by F Stephan
He grinned. “Why not Ambassador Leandra? She must report back home from time to time.”
“But what will you do? You’ll remain here?”
“Yes. I’ll stay and help rebuild this planet. Dupner needs people like me. Earth doesn’t.”
Mathias looked down, avoiding looking at her.
“There’s more than that, isn’t there?” she asked.
“I love this planet. I met Alia also.” He took a deep breath and looked Emily straight in the eyes. “Hell, I’ve met so many people. The farmer in chief won’t recover for a while and they’ll need someone to help them coordinate the recovery, someone who’s not politically threatening. I can do real good here.”
Emily took a long time before answering. “Well, that’s your decision and I won’t say anything about it. It seems people will need you here. But the ambassador won’t like it.”
“She will.” He pushed a data pack forward. “I’ve got a lot to tell on the origin of the plague. I’m sure the Federation will finance the trip for the ambassador if she gives this to the attaché.”
She looked at the small box, grabbed it in her hand and turned it around. “You’re pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
He nodded solemnly.
“What about the bees?”
“Excellent compatibility. This is what we were looking for. You can bring it back to Earth. I’ve got a special box in the cargo hold waiting for you.”
They continued to chat a while longer. He had said what he needed, and now, he could move forward into his new life.
Brian
Volpre station, 2141 AD, July
A month had passed when Brian walked back in the yard, searching for Firstrat Bolgor. It felt good to be back here on Volpre, closer to Adheek, closer to Earth. His leg was less painful, even if he still had to use crutches to get around. Ambassador Leandra was by his side. She had asked to come and see what had become of his ship.
“Are you sure she’ll be there?” wondered the ambassador as they stood in the empty warehouse.
“Probably in the next hangar, closer to the ships. I sent her a message when we entered the system.” He was confident. She wouldn’t be able to resist being here for his news.
They circled a tower of crates in the middle of the warehouse to find Captain Derantor and Firstrat Bolgor deep in conversation. When Brian and Leandra got closer, they stopped their murmuring and welcomed them.
“From the stories I’ve heard, I thought you’d be half in the tomb. You look better than I expected,” began the yard’s mistress.
“Thank you, Firstrat. I’ve begun to recover.” Brian bowed to her.
“You should consider joining Rebirth. Their dogma fits you well,” adding the captain, smiling at him.
“You shall always fall and rise again. Is that it?” asked Leandra. This religion was old and shared among pilots, but the ambassador wasn’t familiar with its creed.
“Yes, Madam,” confirmed Derantor. “You’re flying back home?”
“Absolutely. The Federation is paying for the trip. I’ve got tons of information to bring back home.” Leandra smiled. It would feel good to be back.
“Who’s managing the shop while you’re away?”
“Who else?” laughed Brian. “She has asked Emily to take care of it while she’s away. Classic Emily, she’s accepted. She wanted to see the attaché up close.”
A shadow crossed Leandra’s face. The captain saw it and winced. Brian looked at them both, without understanding their shared look.
Firstrat Bolgor pushed the master on the side. “Now, now, Master, we’ve got business to do. Young rat, do you have something for me? Come and follow me.”
She moved through the hangar and went to the back, displaying a ship. Brian was amazed at how well it had recovered. The scars were now entirely healed, and the ship looked to be pristine condition. “Only the rifter is still broken. Can’t fix it, I’m afraid.”
“Firstrat, for that, I think this is what you need.” Brian held a data pack in front of him.
The mistress grabbed it eagerly from him and activated it on the spot, using a console on the side. She mumbled to herself for a few minutes before confirming. “Okay, looks like this is the real thing. Your ship will work within six months. It’s a bit complex to fit in. What will you do during that time?”
“Retake my course of study. The council has accepted my request. I need that training. My crew has agreed to work with me as well during this year. So, you’ve got a bit of time to fix everything.” He laughed warmly at that.
“And after?” asked Heikert, worried.
“I’d like to explore new trade routes. It seems there are few open positions from time to time.” He turned to the master. “At first, I’ll probably have to run a new trade route in the sector. It seems Ambassador Zoulvir has a career sketched out for me.” He sighed. “Even with the scout, she believes, it makes sense.” Brian was looking at his ship, eyes shining. He’d consume himself on that route. But, he’d obey orders for the duration of his service to the Federation. Still, in twenty years, he would be free to do as he wanted.
Epilogue
Alkath, 2141 AD, July
Emily enjoyed the apartment of Ambassador Leandra in her absence. It was more luxurious than any place she had ever lived. It would be a short stay, but she might as well make the most of it. She looked around once again before closing the door behind her.
That morning, she was meeting the attaché ten floors up in the island, and she took the stairs, running. Half an hour later, she was in a vast bar looking over a small pit in the cliff, not even breathing fast. Nanites and training. So cool. The area was wholly settled, and from here, they overlooked the different floors, still lit by candles in the late night.
“Good morning, Emily.” The attaché was in an outfit fit for an ice goddess, white tunic and silver scarf.
“Good morning, Attaché.” In contrast, Emily was a red flame, tunic matching her hair.
“Do you agree to my terms?” The voice was firm, projecting certainty.
“I’ll work for you for the next twenty years. No breaks, no coming back home, standard Federation contract for the rest.”
“Yes.”
“And in return, you’ll send him out to explore whatever he wants. And you won’t burn him to run on that stupid trade route.”
“I can’t commit to the council’s decision regarding your friend Brian.”
“Attaché, they won’t cross you. If you give me your word, it‘ll be enough for me. He’s already limping from his last trip, and he’ll limp for the rest of his life.”
“Rest of his life. No.” She tsked in denial. “For a good while, yes. At least until he controls his nanites better. But are you making the right choice? You, working for me to pay for his freedom?”
She breathed for a long while before answering with her back straight. “For once, this is a choice I can make, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Then, he’ll be a freerider. You can count on me. One small request, if you please. I don’t want him to know what I’ve done.”
Even agreed wordlessly and motioned to Emily to sit by her. They both looked in silence at the rising sun for a few minutes before a commotion broke below them, on the other side. Master Heikert escorted two men in the middle of an armed security detachment, an oddity on Alkath. “Origin?”
“Yes. Archbishop Lapren and his assistant. Two baby spiders. But we didn’t catch their master. Yet, it’ll help us.” Emily thought the attaché had aged since their last talk.
“Will they pay for their crimes?”
“Most certainly. The new archbishop has disowned them and will do all he can to clear his name. They were pawns only.”
“The grand master of the Origin?”
“Yes, sweetheart. You haven’t been recruited for a tea party, you know.”
Emily sighed. For the first time in a long time, she was embarking on a quest on her o
wn. Where it would lead, she didn’t know.
Thank you for reading Interstellar Starpilots, into the core worlds.
If you liked this book, please leave a review online. Reviews, even short ones, are very helpful and I would be grateful.
Brian will return in A child of the Federation, a new installment of the Federation saga. Coming in Spring 2020
Tasha, Wilfried, and Leopold will return in Space station Acheron, a new installment of the Federation saga. Coming in Winter 2020.
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