by S. H. Jucha
Lindsey, the empath teams, and spacers separated ways from the YIPS personnel and proceeded down the terminal arm toward the Belle’s shuttle. They straggled aboard, exhausted, the empaths drained of their powers.
Danny and two attendants from the cantina handed out greens to the empaths and caf to the spacers. Everyone got a hot sandwich.
Lindsey walked toward the shuttle’s bow, choosing to sit next to Aurelia and eye David Yersh, who faced her.
“Hi,” David said to Lindsey, around a mouthful of sandwich.
“Hi, yourself,” Lindsey answered, taking a bite of her own.
* * * *
Harbour received an image of David Yersh on her comm unit, which Danny had surreptitiously taken and forwarded to the Belle’s bridge control. She shared it with Jessie.
“Birdie, Evan, please,” Harbour requested.
None of the individuals who had been on the bridge when Jittak and his soldiers tried to take control had left despite the late hour. Harbour thought to say something to Dingles, but he stood resolute, with his hands behind his back, as if he were a statue. The rest of the crew, including Jessie, held the same stiffened-spine positions. Even Tacticnok and Jaktook, who preferred the prone postures of their pallets, were still present. Over time, the pair had edged next to Harbour in a declaration of support.
“Evan have you conducted a search of David’s property yet?” Harbour asked, when she reached the YIPS manager.
“I haven’t received a warrant authorizing me to conduct such a search, Captain,” Evan replied. This was the conversation Evan feared. Spacers took a dim view of anyone trying to harm their people. It looked like that applied to Harbour’s people and aliens too.
“Extenuating circumstances, Evan,” Jessie replied. “Consider the ramifications if David Yersh is the culprit, which one of the strongest empaths known to Pyreans believes is the truth.”
“What do you mean?” Evan asked. He was hungry and tired and knew he wasn’t thinking clearly.
“How many cylinders of gas do you think David brought aboard your station?” Jessie asked.
“And what if he accidentally released some of the gas on his suit or in his cabin?” Harbour added, catching on to Jessie’s tactics.
“How long is the gas viable if it was in liquid form when it was spilt?” Jessie asked.
“I wouldn’t want to be in your deck shoes, Evan, if there’s further contamination, and you didn’t take precautionary measures,” Harbour said in a voice that evinced commiseration.
“All right, all right,” Evan replied, annoyed by being pressured. “We’ll search David’s cabin for gas cylinders and the presence of a foreign gas. We’ll do the same for his personnel locker and vac suit. But, I’m warning you, Captains. If we find anything else, no matter how much it might implicate David, it will not be reported. He has rights.”
“Understood, Evan,” Harbour replied in a conciliatory manner. “We’ll be interested in the results of your search.”
“Captain Harbour, we have a little more than thirty minutes before our shuttle unloads in the bay,” Dingles said. I suggest it’s an appropriate time for some food and drink.”
“Fruit juice,” Jaktook announced agreeably.
“Rotate the bridge crew, Dingles, including yourself. Food and rest for everyone,” Harbour ordered. She fixed her eyes on Dingles to drive the point home.
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Dingles responded.
The captains and the Jatouche retired to Harbour’s quarters, and she ordered sandwiches, salads, fruit drinks, a caf for Jessie, and a green for her.
Tacticnok lounged on the study’s couch pillow beside Jaktook, who lay on the other one. Harbour and Jessie sat on the floor to be polite, while everyone enjoyed their small meal.
“What’s Drigtik’s state?” Tacticnok asked.
“He and our people are still sleep. Empaths watch over them,” Harbour said.
“And when they wake? What then?” Tacticnok asked.
“We don’t know. None of us have ever seen the effects of this gas,” Harbour replied.
“Then they might continue to suffer from the effects,” Tacticnok surmised.
“Empaths will stay with them until they experience no more waking bad dreams,” Harbour explained.
“It’s not understandable why some of your kind fear you,” Jaktook said. “You’re capable of so much good.”
“It’s understandable, if you know their power can be used to achieve any effect,” Tacticnok said. “The answer lies in the heart of the empath. It’s good that they’re all female. Less chance of danger.”
The group’s meals were barely finished when Harbour received a call from Dingles that Danny was on approach. Harbour, Jessie, Tacticnok, and Jaktook abandoned their dishes and made for the landing bay. They arrived in time to see Aurelia descend first with some spacers and hurry for the airlock.
“Captain,” Aurelia said in a rush to Harbour, “you’re going to have your hands full with this one. I’ve never sensed the like. All joy and brightness and little else.”
“Odd,” Harbour agreed.
“Is Sasha still with the engineers?” Aurelia asked, concern in her voice.
“Yes,” Harbour admitted.
“That’s too long,” Aurelia said, adding, “Excuse me, Captain.”
The group could hear Aurelia call Dingles and ask for the engineers’ location, as she ran down the corridor.
Tacticnok glanced questioningly toward Harbour, who said, “Sasha is Aurelia’s younger sister.”
The royal daughter nodded in commiseration, adding, “Most understandable. And I find it informative that these two youthful sisters are the ones who located our engineers, helped them, and identified the one who’s being brought here. As you indicated, Captain … empaths are becoming stronger.”
The last to exit the shuttle were Belinda and Nate with David Yersh between them. He appeared nothing like Harbour expected. His youthful good looks and sense of bon vivant indicated a carefree, young man.
When this last group cleared the airlock, Harbour introduced herself, extending a hand.
“Wow. I get to meet the famous Captain Harbour. This is a treat,” David gushed.
“And I appreciate you taking the time to talk to us,” Harbour replied. “Why don’t we retire to the captain’s quarters, where we’ll be more comfortable?”
“That sounds great,” David replied.
Harbour would have preferred to meet David alone, but Jessie was having none of it. To complicate matters, Tacticnok insisted that she observe the interaction. And lately, where Tacticnok went, Jaktook followed.
“Captain, this is a matter of observing the application of justice among your people,” Tacticnok said, able to speak without David understanding her.
Neither Harbour nor Jessie knew what that meant, and they had images of everything from swift executions on the basis of mere suspicions to a means of reading an individual’s thought, which would convict the accused.
On the way to Harbour’s quarters, she received a call from Evan and motioned the others to go ahead.
“Captain, we searched David’s cabin and found no other cylinders or any dangerous gas contamination,” Evan said. “We also checked his personnel locker and his vac suit. Same results, nothing.”
“And if I were to ask about his comm unit, Evan?” Harbour suggested.
“You know that we couldn’t investigate that without a warrant, Captain,” Evan replied. “However, it’s a moot point. We never saw the device. I suspect David’s got it on him. And, if he’s the guilty party, then I would guess it’s probably wiped by now.”
“Thanks for the update, Evan,” Harbour replied.
Evan meant to ask some questions of his own, but Harbour abruptly ended the call.
When Harbour reached her quarters, Jessie sat at the salon table’s end, closest to the door. David sat on a long side, and the Jatouche stood against a bulkhead, silently observing.
“Pardon me, David, important call,” Harbour said pleasantly and took a seat across from David.
“This is fantastic,” David said. “My friends aren’t going to believe that I got to see the captain’s quarters of the Belle, much less meet with two of the most prominent Pyrean captains.”
“Are your best friends on the YIPS or the JOS?” Harbour asked, starting with a simple question to build a rapport, while she measured David’s emotions.
“They’re on both,” David replied.
“We’re talking to techs who might have witnessed the event that took place,” Harbour said.
“Can’t help you much there, Captains. I finished my shift … that’s first shift, got a meal, took it to my cabin, and fell asleep soon afterwards. It was the emergency announcements that woke me. I’m not even sure what happened.”
“Weren’t you curious?” Jessie asked. “Stepped outside to see what’s going on or called someone?”
“Those are against emergency protocols, Captain, and I’m a by-the-rules tech. It keeps me safe and employed.” David smiled to demonstrate his preference to remain in the good graces of his questioners.
For the next half hour, Harbour and Jessie double-teamed David with questions and general conversation, but they were unable to evoke a single point on which they could trap him.
Abruptly, Harbour stood up and called Dingles. Apparently, the first mate was waiting outside her door. He was inside in seconds, which took everyone by surprise.
“Yes, Captain?” Dingles asked.
“Dingles, David has been most cooperative. Before we send him back to the YIPS, I think it’s incumbent on us to show some appreciation. How about you take David to the cantina? His tab is on me.”
“Sure, Captain, come on, Davey,” Dingles said, throwing an arm around the young man’s shoulder to guide him out the door.
“I’ve heard about the Belle’s cantina. This is going to be great!” the group heard David say, as he started down the corridor.
Harbour sent a quick text to Belinda and Nate. It read, “Join Dingles in the cantina. David’s to have a good time, drink up, and sleep the day away in a cabin.”
Suddenly a thought occurred to Harbour, and she moaned, “Oh, for the love of Pyre, it’s the start of the day, the cantina’s going to be empty.”
Jessie laughed. “You haven’t been around spacers long enough, Harbour. We kept crews out all night. They’re in the cantina now, unless I miss my guess. And my captains will have given them the day off. Tired people are dangerous people aboard ship or station.”
“Good,” Harbour replied absentmindedly. She was tapping her comm unit against her chin, deep in thought.
“What did you discover?” Tacticnok asked, stepping away from the bulkhead.
“Nothing,” Harbour replied.
“Explain,” Tacticnok said.
“Aurelia was right. David doesn’t evince the common range of emotions I would expect. There’s certainly no guilt or remorse. If I were a medic and giving David a physical, it would be similar to not finding a heartbeat. If nothing else, he’s entertaining.”
“Like an insipid vid, where all the characters are unrealistically pleasant,” Jessie grumped. While everyone was alone with their thoughts, Jessie snatched up his comm unit.
“Who’re you calling?” Harbour asked.
“Major Finian,” Jessie replied.
“A senior member of Pyre security, especially for the stations,” Harbour explained to the Jatouche.
“I was waiting for this call, Captain,” Liam answered promptly. “May I know who else is on the call?”
“Captain Harbour, Her Highness Tacticnok, and Jaktook,” Jessie replied.
Liam quickly snatched the ear wig from his pocket and installed it before he said diplomatically, “Welcome to Pyre, Your Highness.’
“That’s kind of you to say, Major Finian,” Tacticnok replied.
There was a moment of sheer amazement for Liam, recognizing he was conversing with his first alien. “Captains, I’m guessing you’re calling about the incident on the YIPS. Evan has updated me. Are your people okay?”
“That remains to be seen, Major,” Harbour replied. “We’re still waiting on that.”
“Any information out of David Yersh?” Liam asked.
“Nothing,” Harbour said with disgust. “My experience, as an empath, says he’s our culprit, but there’s nothing definitive in the way of proof or self-incrimination.”
“Major, any way you can search David’s quarters?” Jessie asked.
“I don’t have probable cause for a warrant,” Liam replied.
The group could hear that Liam wasn’t happy about the circumstances.
Tacticnok stepped close to Jessie, and he lowered the comm unit to her level.
“Major, this is Tacticnok. One of my citizens has been attacked by one of yours. This constitutes a breach of first contact procedures, as defined by the alliance. I’m making a royal request that you take Captain Harbour’s suspicions about this youth into consideration and conduct yourself accordingly.”
There was silence on the line. The seconds ticked by. Then Liam said, “I’ve heard your request, Your Highness. Rest assured that we appreciate what the Jatouche are doing for Pyre, and your request will be assigned the importance it’s due. I’ll be in touch,” Liam said and ended the call.
Tacticnok cocked her head, glanced at Harbour and then Jessie. “I’m used to more direct answers,” she said.
“Your request was well phrased, Tacticnok,” Jessie replied. “It gives the major the leverage he needs to get a warrant and begin the search.”
-38-
Leverage
Liam checked Emerson’s whereabouts. It was early morning, and the commandant hadn’t arrived at security administration yet. Liam hurried to Devon’s office, but the lieutenant wasn’t in either. The next stop was the sergeants’ office, and he was relieved to see Miguel Rodriguez and Cecilia Lindstrom at their desks.
“Morning, Sergeants,” Liam said perfunctorily. “Pull up all the public information on David Yersh, a YIPS tech.”
“What are we looking for?” Miguel, the senior sergeant, asked.
“Captain Harbour believes David is the mystery tech who gassed the three engineers,” Liam replied.
“Why don’t we get a warrant and deep dive into his life, Major?” Miguel asked.
“Harbour is relying on her empathetic abilities. Unfortunately, she failed to get David to admit to anything or even display something that would tell her that she was absolutely sure David was guilty.”
“Just how are we supposed to get a warrant, Major?” Cecilia asked.
“Search first,” Liam said, swinging a finger at their monitors. He lounged in a chair, while the sergeants ran through the public records.
Nearly a quarter of an hour later, Cecilia said, “I’ve got nothing. The boy looks clean.”
“Same here, Major,” Miguel added. “Nothing stands out. No trips downside. No expensive cabin in the upper rings.”
“What now, Sir?” Cecilia asked.
“We request a warrant to search the cabin,” Liam said.
“On what grounds?” Miguel asked.
“Sergeant Cecilia Lindstrom, I’m informing you that I have a credible source of intelligence that indicates that the perpetrator of the gas attack aboard the YIPS is one David Yersh,” Liam announced in an official tone. “I’m concerned for the safety of the JOS citizenry that, if this proves out, the tech might have more of this dangerous gas in his JOS cabin. I’m requesting a warrant to search his cabin.”
Cecilia glanced at Miguel, who stared back. She looked at Liam, who wore a hard expression.
“I’ll request the warrant on the information that you’ve relayed to me, Major,” Cecilia replied in the same manner. She stood up, grabbed her comm unit and cap, and marched out of the office.
Out of earshot of the major, Cecilia mumbled, “Why me?”
“Do you think she�
�ll get it?” Miguel asked Liam.
“She has a better chance than you or me,” Liam replied.
“Hmm,” Miguel agreed. “Nice, motherly face … level disposition, believable.”
“Something like that,” Liam replied, which had nothing to do with what he was thinking. Captain Henry Stamerson, head of the Review Board, and he had recently begun meeting frequently. Liam needed someone else to request the warrant. If Cecilia was denied, it gave him an excuse to rant at Henry. The captain should see through the ruse and realize that there were extenuating circumstances.
An hour later, Liam, Miguel, and Cecilia were on their way to David’s cabin with a warrant on their comm units.
“Well done, Sergeant,” Liam had said to Cecilia, when she presented him with the warrant.
“The captain was amazingly accommodating,” Cecilia replied. “He didn’t ask a single question.”
“Imagine that,” Liam replied, which prompted confused glances between the sergeants.
At the cabin door, Miguel entered the security override code into the access panel, and the door slid aside.
The team hadn’t penetrated far into the cabin, when Cecilia moaned, “Oh, for the love of Pyre, why didn’t I become a YIPS tech. Look at all this stuff.”
“This wasn’t purchased on David’s stipend,” Devon noted, picking up some of the electronics gear that was lying around.
“We have enough for a security deep dive warrant,” Liam said. “I’ll get this one,” he replied to Cecilia’s inquisitive glance.
When Miguel received a copy of the second warrant, he checked David’s financial records. Interestingly, he found two accounts. Odd for a tech, Miguel thought. The first account looked normal: regular stipend deposits from the YIPS and the usual modest expenses. It was the second account that was the shock. Opened less than three years ago, the deposits were enormous for a tech and the expenditures were extravagant. His favorites seemed to be electronic gear, cantinas, and coin-kitties.
Cecilia accessed David’s comm account via the security servers. “Clever boy,” she whispered, when she discovered the history was empty. It was the prerogative of a comm unit user to clear the device and the server’s history, not that security appreciated that ruling.