by Juno Wells
The second-in-command lowered his voice. "Sir, you should go back to the infirmary. You're still bleeding."
Vaant frowned, touching the back of his head where greenish blood flowed. "Huh. Perhaps you're right."
"We'll call your quarters if anything changes as we refit the ship. There's a rebel stronghold not far from here. We should be able to get repairs and resupply." Trazzak returned to the controls and Vaant headed for the infirmary. He didn't want to go back to his quarters.
His bed still smelled like Isla, and he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep when she was so far away.
Chapter 27
Isla
It didn't take long for Rowan to return with a tablet and most of the information on how the ship operated and where the vents led. No one asked where she got it or how, though Isla took a moment to reflect on how much she appreciated all of her friends, even when they argued. The idea of getting their own ship and traveling the universe, searching for ways to help people and pursue justice, grew more appealing with every passing moment.
As Isla and Rowan studied the schematics, Griggs plotted with Jess for a diversion. When they started mentioning explosions, poisonous gases, and Newton only knew what, Violet intervened to make sure everything stayed mostly legal. Isla shook her head and helped Rowan trace the route to get back to the bridge control room, her heart in her throat as she anticipated sneaking through the entire port to spy on the Hawking captain and crew.
They didn't have much time. Maisy and Jess went out to obtain some communicators and figure out a quick path back to the dock. Isla didn't like the idea of splitting the group up, but they had to separate in order to get the diversion triggered at the right moment. Rowan drew maps for everyone, so even if the electronics failed they could still navigate to the dock in order to meet up and make the last-ditch effort to steal the Hawking or at least stowaway aboard it. It seemed like forever and yet just a blink until they all crouched in the equipment room around the schematics and walked through the plan.
Isla knew it wouldn't work. They all knew it wouldn't. Even Griggs and her perpetual optimism for wreaking havoc couldn't lift the mood. But sometimes being an officer and explorer meant taking incredible risks and rolling the dice, hoping for success even in the face of impossible odds. They owed it to the Galaxos, the squids, and the space port to find out the truth of what the Alliance and the Hawking were up to.
When all the plans were set and they knew it was time to go, no one moved. Isla took a deep breath and put her hand in the middle of the circle. "It's been a pleasure serving with all of you. We'll see everyone at the dock, when we're stealing the Hawking and blasting off to our own adventures."
"Aye aye," Griggs said.
They all put their hands in, then stood. Violet, Jess, and Griggs headed for the door so they could sneak out and put the diversions into place, which unfortunately included more explosions than Isla thought wise. Still, though, she trusted Griggs not to get too carried away. Well...
Isla paused as Rowan climbed into the vents, and she looked back at the door. Griggs wasn't known for her impulse control. "Should we, uh, maybe keep Griggs with us so the entire port isn't destroyed?"
Rowan poked her head down from the ceiling, grinning. "Come on. I'm sure it'll be fine."
"Look, I've lived with her for almost ten years, and I'm equally sure we stand a good chance of her going full pirate on this port."
"Great." Rowan winked and reached down to catch Maisy's hand and help her climb up into the ventilation system. "If we see the wrong kind of shit from the Hawking captain, then they deserve it. Let's go, Lennox."
Isla shook her head, but climbed up into the vent and pulled the hatch closed behind her. Newton, Einstein, and von Braun help them, the plan had to work.
It was slow going through the vents, since they couldn't make any noise or the various guards throughout the port might have looked up and discovered them. The warm air grew more and more uncomfortable as they crawled along, and very quickly Isla found herself with a crippling headache and a racing heart once more. She didn't want to know what the Hawking captain was up to, since it meant that Vaant and his crew might have been in more danger than she could possibly bear. But it had to be done.
It felt like forever before they reached the last stretch outside the control room. Rowan managed to find a small alcove in the ventilation system, a large air exchange with enough room for them to gather around and listen to the discussions on the bridge. Isla held her breath as she caught her first glimpse of the Hawking captain — no one she recognized, which was either good or very bad. Maybe he was a new captain and hadn't been corrupted, like Witz, or maybe he'd been banished to the farthest reaches of space as a punishment. There wasn't an easy way to tell.
Or so she thought.
The captain faced the port captain with a hard expression, pacing through the control room as his officers examined the security records and systems reports. "How long were the pirates on this port? Did any of them remain behind?"
"They're not pirates," Dyrgic said, with the tone of someone who'd been repeating the same thing over and over for quite some time. "They came here to assist us after we were attacked by an Alliance ship. The Xaravians saved this port from losing at least half our operating capacity. I don't know why you think they caused all of this, when it is clearly an Alliance ship on the radar reports."
"It's impossible," the Hawking captain said. "The Alliance doesn't attack neutral ports. It was the Galaxos that attacked you."
"No, it wasn't." Dyrgic shook his head and stormed over to his communicators' station. "We're sending a hailing call to the next port. They can help —"
Before he finished, the Hawking captain drew his weapon and pointed it at the back of the four-armed man's head. Isla sucked in a breath, wanting to scream a warning, but Rowan clapped a hand over her mouth just as the Earther captain fired.
Dyrgic collapsed, dead, and his crew shouted warnings and reached for their weapons. But it was too late. The Hawking crew very calmly, very coldly murdered every single one of the port's crew on the bridge, regardless of how they cried out and tried to escape. Isla's cheeks burned as tears escaped, and she gripped the metal edge of the vent until her hands ached in a sudden sharp pain.
Maisy paled as she whispered, "Maybe we can help them. We can still —"
But it became clear the Hawking captain didn't want to leave any witnesses. Even the few crewmembers who might have survived were revisited and executed by the grim-looking Earther crew. Isla’s heart hurt. Rowan shook her head and motioned for Maisy to keep quiet as the Hawking captain started issuing orders.
They began destroying the records from the previous week, and at least one started loading new data into the system. So whoever came later to clean up would only see footage of the Galaxos approaching the port. Isla couldn't let that happen. They had to do something to stop the Hawking crew.
Rowan glanced over at her and sighed, muttering a curse, then tilted her head at another set of vents. "We can move down there and then —"
Except Isla moved and her knee bumped part of the metal vent and the entire thing creaked. The crew below them froze, looking up, and Isla had just a moment to think they really needed to flee as fast as possible before the vent buckled and dumped all three of them to the control room below.
Isla landed hard and knocked all the air out of her lungs, gasping for breath as Maisy bounced on top of her and Rowan tumbled into a stern-faced Hawking security officer. Isla tried to be grateful they didn't land on any of the deceased port crewmembers.
The Hawking captain looked at them, a single arched eyebrow the only indication of his surprise, then his eyes narrowed as he studied them more closely. He held his hand out to one of his officers. "The missing person report, please."
Isla coughed and croaked as Maisy helped her sit, and Rowan attempted a smile as she faced the captain. "We were chasing after my sister's escaped cat. We thought she might have heade
d this way and —"
"Don't," the captain said, not looking up from the tablet. He made a thoughtful noise, then held up the tablet to display all six photos of the Argo's former female crew. "Interesting. Three of the traitors and saboteurs from the Argo, showing up on a half-destroyed port that the pirates tried to use. Two birds with one stone, it seems like."
The coldness of his expression made Isla's heart trip and stumble, and the blood pounded loudly in her ears. She eyed the door and the half dozen men between her and freedom. They would only get one chance, if the captain tried something. And since they'd just seen him murder a dozen innocent space-mariners... There wasn't any reason to suspect he'd find restraint in the next few minutes.
Rowan's gaze went equally cold. "We officially make notification to the Alliance that Captain Witz of the Argo violated Fleet law and abandoned six of his crewmembers with an alien and unknown vessel. We are not traitors or saboteurs."
"I've read Witz's report," the man said. He gestured and a few of his men started to spread out, weapons still drawn. "I know what you are. You're also clearly engaged in some kind of illegal activity on this port, since you are out of uniform and failed to identify yourselves when we boarded the ship. You're under arrest, and you will immediately disclose the location of the other three traitors."
"No, we aren't." Isla straightened her shoulders and hoped that Rowan and Maisy were ready to move. "You're under arrest. Surrender your weapons immediately."
Disbelief fleetingly passed over the captain's expression, then he started laughing. It was just enough time for Rowan to dive to the side, kicking one of the Fleet officers before she skidded into some of the bodies of the port crewmembers. Isla dodged, grabbing Maisy to pull her out of the way as the rest of the officers shouted and started firing, but she heard Rowan offer a rushed prayer before she relieved the bodies of their weapons and tossed a few to Isla.
They scattered and ran, firing back, and Isla shouted into her communicator for Griggs to start the diversion. Lasers and electrified barbs pinged against metal and flew past them, and Isla barreled through one of the massive Earthers with her shoulder down, managing to throw him aside in a move that would have made Griggs proud. Something bit at her leg and shoulder just as she reached the door, but Isla ignored it. They had to get to the dock.
Chapter 28
Vaant
Vaant didn't rest at all, despite the fact that Vrix stood outside the door to the infirmary and shoved him back inside every time Vaant tried to leave. They gave him status updates on the condition of the ship after they reached the rebel resupply base, though nothing happened fast enough for Vaant. The damage to the shields and the exterior of the ship was extensive, and they couldn't just beat the dents out and carry on. The more advanced weapons of the Fleet ships served their purpose and completely fucked over his ship.
He finally shoved past Vrix, who grudgingly admitted Vaant must have been feeling better, and strode back to the bridge. Trazzak and Mrax both looked exhausted, so he sent them off to find their own rest, and took his place in the captain's chair so he could stare at the darkened screen in front of him. He didn't want to get lost in melancholy, but the fact that the beacon hadn't gone off, asking for his help, sharply divided his heart. He wanted Isla to be safe and not in need of saving, but he also wanted to help her.
Vaant scowled as Vrix showed up with a tray of food and shoved it at him. "You need to eat something."
"What are you, my mother?"
"Someone has to keep you from getting yourself killed," Vrix said, and sprawled in the navigator's chair at Vaant's right hand. "Which is looking more and more assured if you don't take a strategic view of this shit. We got out of there and we survived the attack. We're refitting. We lived to fight again another day. That's not a small thing."
Vaant picked at the food, irritated that his appetite had disappeared even though he knew Vrix was probably right and he needed to eat. They'd have a lot of running battles ahead of them just to get through the asteroid belt and into one of the rebel-held areas, and neither he nor the ship could be in anything but top shape if they expected to survive. He grumbled, though, and tossed aside the eye-wateringly spicy red paste. Isla had loved that paste, and just the scent of it reminded him of the way her lips tasted. "It's not enough, Vrix. What are we fighting for?"
"You're fighting for that blue-eyed Earther woman," Vrix said under his breath. "And don't lie about it. That's fine. Our pirate lifestyle had to change sooner or later — whether that meant the Alliance finally figuring out who we are, or our motivations changing."
"I'm not giving up on the rebellion because I got my hearts cracked a little." Vaant pushed away the tray of food. "And we don't have time to talk about this."
"Right now, time is all we've got." Vrix gestured at the dark screen. "We're not going anywhere for at least two hours, until they finish with the hull. So we might as well deal with some of your angst before it gets us killed or exiled back to the desert."
"It's not angst." Vaant wanted to throw something at him, but couldn't waste the food. "And I'm surprised you're not equally irritated, since your prickly human got away as well."
Vrix shrugged, looking philosophical. "Our paths will cross again."
"How can you be sure?" Vaant stared up at the ceiling, waiting for the beacon to summon him. She needed him. Somewhere out there, Isla needed his help. He just needed to know when and where.
"The universe isn't random, Vaant. There's a reason they were on that ship, and that dirty captain was on their ship, and we were the ones to stop them." The security officer hid a yawn. "So I am confident that things will work out and I'll get a chance to show her the secrets to Xarav stick fighting."
Vaant snorted. "Xarav stick fighting? That's not really a thing."
"No, but she doesn't know that." A real smile touched Vrix's face, though it disappeared as soon as he caught Vaant watching him. "Or that it's generally taught naked."
Vaant couldn't help himself — he laughed. The idea of the crazy Earther woman chasing a naked Vrix around with sticks was something he couldn't imagine, but figured would be worth placing bets on how it turned out. "Now I know you're crazy."
Something chirped in their navigation system, and Vrix fiddled with the screens until it showed up on the viewing screen as well. "Huh. Those two Fleet ships have turned around. They're leaving the quadrant."
"What direction?" Vaant leaned forward, staring at the screen. "Where are they going?"
"Back the way they came. Toward the port." Vrix made a thoughtful noise, then clicked something else. "They broadcast a few communications between the ships, but they might have wanted us to overhear. Listen to this."
The booming voice echoed through the bridge, and filled Vaant with dread. Fleet officers discovered hiding on the port. Traitors from the Argo. Hawking requests immediate assistance to detain and try the traitors.
His hearts sank. Isla and her crew had been discovered on the port. Three Fleet captains could try, condemn, and even execute misbehaving Fleet officers. If they had their way... The universe might not have time to put Isla in his path again.
Just as he turned to Vrix, mouth open as panic surged through him, red lights flashed on through the bridge and an alarm blared. Vrix tapped the screen. "The beacon you gave to the Earthers. They're asking for help at the space port."
"We have to go. Tell the repair teams. We have to go now." Vaant shoved to his feet and went to the communicator, blasting a message for all crewmembers to immediately get to their stations. "This can't wait. It'll take us too long to get through the asteroid belt as it is — any delay will get them killed."
Vrix groaned but got up as well. "We'll lose the ship if we head into another battle against three Fleet ships."
Adhz stumbled to the bridge, rubbing his eyes. "What's going on? I thought we had another couple of hours for repairs."
"Vaant's girl triggered the beacon. They need our help back at the space port." V
rix dodged a punch Vaant threw his way, and headed away from the bridge. "I'll work with engineering to see what we can make happen in the engine room."
The younger Xaravian yawned and zeroed in on the tray of food. "Is that for anyone?"
"Finish it up," Vaant said, and slapped the kid on the shoulder. "We'll need the energy. Then set coordinates for the space port. We need to get around this asteroid belt."
"Aye aye," the kid said, stuffing his face with the spicy paste and everything else on the tray.
Vaant wished he could send a message to Isla to let her know he was on his way. That everything would be okay and they'd defeat those Alliance bastards together. But he'd given the Earthers a one-way beacon, without any way of communicating with them.
"Next time," he said, frowning at the screen and the blinking dots of the Fleet ships as they moved away. "I'll use the two-way beacon."
Adhz looked up, eyes wide. "Next time?"
"Don't worry about it." Vaant strode back to his quarters to get a new uniform and better weapons. They headed into a three-against-one fight, maybe four-against-one, and he needed to be prepared. They'd draw as much danger away from the space port as they could, so Isla and the others could flee in one of the emergency pods or whatever ship they could find. Maybe the squids could hide them. They would be fine. Everyone would be fine.
Chapter 29
Isla
They barely escaped the bridge, and Isla was separated from Rowan and Maisy in the first few turns after they dove into the concealment of some smoke from Griggs's diversion. Isla hesitated before she hit the beacon Violet had passed on, since she had no idea where Vaant and his crew ended up — or if they were even in a position to help. Violet said two Fleet ships pursued them, and didn't sound confident the Galaxos could have survived that kind of battle. And Isla didn't know if the Galaxos would survive another battle to get back to the space port, and a third battle to get away from the Hawking and everything that remained.