by Jacen Aster
Henry looked up at her, body language despairing. “Options. I need options. I don't think I can stop this. They were far too thorough.”
Vix hesitated, obviously trying to think of something. It wasn't her that spoke though. It was, of all people, Rhaye. “It's a ship. Can't you just fly it out of here?”
Erond growled. “Don't be stupid! We're layers in. How would we get out?” Then he gulped and bit his tongue. Vix was snarling at him.
Henry ignored the byplay as Vix lit into Erond for calling Rhaye stupid. He had frozen at the little Rashanta’s comment. Now he was pulling up a station map. Then he cursed as he realized it wouldn't be accurate. Not accurate enough anyway. “Stop! We don't have time for lectures. Erond, the plaza used to be a cargo egress area before they built another layer onto the station. Do the doors at the far end still work?”
That brought them all up short. Erond's reply was slow and uncertain. “Yes, they keep them working in order to move large stuff, like festival decorations, in and out of the plaza.”
“Vix, get them open. Erond and Rhaye, you two know these tunnels better than anyone. Get over here and help me map a route the ship will fit through.”
“Wait, we're actually flying out?”
“NOW!”
They scrambled to comply. Within minutes, the doors were open and they had a route as far out as Layer 1, the last outer shell.
Henry bypassed normal startup and forced the anti-grav and thrusters online. Everyone heard the crystal spires shatter as he revved the main engines, breaking free. “Last stop! Everyone off.”
Rhaye was the only one that moved, but she stopped when Vix and Erond didn't budge.
“We aren't leaving Henry. You can't fly the ship without help.” Vix's voice was firm.
“I'll manage. This is probably a death sentence. Odds are the escape pods don't work. Take Rhaye and get out of here.”
Erond moved to a console, ignoring Henry. “Go, Rhaye. Tell the others what happened.”
“I won't leave!” she claimed, stamping her tiny foot and making an angry, but still adorable, face.
Vix picked her up and vanished, coming back moments later without the Rashanta.
“You tossed her out?” Erond's voice was disbelieving as he stared at her.
“If we live, I'll make it up to her. Let's go.”
“Fine. We're out of time.” Henry punched the thrusters and they careened forward, the archaic ship responding erratically to the controls. They banged against the ceiling. Then the floor.
“Shit! Compensating.” Erond called, and the controls smoothed a little.
Henry gave a vicious grin. “I guess you are handy after all.” The ship darted through the main doors and scraped a bulkhead as it squeezed into a too-narrow passage.
Vix spoke up. “Not to rain on your parade, Henry, but how do we get past the last layer?”
“Blow it up, of course.”
“What? The ship's weapons don't work, Harper.”
They bounced off another bulkhead.
“Nope, but I told you, I've got friends on the outside. I'm counting on at least one of them having a ship in the scrum out there.”
“And being willing to fire on the station? Just who the hell are these friends of yours?”
They rammed a service door, crumpling it before them.
“Crazy people mostly. I thought that was obvious.”
“Great, I'm going to die young, riding a mothballed ship, with a madman at the helm. Fuck you, Harper.”
They passed into the second layer.
“Sorry, Vix, you're a bit young.”
“Not what I meant!”
The screech of another close contact of the wrong kind with a metal bulkhead almost drowned Erond out. “Coming up on Layer 1, Henry. Whatever crazy shit you're going to pull, it better be now.”
Henry punched the comm controls, already set to blast far above legal levels. It would burn out the comms in minutes, but that wasn't exactly an issue here. The pre-programmed channels and encryptions, his entire library of contacts, started broadcasting. “This is Henry Harper. Calling all allied ships. I am aboard a sabotaged Veraseen patrol craft whose engine is about to go critical, taking the station with it. I need an exit. Any and all ships around Trabella Station able to help, I beg you to please blow a hole in the outer layer at the following position.” Punching in the coordinates, he set the message on loop.
Vix and Erond looked at him, utterly amazed. Vix voiced their combined thoughts incredulously, “That's it? You actually expect everyone to believe that?”
Henry replied grimly, “I don't need everyone, just someone.”
Erond glanced down. “It better be quick. ETA to outer shell is less than two minutes.”
“How the hell are they supposed to get past the defense fleet anyway? It's not like they'll just let a ship fire on the station.” Vix still sounded like she didn't believe they were doing this.
“They'll come through.”
Silence fell. Even the screeching on the bulkheads had stopped. This section of the station was newer, more open. Thirty seconds to impact with the outer shell the station shuddered. Then they saw weapons fire lancing through the shell. Opening a hole.
The outer shell before them collapsed less than three seconds before they hit it. They took most of the debris with them and were struck by several blasts of weapons fire. Thankfully, the debris took the brunt of it.
Abandoning his console, Henry shouted, “To the pods!”
The three of them raced to the escape pods. Henry slapped controls on two, but only one opened. That was fine. They were each meant for up to six people. “In! In!” They all dived in and Henry hit the emergency eject, already enabled from the bridge. There were a few bad moments where nothing happened, then they exploded away from the ship.
Less than thirty seconds later, the Veraseen patrol craft exploded, smashing their pod with the shockwave. Somehow they survived, and it was with a sigh of relief five minutes later that a very familiar ship, to Henry at least, scooped them up and made tracks out of the system.
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I couldn't have imagined how lucky I got, and Vix and Erond were in complete disbelief. It hadn't been one ship that responded to my distress call, it had been dozens. By sheer good fortune, Admiral Mayala had been directing an Eletheen relief fleet from aboard her old flagship, the Freedom's Call. She had committed her cruiser and several other ships to punching a hole in Trabella's defensive screen. This had allowed a number of other friendly ships through to batter the station hull itself. A few belonged to Areina Aerablast, a couple were independents I was acquainted with, several were A.I. ships, and perhaps most surprisingly, the ship that scooped us up and got us out of the system was the Sunny Victory, whom I had thought was somewhere out on the rim.
You can, I think, imagine why I have remained silent until now. Given that at least one major regional government was involved, and it had been to save the station, the ships that aided me mostly escaped prosecution. However, on the more personal legal front, though my and the children's actions may have saved the station, we also caused a great deal of damage on our insane death ride to get the ship into free space. Governments are always looking for scapegoats and while the media storm over the treatment of the children, when the Tralzeen government had sworn they were taking care of them, protected Erond, Vix, and the others to some degree, the same couldn't be said for me. I had technically escaped from “lawful” imprisonment and done billions of credits worth of damage to the station, never mind that the station would have suffered far worse damage, or even been destroyed outright, without those actions. If I hadn't been well beyond their reach, and well connected, by the time the dust settled, I'd have likely been in chains. Or on an executioner’s platform.
As to the focus being where it should have been, Erond and the others deserved all the attention that could be given them. Not only had they been instr
umental to the discovery and containment of the sabotage in the first place, but their treatment at the hands of the bureaucracy was deplorable. As those who remember the articles written in the aftermath will no doubt know, Erond went on to be a powerful spokesman for the entire group under his care. He worked tirelessly to get every last one of them away from Trabella Station and into better situations in life. Something that fewer know, however, is that the young man turned down an immediate offer of a lucrative engineering job, with all education provided, made by Jack Amaril after I told him the story of what had happened. Erond declined in favor of “taking care of his people,” simply impressing Jack all the more. Instead, Jack funded the foundation that Erond now oversees to help children the galaxy over who are in similar straits.
As for Vix, hers is an even more interesting tale. I never have found out who she was before or where she came from, but afterwards, her adoptive “little sister” Rhaye proved to actually be the daughter of an extremely wealthy Rashanta. Her mother had been told that Rhaye died along with her father in the initial catastrophe and was ecstatic to have her returned. When Rhaye couldn't stop talking about Vix, Madame Lofrenties took a rather hilarious instant liking to the Veraseen thief and immediately set about trying to make Vix into a “proper lady.” The joke was ultimately on her, however, as Vix, after putting up with years of attempts to mold her into high society for Rhaye's sake, escaped with Rhaye when the Rashanta girl came of age. Last I heard, they have become a rather successful bounty hunter duo.
Chapter 10 – Starlit Politics
Oh, politics how I do loathe thee, let me count the ways. Some of you may have noted over the telling of my chronicles that, save for the occasional accidental or necessary brush, I have avoided telling tales of politics. The simple reason for this is...that I generally avoid that sort of thing like the devuaian plague. I am an engineer, an explorer, a seeker of shiny and interesting things! Though I may have rubbed elbows with those that play (or war) at politics, I have no stomach for it myself. Thus, it is an unusual adventure, for me at least, that I tell the tale of this day, as the nature of the issues involved in this particular escapade were all rooted in politics. Oh, the things I suffer for my friends....
In addition to the politics, this story is also a bit unusual in that it covers a span of nearly two years of my life. It also requires just a touch of explanation so that the time frame might be understood. I told you, at the end of The Gate to Everywhere, that Areina became the reigning monarch of the Arabuli. This is, in fact, now the case. However, in the following story that had not yet come to pass. In point of fact, this chronicle covers the two years just prior to Areina's ascendance to the throne, and the great trials and tribulations that very ascendancy caused for both her and for the Arabuli people. Having put the timeline into its proper place I will, without further ado, tell you a tale of Starlit Politics.
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Despite all of his misadventures, Henry could honestly claim not to have spent that much time, conscious time at least, within the confines of a hospital. On the rare occasions he did find himself in one, he was used to being, regrettably, on the receiving end of treatment. Thus, it was perhaps not much surprise that he found himself uncomfortable as he made his way from the reception, deep into the interior of Elonea Central Hospital. His discomfort only increased as he passed heavy security checkpoints that were very much out of place, or so he thought, in such an institution. Finally arriving at a private room, he hesitated only a moment before knocking, quickly receiving a call for him to enter. The occupant had almost certainly been alerted to his arrival the moment he entered the building, if not before.
Henry entered the room and took a moment to observe the one who had called him here. Vairc Teelian lay propped up in a surprisingly comfortable-looking hospital bed. His Arabuli friend had very obviously seen better days. There was a chunk out of his nose, his left leg was being regrown, and his entire torso was swathed in bandages. He let out a pained grin as he saw Henry looking him over.
“It's both better and worse than it looks, my friend. None of the damage is irreparable, but I will likely be in therapy for the new leg for years. Even then, I won't exactly be fighting trim for even longer than that.” His grin fell, shifting his face to a grimly serious mien. An expression, in truth, that seemed to suit him better. His voice was low and gruff as he continued. “Which is why I called for you. I have a big favor to ask of you, a huge one actually. I can only pray that you will say yes.”
Henry was wary. Vairc was not one to ask for favors, let alone large ones. “I understand it was an assassination attempt. I'm not sure what you could possibly need an engineer for involving that.”
Vairc gave a grim smile. “Ah, but what I need isn't an engineer. While, strictly speaking, that talent is useful as well, what I mostly need is someone I can trust not to be involved in Arabuli politics. That and someone I trust in general. Neither are easy to come by.”
Henry sank reluctantly into a visitor's chair, running a hand through his hair. “This is about Areina then.”
Vairc nodded. “Of course it is, but then you knew that the moment I asked for a favor.” Vairc waved a hand at himself, flinching a little as the movement pulled at healing wounds. “I'm going to be out of the bodyguarding business for a long time, Henry. A couple of years at least, maybe longer. Maybe even forever. I need someone I can trust to look after her. Someone not involved in our politics. Not to mention, someone our stubborn princess will accept having near her at all.”
“And how, exactly, does that add up to me? I'm an engineer, not a bodyguard. I'm not exactly young anymore either, for that matter.”
“You're not old either. You're barely fifty.”
“That doesn't answer the question.”
“No, but we both know you can handle yourself, Henry. You'd have been dead decades ago if you couldn't. You won't be alone either. An Arabuli she and I mostly trust, Teva, will be taking the role of ‘official’ bodyguard. In fact, your reputation as an engineer, not a bodyguard, will only help. While I may have been Areina's guard, I was also her lead engineer and a major technical adviser.”
In that moment, it all fell into place for Henry. “Oh. You want me, a known friend of hers and an engineer with an impressive resume, to take over those positions. With another bodyguard assigned and my lack of credentials in that area, no one will look too hard at me.”
Vairc smiled. It was a touch sinister this time. “Exactly. More’s the pity for them.” Frowning, he added, “You can also keep an eye on Teva, just in case.”
Henry sighed. “Alright, I'll bite. Why do you only mostly trust her? For that matter, why assign someone you can only mostly trust?”
Vairc seemed to deflate a bit at that question. “Because the assassin that tried to kill her this time wasn't the first. In fact, he was the third in two months. But this time, it was a close friend of hers, blackmailed into doing 'what was right.'”
Henry's eyebrows rose but Vairc cut him off. “It's politics, Henry. I'll leave it to Areina to explain if you agree to help. So...will you do it?”
Henry didn't respond immediately, mulling it over for a few minutes before answering. The silence had become a bit heavy between them when he finally answered with a question. “Does she know about this?”
Vairc smirked. “She doesn't even know you're on planet. You and I both know she'd never ask you to put yourself in danger, but she might accept it if you've already agreed.”
Henry shook his head. “Fine. I'll do it, but only if she agrees, and you're taking all the blame.”
Vairc grinned, looking positively cheerful by his standards. “Granted. Good thing you agreed. I was afraid it would take you too long.”
“Too long?”
“She'll be here any moment.”
As if his words had summoned her, the door flew open and Areina strode in, already talking. “Vairc! Could you do me a favor and look at
—” Her swift, sure stride into the room stopped abruptly as she registered their guest. Her jaw dropped for just a moment as she shifted gears, then a delighted, albeit still surprised, expression lit up her previously no nonsense face. “Henry! Henry Harper! What in the universe are you doing here? Not that you're unwelcome, of course. But you should have let me know you were coming.” The glowing smile now dominating her face made her looked younger, less worried. As her delight overcame her shock she almost seemed to teleport across the room, pulling him out of his chair and into a hug.
Once she released him, Henry adroitly blamed everything on Vairc. “It's Vairc's fault. He called me after he got himself beat up. I had assumed he told you I was coming until just a few moments ago.”
She rounded on Vairc, eyes narrowing. “And just why didn't you tell me? For that matter, why did you call him? Again, not that I'm unhappy to see him.”
Vairc seemed to brace himself before he bit the bullet. “Ah, I wanted to ask him a favor. One that he's just agreed to, assuming it's alright with you.”
Her expression turned grave as her eyes moved rapidly between them. “A favor? This wouldn't have anything to do with the assassination attempts, would it?”
Looking equally grave, Vairc met her eyes as he explained. “Everything. It has everything to do with it. I can't protect you from a hospital bed, princess. You need someone you can trust, someone uninvolved, watching your back.”
Anger started to radiate off her as she bit out, “So you want Henry to risk his life to protect me, Vairc? He's not you.”
“No, and yes,” he said soothingly. “He won't be taking the official bodyguard position. Teva can manage that well enough. But I can't go with you to the city-ship either. He's a damn fine engineer, better than me by leaps. That we can both trust him to protect you if it comes down to it is just a bonus. Having someone you can trust explicitly is valuable beyond counting right now. You know that.”