Zero

by J. S. Collyer

  “What sort of run?” Rami said quietly.

  Harvey bit her lip. “Weapons. Autos. Explosives. Serious shit.”

  “The Splinters are militarising?” Hugo felt his face drain of colour.

  “I don't know,” Harvey raised her hands. “I don't know, I didn't ask. I ran their weapons for them then I got the hell out of there.”

  “Where did you run them to?” Rami asked.

  Harvey looked a bit pale herself. “Lunar 1.”

  Hugo looked at Rami. “They're rumoured to have a base there, aren't they?”

  Rami nodded.

  “Get Spinn,” Hugo said and Rami left.

  Harvey sat there, chewing on her fingernails. “I shouldn't have said anything. But I couldn't not, you know? You stumble on someone hiring out the Splinters... you can't let that stay quiet.”

  “You did right.”

  “Webb weren't lying, were he? You got Service connections, right?” Harvey went on. “Powerful guys who'll believe you?”

  Hugo looked back at her. Her hands were steady on the table but there was a spark of fear in her eyes. “We know who to tell,” he hedged.

  Rami returned with Spinn who took in Harvey with a glance then looked back at Hugo. “Captain?”

  “Well it's been fun,” Harvey said, glancing at her wrist display and standing. “But I done my bit. You guys can tell the Service and they can make of this what the hell they want. I'm out.”

  “Sit down,” Hugo said.

  Harvey frowned. “I said, I'm out,” she went on. “If the Splinters even get a sniff I've ratted them out they'll drift me if I'm lucky.”

  “Sit down,” Hugo repeated. “You're not done.”

  “Don't take no Service-tone with me, Kaleb Hugo,” she growled. “I ain't your crew. I only came to you to try and give the Orbit a fighting chance against whatever's brewing. I didn't have to.”

  “Hugo to bridge,” Hugo said. There was a beep and More's face appeared on the galley wall display.

  “More here, Captain.”

  “Are we all aboard?”

  More glanced at something off-screen then back. “Yes, sir.”

  “Contact control. Prepare for launch.”

  “Hold on one fucking second,” Harvey said. “Belay that, right now. I'm getting the hell off this ship.”

  “Marilyn,” Hugo began.

  “That's Captain Harvey to you, Service-boy.”

  “Harvey,” he compromised. “You are right. You have put yourself in danger. Now you can either stay, help us and we'll protect you, or you can run and hide for the rest of your life. Which is it going to be?”

  “Running and hiding,” Harvey said. “No contest.”

  “Marilyn,” Rami came forward. “You're surely safer with us. This'll be the last place they'll look for you.”

  Harvey chewed on her lip again.

  “Where's the Phoenix?” Rami went on.

  “She's safe,” Harvey said, quietly. “Stowed her on Haven with folk I trust.”

  “Well then,” Hugo said. “Welcome aboard, Captain Harvey. I suggest you find somewhere to buckle in. We're moving out. Spinn?”

  “Sir?”

  “Captain Harvey is going to fill you in on some details that I'm going to need you to cross check with whatever you have on the Splinters and Lunar 1. Then I want you and Rami to report to me with whatever you find.”

  “Yes, sir,” Spinn said, eyeing Harvey warily.

  Harvey had crossed her arms and set her jaw again. “This better work out worth my while, Hugo. And where the hell is Webb, anyway?”

  “We're on our way to get him,” Hugo said, nodded to the three of them and made his way to the bridge.

  ɵ

  “I have to report this to Luscombe,” Hugo said to the whole bridge. “Whatever's going on with AI and Fitzroy, this is bigger.”

  There was silence in reply.

  “Spinn,” Hugo said through clenched teeth. “Have you found anything?”

  “Unsubstantiated rumours, Captain,” Spinn said. “But coupled with movement of credit, ships and a few unexplained incidents on Lunar 1... I think Captain Harvey is right.”

  Hugo cursed. “How do these bastards still exist anyway?”

  “Same way crews like we do, sir,” More said, adjusting their course. “The Service can't hold everything in line, as much as they try. And if anything their hold over Lunar 1 has weakened since the revolution.”

  Hugo chewed the inside of his cheek. “I'm going to report to Luscombe,”

  “Sir,” Rami began but Hugo held up a hand.

  “I won't tell him where I heard it,” he said, glancing toward the galley where he'd left Harvey raiding cupboards. “But if someone really is militarising the Splinters, then I'm prepared to bet it's for a strike at the Service. I have to report it.”

  No one replied, but there were a series of tight nods.

  Hugo stood from the copilot chair. “Hail Webb as soon as we're in comm distance of Lunar 5. Tell him to be ready. Lieutenant?”

  “Captain?”

  “Set me up a secure link to Colonel Luscombe from my cabin.”

  “Yes, sir. Captain?”

  “Yes?”

  Rami looked pale. “Be careful.”

  Hugo nodded and left the bridge and made his way to his cabin.

  “Captain Hugo,” Luscombe said when he came into view on the display screen. “This is a surprise. How have you been getting on?”

  “Colonel,” Hugo said. “I have something to report.”

  “Oh yes?”

  Hugo took a deep breath. “Sir, evidence that someone may be arming the Splinters has come to my attention.”

  Luscombe made no reaction other than a slight flattening in his expression. “Really? Are you sure?”

  “I am, sir.”

  “Where did you hear it?”

  Hugo paused. “A source, sir. A confidential one.”

  “Ah,” Luscombe said, eyes sliding off screen. “Do we have any details?”

  “The source couldn't be specific,” Hugo said. “Partially for their own safety and partially because they did not ask questions themselves.”

  “Probably wise, if frustrating. What do you have?”

  “That the Splinters have been organising weapons and supply runs into Lunar 1. There's no credit trail to indicate who’s paying, but the fact that they are organising ships and weapons is enough to worry about.”

  “That it is,” Luscombe said. Hugo tried his best to read the sombre face but other than the gravity in it, the colonel’s face remained unreadable. “Does Webb have any suppositions?”

  Hugo paused, caught himself just in time. “Not yet sir,” he managed. Luscombe held his gaze but Hugo couldn't be sure if there was anything significant in it. Hugo kept his face neutral.

  “Well then,” Luscombe said, straightening. “I guess we have your next assignment.”

  “Sir?”

  “Stop them.”

  Hugo took a minute to find his voice. “Stop them?”

  Luscombe smiled, not nicely. “The Splinters are thugs, Hugo, pure and simple. Terrorists for hire. No discipline, and loyalty up for the highest bidder. Whatever it is they're planning, you have smarts and training on your side.”

  “Yes, sir,” Hugo said, keeping his face blank with an effort.

  “About time we cleared out that rats' nest that is Lunar 1. Be careful, Captain,” Luscombe said. “And I wouldn't screw up this time, if I were you.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Hugo stared at the blank screen, feeling every beat of his heart clench in his chest. He moved out onto the bridge in a daze.

  “Sir,” Rami said as soon as he came in sight. “We can't get a response from Webb.”

  “What?”

  “We're hailing his room. Nothing.”

  “He might have slipped out?” Kinjo put in.

  “I told him specifically to stay put,” Hugo growled. “How far are we from Lunar 5, Sub-Lieutenant?”r />
  “We're still several hours away, Captain,” More said.

  “Get us there quicker. And try hailing him on his personal comm.”

  “We've tried, sir,” Rami said, her voice tight. “It's off.”

  “If he's gotten himself killed or caught, I'll flay him alive,” Hugo growled.

  ɵ

  “You're overreacting, Hugo,” Harvey muttered as she trotted to keep up with him. “I'm sure he's fine.”

  “He won't be when I get hold of him,” Hugo mumbled as he wove through the crowds in the corridor. The air was heavy with the familiar Lunar Strip smell of oil and bodies.

  Harvey shook her head. “He'll be there, you'll see.”

  “Who invited you along, anyway? You should be staying out of sight.”

  Under the wide brim of one of Webb's caps, she grinned, showing her teeth. “What, miss a showdown between Kaleb Hugo and Ezekiel Webb? You couldn't get tickets to that show for all the credit in Sunside.”

  Hugo snorted and ducked down another busy, low-ceilinged corridor towards the bank of express lifts to take them up to the residential levels of the spacescraper. He stood with his arms folded and scowled at the level counter as the lift zoomed up. He kept his anger stoked and hot so that he didn't have to acknowledge the fear that misted underneath.

  Hugo was out and storming down the corridor before the lift doors had finished opening. He waved his ID badge to get them through another set of check points, checked the directions on his wrist panel then turned through some sliding double doors and onto a long, quiet corridor with numbered doors on either side. Hugo picked up his pace, glancing at pod numbers until they came up on the one he'd booked. The door was shut, the control panel dark. He took a breath and pressed the buzzer. He heard it trigger inside the room, and then there was silence. Harvey hovered at his side, looking entirely too expectant, and he pushed the buzzer again. Still nothing.

  Hugo lifted his fist and banged on the door. “Commander, you had better be dead in there or I'll -”

  The door slid open. A huge, balding man with spacer tattoos and a pair of cargo pants and nothing else stood in the doorway, blinking and glaring. His bleary eyes levelled on Hugo.

  “What the fuck do you want? I'm on fucking night cycle.”

  Hugo blinked a moment. “Apologies, sir,” he managed. “I...we thought someone else was here.”

  “Well they're fucking not. Piss off.”

  Hugo stood and stared at the closed door for a long time, unable to keep the anger burning hot enough to fight away the chill of fear. He turned and moved back down the corridor.

  “Where are you going?” Harvey said catching up.

  “Control. We need to see the camera feeds.”

  “They won't show you, Hugo” Harvey said. “If they haven't been paid off then they'll at least be smart enough to keep it zipped.”

  “I left him behind,” he murmured. “Again. I shouldn't...” He paused as his wrist display began beeping. He clicked the answer command. “Hugo here.”

  “Captain?”

  “Lieutenant,” Hugo said, moving back out onto the busy corridors of the spacescraper. “He's not there. I'm heading to the building’s control -”

  “Captain,” Rami interrupted again. “He's here.”

  Hugo froze and people cursed as they had to dodge round him. He shook himself and moved off to the side. “What?”

  “Webb's here, Captain,” Rami said, voice sounding a little sheepish. “He just showed up.”

  “Is he...?”

  “He's fine, Captain. He -”

  “Tell him not to move a single fucking muscle,” Hugo growled. “I'm on my way.”

  “See, Hugo,” Harvey said. “What I tell you? Nothing to worry about.”

  Hugo nearly knocked Spinn over in the Zero's main corridor as he stormed through and took the stairs to the bridge two at a time. Rami was at her usual workstation and More was at the controls, the lean figure of Webb bent over his shoulder. The commander straightened and grinned.

  “Captain Hugo,” he said. “Miss me?”

  Hugo clenched and unclenched his fists.

  “Marilyn?” Webb exclaimed as he looked over Hugo's shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

  “Everyone. Dismissed,” Hugo said in a low voice. The crew paused, glanced between themselves, got up and left in silence.

  Webb's grin took on a frozen look. “Done something wrong again, haven't I?”

  “I gave you an order, Commander. You were to stay put in the boarding pod.”

  “Look, Hugo,” he began, lifting his hands.

  “Captain.”

  Webb ducked his head. “Captain. Look. I just took myself down to the engineering levels. I know people down there. It was a better place to hide and I could keep my ears open.”

  “Commander Webb,” Hugo ground out. “You have disobeyed me. Again. This cannot and will not be permitted to continue.”

  Webb crossed his arms and lifted his chin. The smile was gone. “You're going to have to starting coming round to the idea that sometimes I know better.”

  “I am your commanding officer,” Hugo snapped, coming forward. “Whatever you think about me, I don't give a shit. You don't have to like me. But you better start respecting me.”

  “Or what?”

  “Or I'll have you court-martialled, that's what,” Hugo said.

  Webb grinned again and Hugo wanted to hit him.

  “You think you know everything, don't you?” he said. “With your medals and your training and your victories. Guess what, Hugo. You don't know shit.”

  “I've given you all the warnings I'm prepared to.”

  “Dammit, man,” Webb said, voice raising. “You and your orders. Rules, the law? It's all bullshit.”

  “I will have order, Commander. And rules. And the law. I make them and you will obey.”

  “Christ above! How can you be this fucking stupid?”

  A lifetime's discipline crumbled away and Hugo found himself slamming his commander against the bulkhead. Webb blinked, dazed. Close up, Hugo could see the scarring along Webb's jaw, twisting his lip up slightly at one corner and the notches missing from his ear and eyebrow. There was fading bruising along his neck and temple and two of his teeth were whiter than the rest.

  Hugo let go and staggered back and Webb caught himself on the control chair.

  “You don't understand...” Hugo said, quietly, tasting disgust at himself at the back of his mouth. “You've got it all wrong.”

  Webb's face was still as he looked up at Hugo through his hair, breathing shallow. “Have I?”

  Hugo glared at his hands. “You don't... I can't...” He made a wordless noise and slammed a fist on the control panel. “Stop acting like you're fucking dispensable.”

  Webb's eyes widened. Hugo turned his back on him and strode away. He locked his cabin door behind him and pulled open his locker, scrabbled around until he found his box of blask sachets. He rinsed out a glass in his basin and emptied a sachet into it. He downed the measure of black liquid in one go and pressed the glass against his forehead, closing his eyes and swearing under his breath. The door buzzer went but he ignored it whilst emptying another sachet into his glass.

  “Captain,” came Webb's muffled voice. “You know I know the code to get in, right?”

  Hugo glared into his drink for a moment then paced back across the cabin and unlocked the door. It slid open and Webb was stood there, leaning on the doorjamb. Hugo turned away, propped himself against the bulkhead, sipped his drink and stared at nothing.

  “I shouldn't have said that,” Webb said as he came into the cabin. “You're stubborn and you're cranky and that rod up your ass has got to be ten foot long. But you're not stupid.”

  “That's your idea of an apology, is it?” Hugo said, but his voice sounded more tired than reproachful, even to himself. Webb shrugged. Hugo sighed, swirling his drink round his glass. “Well I'm sorry too. Are you hurt?”

  “Nah,” Web
b waved dismissively. “Don't worry about it. You're not the first captain to threaten me with bodily harm.” The grin was back. “Tell you what, though. You're the first one that's managed to ground me.”

  Hugo eyed him narrowly. “Is that a joke?”

  Webb shrugged again. “I stayed on the same colony, at least. It's an achievement, Captain. I'm serious. Ask Rami about Captain Akmar trying to get Bolt to weld me into the brig. True story.”

  Hugo shook his head. “How do you do it, Webb?”

  “Do what?”

  “Fight on both sides,” Hugo looked up. “Be everyone's enemy and no one's ally. How can you keep your head together?”

  Webb rubbed his jaw. “As you've pointed out, Captain... I've never known different. The Zero is all I've ever had. It's who I am.”

  Hugo sighed again and went back to his locker to find more blask and another glass.

  “It's why you should believe me when I say you need to loosen up your thinking. Your head is still Service. It's dangerous.”

  Hugo took a moment to weigh up his commander, new scars overlaying old and a darkness in his eyes that he hadn't seen even in battle-weary generals twice his age.

  “I will not have anyone in my crew acting like their life is cheap, Commander. Especially you.”

  “Why, Captain. I didn't know you cared.”

  Hugo glowered. “The crew look to you. You are their leader. And I can live with that, if you obey my orders. But you don't.” Webb opened his mouth but Hugo raised a hand. “You were reckless when you went off on your own on Earth. You were reckless when you left your boarding pod. I may still have a lot to learn, Commander, but I've known soldiers like you before.” He paused, holding his commander's heavy gaze. “You head into anything bent on destruction, that's all you achieve.” They stood and looked at each other for a moment longer before Hugo said, “Do you understand?”

  Webb looked away. “I understand. Though I'm not sure you do.”

  “It's a start,” said Hugo and he held out a glass to Webb. Webb accepted, frowning at it. “Sit.”

  Webb lowered himself onto the bunk, stretching his stiff leg out in front of him and Hugo sat himself in the chair. He lifted his glass. “To the Zero.”

  “May it have a future,” Webb said, lifting his own glass and they both drank. Webb coughed. “Jesus, Hugo. Is this blask?”