Did it really matter what they looked like? The Concord had dozens of partners, each varying in appearance, so Ven didn’t comprehend people’s fascination with seeing an Ugna. He wasn’t special. It was only a genetic flaw that was amplified with En’or use. If they realized this, he doubted anyone would stare at him with deference.
He nodded to the table of three, and the human woman facing him smiled before returning to her conversation, this time in hushed whispers.
Ven gathered a few items of food on a plate and settled to a table when the unruly mop of hair poked into the doorway.
“Ven!” the kid called, and Ven nearly smiled.
“Hello, Tarlen. Would you care to join me?” he asked.
“That’d be great.” The Bacal boy hurried through the line of food, picking and prodding the selection before returning to the table, his plate overflowing with rice and vegetables of all colors. “How are you doing? I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
Ven poked at his food with his two-pronged fork. “I am well. And you? Have your people settled into their role yet?”
Tarlen answered with his mouth half-full. “I think so. I talked with Penter this week, and he says the Concord is really helping out. They did promise more resources, but with everything going on, they have a good excuse, I guess. Either way, Malin is being rebuilt, and our people are gaining strength each passing week.”
“This is good, Tarlen. Your people were resilient, and they should be proud of their survival. Lesser would have crumbled,” Ven told him.
That seemed to excite Tarlen. “Thanks, Ven. They’d be happy to hear that.”
“How are your studies going?” Ven asked.
“Okay. I’m just glad Captain Baldwin allowed me to join on this mission. He told me it would be good for my Relations class. He also told me to follow him, but to be quiet and never say a word.”
“That’s sound advice,” Ven said. He ate a few bites, letting the silence of the room surround him. The three crew members left their table, opting to leave their dirty plates on it, and Ven shook his head at their disregard for protocol. He stared at the table, the plates lifting from the surface. He concentrated as they floated toward the refuse station, and they tilted, the remnants of dinner falling into the bin.
“That’s incredible,” Tarlen said.
Ven had nearly forgotten the boy was there. His Talent coursed through him, a euphoric sensation numbing his brain. The plates set down, one by one, until they were stacked on top of a dozen others awaiting pickup by the kitchen staff. He snapped the flow off and returned his gaze to his food.
“How much can you lift?” Tarlen asked, eyes wide.
“I’m uncertain.”
“You never tested the limits?” Tarlen asked.
“To contemplate one’s bounds is to never try to stretch beyond them.” Ven quoted the Code, and Tarlen let the saying soak in, nodding his understanding.
“I never thought of it like that,” Tarlen said.
“And that is why we study the Code,” Ven told him.
“Do the Ugna follow it as well? I thought it was a Concord thing,” he said.
“We follow it because it goes beyond one faction. It is universal truth,” Ven advised the boy, whose blank stare made Ven think he didn’t quite follow. He continued eating.
“How much longer until we’re at Leria?” Tarlen pushed his plate to the side, Ven amazed at how quickly the boy packed his food away.
“Less than two days,” Ven said.
“I can’t wait to see it. To think, I’d never left Greblok before three months ago, and here I am, going to another planet. I’ve seen the Statu home world, Nolix, and now Leria. I think I’m going to like being part of the Concord,” Tarlen told him.
“Hold on to that excitement, young one,” Ven suggested.
“I’m just being honest.”
Ven’s wrist comm beeped. “Executive Lieutenant Ven, please meet Captain Baldwin in the courtyard.” Dread filled his mind. It was time to talk about what had happened, and Ven considered how much he could say without giving away Ugna secrets. There was a reason Ugna rarely ventured outside of their own.
“Guess you have to go,” Tarlen said, eying Ven’s plate. He pointed to the piece of untouched bread. “Are you going to eat that?”
“It is all yours, Tarlen.” Ven left the boy there, heading for the courtyard on Deck Four. He hadn’t spent much time in the space, finding it a little off-putting for the center of a cruise ship. It didn’t take him long to arrive, and he spotted the captain peering up at the greenery draping the wall in a series of vines and flowering buds.
“Captain, you wished to speak with me?” he asked, suddenly wishing he was in the comfort of his suite, with a fresh vial of En’or. He pressed the thoughts from his mind, trying to be present for the discussion.
Captain Baldwin met his gaze, lines stretching from his eyes as he smiled at Ven. “Did you know that I’ve been to Leria at least five times?”
“I didn’t know that, sir.”
“It’s been a while. Captain Yin Shu and I delivered a damaged vessel there a few years ago. It had been missing for a few months, and we stumbled across it on a Border patrol run. Shu hated being on the Border. Said it wasn’t worth it. I mean, for the most part, she was right, but occasionally, we’d happen on someone trying to fly into Concord space unsanctioned. Twice we stopped pirates, and she still wouldn’t admit it was important enough for a cruise ship’s time.
“I countered her, saying the people on the ship we saved begged to differ, and she’d laugh and pat me on the arm before leaving the bridge under my control. She was a good captain, and a great woman,” Captain Baldwin said.
“I’m sorry she is lost,” Ven said.
Baldwin was staring at the greenery, but he settled his stare on Ven. Absent was the glimpse of happiness from his face. “Ven, do you believe in the Vastness?”
“I do. It is part of our teachings.”
“Yes, but do you truly believe that when we die, we’re transposed to another place, the Vastness where we’ll all reunite in some form or another?” Baldwin asked.
“I suppose I do, yes, sir.”
“Good. I never thought the Border runs were a waste of energy, because it’s dangerous out there, never more than at this moment. At least when we were fighting the Statu, we had a defined enemy. It was everyone versus them. These days, it’s different. Do you understand what I’m saying?” Baldwin started walking, his boots echoing across the smooth hard floor.
Ven followed. “I’m not sure I do.”
“There are so many moving pieces to the Concord, more than I ever expected. Even growing up with Constantine as my role model, I didn’t quite grasp the complexities. Now I’m seeing it for real, and it’s scary.”
“Is there something you wish to discuss about…” Ven was trying to decide if Baldwin was losing his mind.
“The Border is under duress, Ven, and the Concord is falling apart. Constantine is going to be sent to stop an invader creeping into our space, but we might need your assistance.”
“Sir, I’m on your crew, so I’d be happy to assist in any way possible,” Ven told his captain.
“What if the Zilph’i leave the Concord?” Baldwin asked, not looking at him.
“I expect that won’t prevent my participation on Constantine.”
“Good. How about the Ugna?”
“I don’t follow, Captain,” Ven said, suddenly even more uncomfortable with the topic of discussion.
“I’d like to see your home, Ven. I have something to discuss with your… leader,” Baldwin said.
Ven was near panicking now, but his outward appearance was calm and still. “I don’t think that will be permissible.”
“I need you to set it up. See if they’ll meet with me. I have a favor to ask of them.” Captain Baldwin had been leading up to this the whole time, with references to the Border and his appreciation for his previous captain. Ven had known Ba
ldwin was smart, but he seemed to have a high level of persuasion built into his character.
“If you tell me what the favor is, perhaps I can predict their response for you,” Ven said.
Baldwin appeared to consider this, and eventually shook his head. “If it’s all the same, I’d like to ask them in person. Can you do this favor for me? Ven, we’re at a dire stage, and we’re in the middle of it. Together we might be able to turn the tides. Only then can we regroup and concentrate our attention on the Statu again. When we end that threat, we’ll finally be able to really rebuild the Concord, from the top down.”
Ven had stretched out his empathetic sensors, letting his mind drift open, enveloping the human’s thought patterns. Captain Baldwin was telling him the truth. Or, at least, he believed in his cause, and that was enough for Ven.
“It is highly unorthodox, sir, but I will see what can be done,” Ven told him.
Tom gripped his arm, the spark returning to his eyes. “Very good. Thank you, Ven. I’ll see you on the bridge in a few hours?”
“That’s correct.” Ven kept waiting for him to bring it up, and he felt the captain’s motives shift.
“Ven, I’m not going to dive into it, but I want to ask you two things,” Baldwin said.
“I will answer.”
“First, are you okay? Are you safe?” he asked.
“Very much so, sir.”
“Good. Will anything surrounding your situation endanger my crew in any way?”
Ven hadn’t been expecting this. “No, sir.”
“Then you’ll retain your role as chief of crew, and you’re free to go.”
Captain Baldwin walked away, hands behind his back, staring forward as the mist began spraying from above.
Four
“Captain, there’s a distress call coming in,” Zare informed him.
Thomas Baldwin gawked at the viewer as they raced through space at hyperlight, their destination only a day away. “What does it say?”
“There’s a small cruiser bound for Nolix, with a drive failure,” Junior Officer Zare said.
“What’s it doing out here? How many on board?” Tom asked.
“The message claims one human male. Name’s Basel, sir,” she replied.
“How far out of the way is it?” Tom asked. He really didn’t want a delay, especially with their meetings with the Zilph’i being so imperative. Not to mention the fact that the Prime-in-Waiting and Admiral Benitor were on his ship, watching his every move. But the Code demanded he assist, if possible.
“Less than two hours at hyperlight, sir,” Zare said.
Two hours. Would it make that much of a difference? He doubted they’d be permitted into meetings with the leaders the moment they arrived, regardless. “Let’s head there, offer the man a hand. Lieutenant Commander Daak, call your sister to the hangar, and bring her with you on a transport. See if you can fix the drive.”
Brax nodded from his spot at the edge of the bridge and began typing on the console.
They shifted out of hyper for a moment while the trajectory was adjusted, and a minute later, the stars streaked again as they sought out the source of the distress call.
The entire situation felt oddly reminiscent of their trip to Greblok, where they came across the Statu vessel with Yephion and the others in cryo. The last thing they needed was a distraction like that again. Tom scrolled through his ship’s manifest as they headed for Basel. He was getting better each day at putting names to faces, and was confident that he’d have them memorized in a few weeks.
Time went by quickly, and before he knew it, Ven was advising him they’d arrived at their destination. The viewer showed the cruiser, the exterior lights on the underside glowing dimly.
“What are you sensing?” Tom asked.
“One lifeform, sir,” Ven said.
“Then his story might check out. Does it appear like his ship is damaged?” Tom stood, walking the length of the bridge to Brax’s seat.
“Yes, sir. Reeve ran her telemetry scans and concurs the drive is down,” Brax told him.
“Okay. On screen,” Tom said.
“Thank the Vastness you came,” the man said. He was tall, his hair long and frizzy, tied away from his face. He wore all black and stood with confidence. “I wasn’t expecting such a prestigious crew to assist me. Name’s Basel, and I’m the captain of this here vessel.” His smile spoke volumes. He was thrilled to be found.
“Hello. I’m Captain Thomas Baldwin of the Concord cruise ship Constantine. What happened?” Tom asked, noticing how the man called himself captain, as if that put them on even ground.
The man gave no recognition at the name, and that surprised Tom. “My drive. Something shattered, and it just gave out. I’d really appreciate a haul, sir.”
“I’m going to send over two of my own to check it out. We’ll have you up and running in no time.”
“I’d prefer a haul. I haven’t had a good bite to eat in quite some time, Captain,” Basel said.
“They’ll be arriving shortly,” Tom said, and the image vanished off the viewer. “Brax, bring your sister, see what the issue is. If it can’t be fixed in an hour, we leave.”
“With him, sir?” Brax asked.
“If you think it’s safe, then yes.” Tom returned to his seat, and Brax exited the bridge.
____________
They clamped on to the cruiser, and Reeve let her brother pick up the heavier of the tool kits. “I’m all for manual labor, but doesn’t it seem a little excessive sending two of the executive crew onto a derelict ship?” she asked.
“I’m simply following orders, Reeve. I suggest you do the same,” Brax said.
“You’re no fun.” Reeve waited while Brax opened the hatch, his PL-30 in his grip.
“Welcome to my ship,” a man said, standing oddly close to the entrance.
“Thanks. What’s your name?” Reeve asked, noticing the man wasn’t armed. Brax slid his weapon into its holster.
“Basel’s my name, and trade’s my game. Come on in.” He waved them on, and Reeve instantly smelled what was wrong.
“You cracked the inducer?” she asked.
“I didn’t crack anything. It broke on its own. And right after I paid her off.” Basel grinned.
Reeve didn’t have to be shown to the engine compartment; she’d seen this type of ship a million times. Brax was close behind, grunting as he hefted the heavy tool kit.
The room was compact, the drive taking up half of it. She slid the compartment wide, the scent of the leaking Bentom strong in here. “Why didn’t you seal this and vent it?” she asked, doing just that. Seconds later, the room hissed as the gas departed from the outside of the ship.
Basel shrugged. “I said trade’s my game, not engine repair.”
Brax set the tools down and asked, “How long you been out here?”
“Only a couple days. It’s a busy enough area. I didn’t suspect it would take too long. Glad it didn’t happen a week ago. I would have been out here forever,” Basel said.
He was a little strange but pleasant enough. Reeve went to work, tinkering on the drive. The tube was damaged, but not broken. She had no idea how this material could even be cracked like this, not without something seriously heavy and hard hitting it. She glanced around the room, trying to see if Basel could have sabotaged it.
“And you didn’t touch this?” she asked, trying to keep her tone conversational instead of accusatory.
“Nope. I never do. Usually have a Votal on board to help with that kind of thing,” he told her.
“A Votal? You don’t hear about them very often. You have a Votal mechanic?” she asked, pressing a meter to the tube.
“Used to.”
“What happened to him?”
“She decided to seek out other opportunities.” He laughed, as if that was a big joke.
“Okay. Brax, I’m afraid this tube needs to be replaced, and it’s not something we keep on hand, since ours are about ten times this si
ze at the smallest bends. We’ll have to bring him in,” Reeve said, not wanting to waste any more time. The captain had been clear about that.
Brax nodded, picking up the tool kit again.
“Can I ride up front with you?” Basel asked. “I’ve never been on a cruise ship transport before. I’ve never been on a cruise ship either. Tell me, do you have any Radhas food on board?”
“Radhas? I’m not sure what that is,” Brax said, pointing for Basel to sit on the transport.
“Never mind, it was a long shot. Pardon me, but I’m excited for the lift. Where we headed?” he asked.
There was no sense in deceiving him. “Leria. Zilph’i home world,” Reeve told him.
Brax went through the motions of locking the cruiser to the transport ship, and soon they were heading toward Constantine. Reeve was up front, and Basel stood behind Brax, leaning over her brother as he stared toward the viewer. “What is that?” he asked.
“That’s our ship,” Reeve said proudly.
“It’s so…”
“Impressive?” she offered.
“I was going to say pompous, but the Concord never ceases to surprise,” Basel said.
“You have their markings on your ship, but I get the feeling you never served?” Brax asked the man breathing down his neck.
Basel took a moment to reply, as if searching his memory. “I served, but on a station located outside Earon.”
Reeve’s attention snapped to the man. “You were stationed at Earon?”
“Sure. It’s been a while. Why do you look so shocked?” he asked.
Reeve had only met a few people who’d been posted on Earon Station, and they rarely spoke about it. The human home planet wasn’t somewhere frequented by the Concord Fleet. “No reason. How long were you there?”
“Five years. I was given the chance to leave the fleet, and I took it. Bought myself a ship, and I’ve been trading goods ever since,” Basel said, grinning widely.
Reeve hoped to have an opportunity to speak to him about Earon. She’d never been. To her, it was a mystical place, a world gifted to the humans as a measure of goodwill so long ago. Like each of the Founding races, they were spread out thin among the colonies. She bet there were humans on each of the sixty-three Concord partner planets… no, fifty-eight, she corrected herself.
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