned to my quarters, allowed myself a quick shower, and changed into loose clothes—soft black pants and a white sleeveless shirt. Then I moved to the cargo bay, where I opened the door to let in the fresh air.
Being docked in the middle of a city meant the air wouldn’t be clean, but as it blew into the ship, I felt the cool refreshing wind against my face and found myself smiling. I took a few minutes to stretch out my body, and with my eyes closed, I breathed in deep. I smelled two distinct scents—a dark roast and a sweet, floral smell. I opened my eyes and found Autumn Derringer standing outside my ship with two cups in her hands. At the time, I held one of my legs behind me in a stretch, and when I saw her, I nearly tottered onto my face.
“Uh, hi,” I said as I descended the ramp to welcome her. The closer I got, the more butterflies circled in my stomach.
The speaker above me crackled.
“Captain! Proximity alert!” Tress yelled out.
Great, Tress, only a minute too late, I thought.
“Thank you, Tress. Standby.”
Autumn’s eyebrows shot up when I spoke to Tress in his language.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I hope I’m not interrupting. I just felt like I never properly thanked you for bringing my father home.”
Her red eyes were emphasized by the small bags under them. She wore a dark blue coat that ended at her thighs, and denim pants. I tried to keep my eyes on hers and not wander, even with her conservative clothing, but it was difficult. She handed me a cup of steaming liquid and I took it with a smile, which should have been a ”thank you,” but my voice failed. After a sip, the drink heated my mouth and assaulted it with flavors of mocha. Warmth traveled down to my stomach.
“Wow, that’s delicious,” I said, finally able to form words. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said. I focused on her infectious smile. The two of us stared at each other for what felt like a lifetime.
Daniel, please reactivate your brain, I thought as I motioned for her to come aboard.
She stepped onto the ramp and into the cargo bay, looking around at the struts, catwalks, and empty cargo boxes.
“So . . . this is the cargo bay,” I said, giving myself a mental facepalm as I said it. She probably knew this was a cargo bay. Or did she? There’s no reason to believe she had any experience with ships before. My mind raced around the question of her ship knowledge until finally she smiled and answered for me.
“I think I was ten years old the last time I stood on a ship. She looks very impressive.”
“She’s kept me alive, which I think sums it up,” I said while memories of the ship played through my mind. For once, I could actually enjoy the memories rather than hide from them.
Autumn followed me on a short tour. Talking to her was a lot easier when the topic was something I had experience in. I showed her the public areas of the ship, staying away from engineering and the armory, though the armory was more like an empty closet. I did show her the crew quarters where I introduced her to Tress.
When he saw her, his posture shot up straight like an arrow and his hands clamped to his sides. He looked her in the eye, but with a quick turn of his head, stared at the wall across from him. Did he do this because he didn’t know Autumn, or because she was a woman? Either way, Autumn didn’t seem to mind.
“It’s nice to meet you, Tress,” she said in English, and I translated. “I met a few Restrans maybe five or six years ago, but never learned the language.”
“Hira do no, miku renda.”
“He said he’s sorry for your loss, and it’s nice to meet you, too.” He didn’t actually say the second part, but I added it in.
We ended our tour in the kitchen where we sat across from each other. I finished my drink by the time we climbed the corridor to the top floor, but Autumn nursed hers.
Being on the Belle gave me more confidence and I felt more comfortable with her, enough that I could ask her a couple questions. But I wanted to tread lightly and not upset her with recent events.
“So did you come all this way just to bring me a drink and thank me? Because you could have sent me a communication.”
“But then I wouldn’t have been able to bring you a coffee,” she said. “You already look better than you did before I gave it to you.”
I did feel better. The liquid had warmed me and the caffeine helped to block the pain that had been rolling around in my head. She dropped her gaze to the table and rotated her cup, all while I sat with my hands folded together.
“In truth,” she said, softer than before, “I wanted to ask you, if you don’t mind, about my father’s death.”
So much for treading lightly. I thought how best to tell her about it before I spoke. I didn’t want her to be sad for him, something not easily done.
“He died without pain,” I said. “He didn’t suffer in any way. He died doing his job, which makes his death an honorable one.
Tears formed in her eyes. She wiped them away before they had the chance to fall, and she took a deep breath, nodding her head.
“He knew,” she said. “When he left the planet, the way he said goodbye, the strong hug he gave me that seemed to last forever. I think he knew, and I think I did, too.”
I gave her a moment to compose herself. Then I told her the full story, how he found Tress and asked for his help to find me, how Granak shot him dead, and everything afterwards that led me to Terra. I left out the part where I threatened to shoot Damon myself.
“So,” she said after I finished the story, which she took rather well. She nodded her head with narrow eyes and tried to make sense of it all. “This Leondren murdered my father to keep you from coming here?”
I nodded. “He didn’t want your father passing on his data, but Damon outsmarted him by hiding his memory drive with Tress, who never had any clue what he had.”
“But now you’re here, so will Granak be coming?”
“I’m willing to bet he’s already on the planet, or at least in this solar system. Commander Scott is keeping heavy surveillance on all the docks, but Granak is ruthless and cunning. If he wants to be here, he’ll find a way.”
“And what about you, Daniel Quinn?” she asked, her voice lower, the sound smooth like silk. I shivered with goose bumps when she said my name.
“Me?”
“What kind of person are you? Why are you doing all this?”
Good question, one I asked myself every day since I left Karth. Technically, the paying job was to locate Granak, but I found myself on Terra ignoring that job . . . no, not ignoring. I still felt confident that he would turn up sooner or later. Still, a part of me wished Damon never found me so I could selfishly get on with my life and try to find safer jobs to earn money. But there were a lot of reasons I involved myself on this planet, such as curiosity to know how Damon learned about me and what role he intended for me to play. Either way, whether I considered the hunt for Granak or saving the council, I wanted to think that I was the kind of person who couldn’t turn away when someone was in need, and in this case there were about a billion someones. Sitting here looking at Autumn and her grief, I wanted nothing more than to give her vengeance for her father’s death.
So, was I in this for the mystery, money, or justice? Could I choose all of the above?
“I . . .” My voice cracked and I hesitated. The last thing I wanted to do was insult her father’s memory. “Your father risked his life to find me. For some reason he believed I could make a difference and I watched him die with that belief. I want to know why he chose me, what makes me so special, and, in doing so, I hope to find some way to track down his murderer and stop Terra and Gaia from killing each other.”
Autumn nodded, her face expressionles
s.
“So, how do we find out what my father was up to?”
“We?” I asked. She shrugged, lifted the cup to her lips, and finished her drink.
“Like you said, he came looking for you, so you’re a part of this. But he’s my father, and I believed in peace just as much as he did, so I’m a part of this. I won’t just sit by as the council is being murdered and the treaty falls apart.”
“Okay then,” I said while forcing myself not to smile at the prospect of working with her. “So what’s the first step?”
She laughed.
“You’re the Captain . . . Captain. You tell me what we should do.”
She had a point, but I had no clue where to go from here. I drummed my fingers on the table and Autumn watched, amused, her hands folded under her chin and eyes wide.
What did I need more than anything right now? More information. But as far as I knew, Commander Scott had none until we could question the Gaian prisoner. General Ambrose, whoever he was, wouldn’t be back on Terra for another day or two.
And then I realized the answer was right in front of me. Damon knew he was going to die, and even his daughter felt it. Who better to learn about Damon and his job than his own daughter?
“I told you about the memory drive, but the information on there was more educational than revealing. Did your father keep any other records?”
“He did have a computer in his office, which he kept locked even from me. We could start there.”
“That sounds good,” I said while looking at my console to check the time. “But someone from Commander Scott’s team will be picking me up in half an hour. We should wait for them, shouldn’t we?”
“Oh, Captain,” Autumn said. “Do you always go by the book? I thought mercenaries were supposed to be unpredictable.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Tress,” I called. “I’m heading out. Keep an eye on the repair team when they get here.”
“Yes, Sir,” he said, emerging in the corridor. “They have just arrived and are at the door.”
“I’ll let them in on our way out.”
Autumn and I descended the ship toward the cargo bay. I stopped at my quarters to grab my gun and sword. Autumn’s eyes flicked to the sword every couple of minutes, but she didn’t say anything. When we reached the bay, I threw down the lever to open the door. Three men in full silver suits stepped aboard. Each carried a backpack and duffel bag with equipment pushing outside the seal of the bags. I couldn’t tell what the team looked like because each wore a tinted helmet with headlights.
“Welcome aboard,” I said to each of them, though I felt apprehensive knowing how easily the mercenaries got into the building to attack us. I couldn’t see who these people were, so how could I trust they were an actual repair team?
“Do you gentlemen have any kind of identification, or would you be willing to remove your helmets? I’m not fond of letting strangers on my ship.”
The man in front turned to regard me. He took a step forward and put his hand on my shoulder. “Son, we’re going to take good care of her. We are here under orders from Commander Reynold Scott himself.” The associate to his right took out a card of some kind and held it up to me. Scott’s picture and what I guessed was his signature covered it. I wanted to question them further, but my instincts told me these men were the real deal. Was it the way the front man spoke to me with a soft, reassuring tone?
“My associate, Tress, will be overlooking the repairs. Please focus your attention on the engine room, weapons systems, and bulkheads.” The engineer’s hand stayed on my shoulder a few more seconds before he and his team continued. Tress walked out to greet them.
Strange, they didn’t send a translator, I thought.
“Greta! No tu rajat?” The lead engineer said.
Oh, that’s why . . .
“Well, shall we?” Autumn asked, stepping off the cargo bay ramp. She walked toward the elevators without waiting for me to answer. I caught up with her.
“Listen, Autumn, about this ‘we’ stuff . . . I’m not sure you understand the danger you will be putting—”
“Daniel,” she said.
“What?”
“Shut up.”
Eleven
Damon Derringer’s home was on the outskirts of the city. I thought the whole planet was covered in a metropolis of buildings, but the long green fields and forests proved me wrong. Autumn spent the trip asking me a lot of personal questions, some of which were uncomfortable. How did you get involved in space travel, how did you get your ship, why are you a mercenary? Others were more complicated than she realized.
Fortunately, she enjoyed answering questions as much as asking them. I managed to turn the tide toward her and asked how she knew Commander Scott.
“My father and Reynold have been friends for years,” she said softly, her energy depleted by the memories of her father.
Way to go Daniel, you don’t want to talk about sensitive memories but you made her do it, I thought.
“Scott was like an uncle to me. He always kept candy or figurines in his office when dad brought me by to visit. It feels strange when I visit him now, all grown up.”
“I’ll bet,” is all I managed to say. I looked around the office, expecting to see a lone figurine somewhere, forgotten after all these years, but saw nothing.
“Captain,” she said.
“Please, you can call me Daniel.”
“Okay . . . Daniel. I’m not sure I understand everything that’s happening. I know my father died off-planet. I know that whatever he left for, it’s connected to the council murders, but what I don’t understand is why he transferred his advisor access and information to you when he could have given me all of it.”
“Join the club,” I said. “I know as much, maybe even less, than you do. But . . . I think we both know that Damon expected to die, and maybe that’s why he didn’t transfer it all to you. He didn’t want someone to come after you and kill you, too.”
She nodded, her eyes glossing over. Autumn seemed like a strong and energetic woman, but her father’s death cracked at her optimistic shell. Knowing that her father was in danger prepared her for the news, but still, it’s not easy to get over a loved one.
“So,” she said. “What’s with that sword you carry around?”
I wondered when she would ask that question. I stepped around all her previous questions, so I forced myself to answer at least one honestly.
“I found out a while ago that sometimes a close-quarters weapon can be just as useful, if not more so, than a gun. Guns are easy. You just point and shoot, but with the sword I need the skill and agility to use it, and you have to take a lot more into consideration when using it against another human being.”
“You sound like you’re a master at it,” she said playfully.
“Far from it.” Far from the skill its original owner wielded. “One of my last missions went sour. A renegade captain and her men attacked an alien race. One of the attackers was a swordswoman. She killed someone I cared about, but when the tides turned and we won, I kept her sword.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Keeping the sword with you must bring back painful memories.”
“In a way, but at the same time I should know my enemy, and learn all I can about combat. One day, I’m sure she’ll be looking to get her sword back.”
My pocket bleeped and vibrated. I pulled out the glass communicator Scott gave me. A picture of him was on the screen with his number scrolling below. I touched my finger to the glass and the picture changed to read “active call”.
“Quinn? My men just called and told me you weren’t at your ship. Care to explain what you’re doing?”
“Scott, Autumn and I are taking a look around Damon’s home to find anything new.”
“I recommend against that,” Scott said with a rasp behind his voice. “My men and I have been through his house a number of times. Any useful information will already be stored on the Sentinel database.�
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I looked over at Autumn, who turned toward me with her eyes wide and eyebrows raised. She nodded in an exaggerated manner, as if telling me, “Yeah, that’s right. What are you going to do about it?”
“I understand, Scott,” I said while looking at her. “But being that I’m the advisor to the council now, I want to personally investigate as much evidence as I can, and if that means using a fine tooth comb over everything, then so be it.”
“You realize that being advisor to the council means you should be focusing on . . . the council, right?”
Autumn pointed her finger and shook it at me, as if reprimanding me along with Scott.
“Yes, I understand. But I need to understand what the job entails, and what better way to start than with the home of the previous advisor? Give me an hour to look around, and I’ll return to HQ. Okay?”
“Agreed, but don’t dawdle. There should be a group of Sentinels securing the perimeter of the house. Just show them the communicator and they’ll let you through.”
Scott cut off communication.
“Are you trying to get me in more trouble?” I asked Autumn, stifling a laugh. “For someone you see as an uncle to you, you sure know how to mock him.”
“That doesn’t mean I never pissed him off, or don’t know how to push his buttons . . . or yours apparently.”
Heat rushed to my face and I turned away, trying to ignore her giggling. I had to admit, though, she did a good job of rebuilding the shell around her father’s death, which was admirable. Autumn didn’t seem like the kind of woman who sat around and let others do things for her. Maybe it was a result of being the daughter of someone in politics. Who knows? I just hoped that she didn’t get herself killed chasing after the council’s murderer with me. Too many people died around me already.
The vehicle descended into the forest as the trees grew sparser. A cement road below us led to a valley, trimmed neat and altered to make a large circle. In the middle of the circle was a large home, dull red with three sides ending in a point like triangles meshed together, just like an ancient Earth pyramid. The cement road surrounded the house in its own circle, veering off at the sides through large gardens of flowers. In front of the house, the cement expanded into a driveway where three cars resembling Commander Scott’s were parked. My bionic eye zoomed into the vehicle windows, but I saw no one. In fact, there were no life signs around the house at all.
Antagonize (From the Logs of Daniel Quinn Book 2) Page 10