New Dawn (Divine War Book 1)

by Tor, Magus

  *

  Lucia bent over the traitor, keeping out of the way of Benho and Falorni. The female medic was working on the blood that Benho had given her, and finally she looked at him and nodded. Tearing his eyes away from the stat machines, Benho thanked her.

  “So?” asked Lucia, aware that something had happened.

  “She took some sort of hemolytic poison, which caused her red blood cells to break down. But we got there in time. We've neutralised the poison with the appropriate anti-toxin, given her a transfusion, and she'll live,” said the doctor.

  “Good,” Lucia said. “I owe her father a lot.”

  “How are things going in the engine room?” asked Benho.

  Lucia shrugged. “I guess we're going to find out one way or another very soon.”

  *

  Then, suddenly, there were no high-energy balls left. Pushing the power through his senses one more time, Maicee searched but found nothing. And then everything faded to black.

  As he fell unconscious to the floor, Bettie's eyes followed the countdown, the red numbers flashing and her hands sweating. Three. Two. One. Zero. A click. Then nothing. She looked up and saw Maicee lying on the floor, a decrepit-looking Kabi bending over him.

  “It seems too early for her to use her powers,” the older man said wonderingly.

  Bettie ignored his ramblings. “You've done it.”

  Kabi looked up, remembering that she was there. “Yes,” he sighed. “We did it.”

  “But how?” asked Bettie, curiously. “I saw both of you sit there, but neither of you even came close to touching any of the devices.”

  Rubbing his lined face with a large hand, Kabi shrugged. “I simply transformed the explosive material inside the devices into sand. Maicee did things a little differently, but the result is the same.”

  He laid a hand on the cold forehead of his young accomplice; there was still a little warmth there, but not much. Reaching down, he began feeling for a pulse.

  “How is that even possible?” Bettie said sceptically. She moved to get closer to the two men, to see what was going on with Maicee.

  “It's called molecular transformation,” said Kabi, still busying himself with Maicee's health. “Only a handful of people can do it. There are few alive nowadays who are capable of it, anyway.” He put Maicee's wrist down and frowned. “I can explain more later if you're interested. But in the meantime, I think that we should get the boy to the medical bay.”

  “Yes, of course,” said Bettie, reaching for the com.

  She decided to probe no further. She probably wouldn't have understood anyway, and how it was done seemed to be of little importance. What’s important, she thought, as she keyed in the number for the medical bay, is that whatever they did worked. The ship was saved. The crew was saved. Now all they had to do was figure out how to get the Freedom moving again. Falorni answered the com.

  “Send someone down to help me carry Maicee up to medical bay,” Bettie ordered. “And tell the captain that her ship is safe.”

  Chapter Seven

  The Freedom set sail with the captured Argoni in tow. Lucia had plans for the naval vessel, but first she had to get it as far away from the island of Carooine as possible. And there was the problem. Whilst Bettie, Kabi, and even Benho had managed to cobble together a patch for one of the Freedom's engines, it was unlikely to last, and the second engine was well beyond their capacity to repair. The captain sighed, put the matter out of her mind for a moment, and concentrated on the task at hand. With Maicee and Lean both in the medical bay, Bettie was giving the rest of the crew an update on all that had happened, including the disarming of the bombs that had been on board. Reaching the end of her report, the first officer stepped back, and Lucia nodded.

  “Right. Now, the first thing that is to be understood is that whilst I am still your captain, KabiOnn here will be the commander of this vessel as long as he's aboard. That means you pay him the same heed as you do me.”

  “Yes, Captain,” murmured the crew. They had witnessed Kabi's skills and were impressed.

  “Excellent,” said Lucia. “I want to get as far from Carooine as we possibly can, so attend to your duties. Bettie, stay here; I wish to speak with you.”

  Kabi and Benho also remained seated, and little Niku, pleased to have her makeshift family back for the time being, scampered over the table and sat in the crook of Benho's elbow.

  “You need to know more details of the mission,” Lucia told her first officer, once the rest of the crew were out of earshot.

  Bettie looked on curiously as Lucia and Kabi explained the situation.

  “So, let me get this straight,” she said, after listening for a while. “Princess Ausanne has been kidnapped, this little furry creature is her messenger, and we've got a data disk that contains something that the Supreme Emperor wants to get his hands on.” She raised her eyes to the heavens. “Fantastic,” she added sarcastically.

  Kabi smiled. “I'd like to tell you more about the data disk, but I can't.” He shrugged. “You'll have to trust me. It contains something that could bring death and disaster to all of Archeonis.”

  “Okay,” Bettie said slowly, obviously not quite buying Kabi's story but having no choice but to do as she was asked.

  “Our first priority is to get this data disk back to Britannia,” Lucia said. “But we're taking the long way, for two reasons.”

  “The long way?” Bettie asked.

  “We'll be travelling through the Lawless Sea.” Lucia glared at her first officer, daring her to challenge this, and when she didn't, continued: “Firstly, because I want to find out if the princess is still being held there. And secondly, because we'll be far less likely to run into the Imperial Navy there. And given that we've currently got one of their vessels under tow, that seems like a good thing.”

  Niku was hopping up and down, her tiny claws digging into a grimacing Benho's leg. “Do you think the princess is still alive?” she squeaked excitedly.

  “We can only hope,” said Kabi.

  *

  Maicee opened his eyes, blinking in the bright lights of the medical bay. His body was still soaked with sweat, the remnant of the nightmare he'd just had. Or had it been a dream? He had no idea.

  He'd been walking through a garden, lush and green, when he’d come upon a large pond. By the water, a little girl was playing, happily splashing. Watching over her was a woman, tall and beautiful, with a baby in her arms. He'd opened his mouth to call to her, the word ‘mother’ springing unbidden from his lips. But as he said the word, the air suddenly became freezing cold, ice forming on the hands of the little girl. The child had looked up at him, horror in her eyes as the ice crept along her limbs, freezing her until she fainted.

  And then he'd woken up. He rubbed his face with his hands, looking around. He was in the medical bay—that much was clear, though he remembered nothing from before except hitting the floor. He assumed he'd been successful in dismantling the bomb, however, since apparently he had all his arms and legs. And even my fingers, he thought, wiggling them.

  “You're awake?”

  Falorni came into the small bunk room, her smile cheerful, happy to see Maicee looking better.

  “Couldn't sleep,” said Maicee, not wanting to explain about his dream. “Why don't you come sit with me for a few minutes, talk to me? Maybe it'll help me go back to sleep.”

  “Are you saying I'm boring?” Falorni joked, but she perched on the edge of his bunk. “What would you like to talk about then, Doctor?”

  Maicee shrugged. “I don't know.” He paused. “How about you tell me how come you're a pirate?”

  Falorni gave him a sad smile. “It's not always a nice story, but I'll try.” She took a deep breath and closed her eyes to remember.

  “My home town was a small sea port on the coast of Americani,” she began. “When I was thirteen, the town was sacked by pirates. My parents were killed, and I was captured.”

  Already Maicee was regretting asking th
e question. He hadn't wanted to cause the girl any pain. But he sat and listened quietly.

  “I was sold to a brothel. A couple of years later, Lucia raided the brothel, and I was freed. But I didn't have anywhere to go. The captain refused to let me join her, saying I was too young. So instead she sent me to a nursing academy, where I learned my skills. Once I graduated, I came back and asked to join her again. This time she agreed, since she was in need of a medic at the time. And... well, that's pretty much it, really.”

  Opening her eyes, she saw Maicee looking at her with pity.

  “It was the past,” she told him gently. “I'd like to forget it, but it's not possible. So instead I accept it and look towards the future. With the grace of the Gods, life will be better.”

  Maicee swallowed. And here he'd been sulking because he'd given up a position in Carooine's hospital. His life hadn't always been easy, but it had been a hell of a lot easier than Falorni's had been.

  “And what about you?” Falorni asked, changing the tone and smiling. “How come you gave up a cosy position in Carooine to come travel with pirates?”

  He laughed. “It sounds a little crazy, I'll admit.” He hesitated, trying to put his reasoning into words that explained what he was doing without giving away too much information. “I am seeking my roots and a forgotten past,” he said finally.

  “That can be a good thing,” Falorni said. “At least you have a family to return to.”

  Maicee closed his eyes, feeling weariness overcome him. “I'm not so sure about that,” he murmured, drifting into sleep and trying not to remember his nightmare.

  Falorni stroked his arm. The skin was so smooth. And then she shook her head. The doctor was once more asleep. Getting up, she quietly left him to his dreams.

  *

  Lucia nodded in satisfaction. That was one problem taken care of. Lean had awoken in the medical bay and insisted on speaking with the captain. But it was only after Benho had agreed that the woman was fit enough, as long as she didn't overwork herself, that Lucia had listened to what the engineer had to say.

  “I'm the only one here who can fix those engines,” she said. “And it's the only way that I can try and make amends. You have my word, Captain, that I shall do whatever necessary to see you on your way.”

  Lucia eyed the engineer speculatively for a moment. It was true that she owed the girl's father a lot and was willing to let Lean live. And Lean seemed to have accepted that, though the ship was already underway, she was not going to be travelling far with them. Finally, she nodded.

  “You may go to the engine room.”

  But she was no fool. There was a reason she was captain of one of the most successful pirate vessels in Archeonis, after all. She was willing to trust the girl, but only so far. When she returned to the bridge, she sent her first officer to keep a close eye on Lean.

  And it was Bettie who heard the girl's quiet sobs as her oily hands fumbled to fix the engines. For a brief moment, the first officer felt a stab of pity. Then she remembered all that had happened. She fingered the trigger on her bolt blaster. She couldn't help but think that the captain had made a mistake trusting Lean again, and she hoped that the girl would do something stupid enough that would allow her to pull her weapon and shoot her. Then there'd be no problems anymore.

  *

  The small boat carrying Lean and a collection of supplies was already disappearing into the distance. No one watched. No one had the heart to. The engineer would survive—it was only a few hours to the closest land, and she had food, plus a handful of credits that had been owed to her. Lucia hoped she'd go on to a successful life but knew that, more likely than not, she'd end up a gambler or a whore, like all unwanted women did.

  “Status update!” barked Bettie.

  The ship's defence and navigation officers had installed a remote-access control system onto the Argoni, meaning that the ship was no longer under tow and could move under its own power. Everyone had gathered on the bridge, ostensibly to witness the Argoni moving under her own steam, but mostly because a cloud of heaviness had hung over the Freedom since Lean's departure, and they were huddling together for human comfort.

  The access control system working, Lucia quickly briefed her crew, and finally the Freedom was ready to move at her full cruising speed. The captain gave the order, and the ship's engines began rumbling under her feet.

  “I forgot,” Bettie said, pulling something out of her pocket whilst the others attended to their duties. “Professor Lock-Tmy had a letter for you.”

  She handed over the slim envelope, and Maicee and Benho made a move to see what was written, sure that the letter must be about them. Falorni put out a hand to stop them.

  “Lock-Tmy is the captain's grandfather,” she whispered to them in warning.

  Maicee raised his eyebrows and looked at Benho. Seriously? The more they learnt about Lucia, the more interesting she became.

  “Small world,” Benho whispered.

  “I guess so,” said Maicee.

  Lucia ripped the seal off the envelope and quickly scanned the letter's contents. Then she smiled, folded the paper, returned it to its envelope, and slid it into her belt pocket.

  “Set coordinates for Britannia by way of the Lawless Sea,” she ordered.

  “Aye, aye, Captain.”

  The ship gradually began to turn, leaving a sweeping curve of wake behind it. To starboard, the Argoni mimicked the Freedom's movements.

  “My grandfather told me to take good care of both of you,” said Lucia, coming over to Maicee and Benho. She was well aware of all that had just happened; her eyes and ears missed nothing that occurred on her bridge.

  But Maicee was too busy looking out at the horizon, where just out of sight Carooine Island lay. He wondered if he'd ever see it again.

  *

  The sun burned down onto the decks of the Freedom, its heat relentless and stinging. It had been a full day since the vessel had finally left the waters of Carooine, and now they were on the edges of the Lawless Sea. Lucia stared out at the deep blue waters, the colour brighter and more beautiful than any other hue she'd ever seen. She nodded. Here was as good a place as any.

  The few soldiers who had remained on the Argoni had been locked into the ship's safety chambers below decks. Now Lucia allowed her crew to free the men and set them out in the lifeboats of the Argoni. The ship itself she needed; it was part of her plan. The men, however, she could do without. They were naval men, and they'd probably make it. She wasn't cruel—she had given them supplies. But on the Lawless Sea, there were no guarantees. Bounty hunters, pirates, mercenaries, all plied their trade out here, and it was survival of the fittest. Still, she'd have been a fool to release the soldiers any closer to land. The last thing she needed was an alert put out for the Freedom and Argoni travelling together. No, that would ruin everything.

  Once the lifeboats were bobbing gently in the waves, Lucia waved her hand. The engines of the Freedom powered up, and both cruisers began to pull away, leaving behind them a string of curses and swearing from the abandoned soldiers. The captain shrugged. There was little room for compassion in piracy, though she tried to be fair. It was all part of the game.

  Grinning at Kabi, who was rolling his eyes at Maicee's attempt to perform some kind of acrobatic trick, Lucia scanned her hand and went back to her bridge. There were plans to put into action.

  For his part, Kabi was trying very hard to teach Maicee the art of unarmed combat. With Benho ensconced in his cabin with the beautiful Sa-li, Maicee was at a loose end on board the Freedom, and, Kabi thought, he could use a little training. It might—no, almost definitely would—come in handy. Unarmed combat really didn't seem to be the young doctor's forte, though, as Falorni's giggles only proved. The young nurse was basking on the side of the deck and watching Maicee's somewhat comical attempts at defensive manoeuvres.

  “Here,” said Kabi. “Try this.”

  He demonstrated a simple defensive move that twisted his body to avoid wh
at could have been a fatal strike to the liver. Maicee watched and tried to emulate the movement but only ended up in a hysterical heap on the salt-stained deck.

  “Focus,” Kabi said, striding over to pull his young charge up by the scruff of his neck. “Look, I know that you're well-versed in the use of a bolt blaster, but a blaster has limited ammunition. And there may be times when you simply don't have a weapon at all. By learning basic martial arts, your body will become your weapon. Do you understand?”

  Maicee yawned. “I understand,” he said, getting into position for the next attack.

  He was tired. So tired he could barely see straight. Since that first nightmare, the dreams had continued to haunt him, coming even when he tried to nap. He hadn't had a full night's sleep in what felt like forever. Plus, physical training just wasn't his thing. He'd never been trained like this before, and the morning's practice bouts had already left his muscles screaming and his body aching. But he continued, not sure why he was continuing, but simply doing as Kabi asked of him.

  Falorni hid a small, pitying smile as she saw Maicee get thrown to the deck again. The man winced in pain, rubbing his shoulder as he got up, cursing the sun-bleached planks of the Freedom's deck. Taking a deep, focussing breath, he studied Kabi's movements, trying to figure out how he should attack the man next. But it was in vain. None of his attacks thus far had come even close to touching Kabi's robe, let alone any part of his body. He groaned as once more he was thrown to the deck.

  “Kabi, is this really necessary?” he asked as he got up for the millionth time. “I mean, it's kind of painful, and, well, I'm not going to be a soldier or anything, am I?”

  Kabi looked at the boy. He was sweating, his body marked with painful welts where he'd hit the deck again and again. Kabi didn't like doing this, but he knew with absolute certainty that it was necessary.