by Jack Adams
“So what does drive you, Jubilant?” he began casually as he started to weld off a duct opening.
“Do you really think this is a good time?” Jubilant responded just as casually.
“This may be the best time, actually. After all, once we finish with this we're going to be racing to escape this station then across the Refuge to escape the Faux. Do you really not want to tell me? Because if you are-”
“No, I can,” Jubilant interrupted. “In fact, I think I should. It is just that I haven't talked to many people about my past with any degree of detail.”
“There is a first for everything,” Finder said. “And if it makes you feel any better. I did feel a little relieved about opening up to you about the Nadir incident.”
“Yes, you did,” Jubilant whispered. “But with all of those people, I mean- How do you deal with the guilt of that? What happened to me I don't think even compares but you seem to bear the emotional burden of what happened to you with ease.”
“Shouldering the guilt of Nadir has never been easy,” Finder said grimly. “But it does get easier over time. The way I have come to come to terms with what happened then is by examining the justification I originally used. But wait, do you know know the full story of all what happened?”
“I'm more familiar with the end, honestly. Not so much the beginning.”
“So you;re like most people,” Finder said with a slight chuckle. “Well, anyway back when I was a Vigilant I was on patrol near Farside. I was alerted to an attack on a pair of freighter's by marauders. When I race into the battle I made a difficult decision based simply on the facts. Both freighters had been savaged by the marauder vessel, however the Ophidian bulk freighter had received less damage and held nearly one hundred thousand beings. Contrary to what you may have been told, though, that craft held a mix of Ophidian, Stanchion, Wisp and some human passengers. What everyone, at least in human space, focuses on is the human vessel, the Red Nadir. This vessel held 15,642 human beings or as I'm sure you've been told over twenty percent of the human race. I had to chose to defend the Nadir or the Ophidian bulk frieghter. Of course, after that debacle I was banished from human space.”
“But why did you do it?”
“To save the most lives,” Finder said emphatically. “Like I told you before, I chose to protect the lives that I realistically could. Their race didn't matter, only the fact that they were living sentient beings. If given the choice, I would do what I did again for precisely the same reason.”
“You seem so sure in your choice. Why then do you feel guilty?”
“After being stripped of my rank and subsequent banishment from Farside I wound up doing what I'm doing now. Scrapping by doing odd, often extralegal jobs to get by. I feel guilty, because a part, an irrational part of me wishes that I had attempted to protect the Nadir, even if my chances of saving it and its passengers were non-existent.” Finder finished spraying an air duct with a stream of plasma and wiped sweat from his forehead. “Come on, let's go.”
“I see. I guess that does sound like a lot to process.”
“I feel guilty for allowing that irrational part of me to exist. It is difficult to live with a certain set of convictions. Yet even still I feel so petty, harboring the desire to undo a moral stand for material and career gain.”
“It isn't petty,” Jubilant said as she gripped Finder by the shoulder. “It's human.” Finder nodded and looked off distantly as he absorbed the meaning of her words.
“What about you, Jubilant? Let's not forget this conversation started with a discussion on your motivation.”
“Guilt as well,” Jubilant answered slowly. “Although the source of mine is far more personal and less epic. And it's tied to this.” As Jubilant finished she lifted the still lightly glowing Echoshard. “I am unusual in that I am one of the few humans who grew up on the Nestle worlds, Sanct to be exact. My father received special dispensation to study Apocryph artifacts on the Wisp homeworld. We was fascinated with the many mysteries the Apocryph had left behind for us to study, and as I grew up, that fervor for ancient knowledge rubbed off on me.
“It was my father that uncovered and led the research team to investigate the purpose of the Echoshard, and for a time he discerned a lot. Unfortunately, his skills did not break down all of the prejudice for our kind that existed in the minds of some of the races of the Refuge. I'm still not sure exactly who it was but I suspect one or a group of Faux researchers became jealous of my father. I was never sure what all they were jealous of but I guess now we both know.” Jubilant held the shard closer to her face and it seemed to glow just a bit brighter. “Eventually, my father was charged with the murder of a high-ranking Faux officer under the most dubious of evidence but no one dared to challenge the arrest. No one ever bothers to challenge the might of those bullies.”
“Did they kill him?”
“I don't know,” Jubilant whispered as her throat began to softly choke up. She swallowed hard and continued, “I do know that he had enough friends to smuggle me safely off the Nestle worlds and over to Farside with the Echoshard. Of course, I want to use this ancient technology and knowledge to resuscitate the chances of humanities survival but most of all, I want to use it to resurrect my fathers legacy. So long as I have the Echoshard a part of him is still alive.”
Finder simply stood still for a moment to comprehend what Jubilant had said. He was so unaccustomed not only to being around other people but expressing emotion he could only say, “well, we'd better get going.”
–
After successfully sealing the ducts which might be used to incapacitate Finder and Jubilant with noxious fumes, the pair had crawled into Polestar's station primary atmosphere recycling center. Before the two of them a massive machine wrapped in hollow pipes and complex wiring hummed quietly as it converted hot and heavy carbon dioxide into cool, breathable air.
“We're only going to have about two maybe three minutes to get to where we need to be. Are you sure you can get to the scepters in time?” Finder asked to which Jubilant confidently held up the Echoshard.
“With dad's legacy I surely can.”
Finder let his mouth produce a thin smile. It felt strangely good to see the spunky attitude of Jubilant return. In unison the two pointed their weapons at the recycling unit and fired. The machine exploded into a flurry of slag and metal fragments and as it did Jubilant and Finder scampered off in separate directions. At this point they had two options, succeed in their escape of horribly asphyxiate.
Ch. 8 – Lock Breaker
Opposite to Jubilant, Finder rushed down an air duct. Behind him the atmosphere recycling unit sputtered smog and belched wild flares. As he did Finder monitored the rate at which he sucked in precious oxygen and the speed at which his body moved, careful not to overexert himself but also make good time to his destination. Every few moments he would check the holodata drive to note his position relative to where he was going. While he knew he was still headed in the right direction at appropriate speed he found the ritual comforting. After thirty seconds of sprinting down the tunnel sized shaft he resumed a crouched posture and crawled into a small shaft. Even just half a minute in, bereft of an atmosphere recycling unit the air was already becoming dense and hot. As breathing became harder Finder felt as if a warm hand of noxious yet calming fist of death creeping on him. Finder vigorously shook his head and refocused his mind. He was so close to his goal and would not allow such petty distractions keep him from achieving it. He was almost above the hangar.
Here! Finder halted in his steps as the air around him became enveloped in dark smoke. At least he would make a grand and dramatic entrance. Finder double checked the holographic schematic on the drive a final time and drew his pistol. Pointing it at the metal panel beneath him he fired an even beam and twirled in an ellipse. After completing the rotation he braced himself for the fall through the precarious air and with a loud thud he landed on top of the Ace of Spades. For a split moment Finder took notice of th
e aged spacecrafts even with all of its dented armor, jury-rigged replacement plating, and general wear and thought that he had never seen a vessel so beautiful. But his celebration was cut short be the erratic fire of Faux troops below him.
Instinctively, Finder flattened himself against the Ace's hull. Fortunately, at this angle none of them could get a bead on him but any moment they might climb through the vessel to attack on even ground. With chaotic shouts and rifle fire all around, Finder crawled over the Ace's hull to the nearest topside access hatch. As he did he weighed the advantages and disadvantages against him. On the downside, the Faux had him terribly out-numbered and out-gunned. On the upside, they were trying to defeat him when he had the best tool at his disposal: his own spacecraft. And that fact made Finder beam with immense confidence.
As soon as he boarded his vessel Finder rushed towards the cargo bay and began barking commands at Ephemris truly hoping to get to hear her sassy and overprotective quips.
“Ephemris activate the vessels propulsion drives, now!” Finder waited for a second then another as a pang of fear that his trusty AI companion had been taken offline or had self-shut down. Another second passed and then the soft hum of the Ace's massive computer core could just be heard.
“Understood, Captain,” Ephermis answered. “What took you so long?”
“Long story, Ephe,” Finder quipped. “But first, have we been boarded?”
“There are now six Faux troopers entering the Ace of Spades through the cargo bay now.”
“Close it before more get on Finder said as he stood on the threshold separating the cargo hold from the rest of the vessel. Without thinking he drew his pistol and shot with keen precision, downing four of the Faux troops. However, one managed to draw a bead on him and graze his arm. Finder gasped in pain and collapsed to the floor. With a swift jerk he brought his body behind the thresholds wall.
“Ephermis, seal the cargo bay completely,” and as he finished his sentence the door next to him swished shut. “Now drain the cargo hold of all atmosphere and lock all access points.”
“Gladly,' the AI responded which was accompanied by a powerful suction sound which reverberated through the Ace's atmosphere circulation system. As the cargo bay's oxygen was redistributed through the rest of the vessel the screams of the remaining Faux troops wear carried also.
“I don't suppose we're simply going to leave with the rest of the station in chaos and not rescue the girl?” Ephemris asked.
“What do you think,” Finder answered as he hobbled to the crafts cockpit.
–
Jubilant had never been so still in all of her life. After destroying the atmosphere recycle unit with Finder she had made off towards the chamber which held the six recovered scepters as she and Finder had planned. As he had guessed most of the smoke and debris followed him towards the stations nearest hangar, which would give her time to wait out the Faux guarding the Apocryph fragments before she would risk carbon dioxide poisoning. Unfortunately, she had never been very good at waiting. Her entire life she had continued to push herself both faster and with admirably consistence to accomplish her objectives. But now that drive for near instant results was failing her.
As she carefully eyed the Faux sentries guarding the fragments Jubilant attempted to calm herself with what Finder had told her. 'Go to the fragment chamber and wait exactly one minute after arriving. You should have plenty of air the remaining oxygen should already have been naturally pumped towards atmosphere recycler relative to your position. After that wait for me.' The logic of his plan was tight and his words sounded soothing. Despite that Jubilant's mind still couldn't help but over think the situation. What if Finder had been captured? Or the Ace was actaully in a different hangar? And as Jubilant's mind began to catastrophize a sensation of horror gripped her; her greatest weapon, her quick-paced mind was working against her.
“No,” Jubilant said just above a whisper. She silently committed herself to sticking to the plan and not acting in a rash manner. After another agonizing forty seconds Jubilant noticed the air beginning to turn musky and dense. Normally, she would rush towards the nearest air assist device but this time she celebrated. As expected the chambers internal klaxon sounded and the room became flooded with dazzling warning lights and the Faux troopers fled the room. Another twenty seconds and Jubilant removed her rifle and gingerly dropped to the floor and gathered the six fragments into her arms. Though weak from the growing threat of oxygen deprivation she felt enthused due to her success. She turned behind her to look out the glass window at the bright stars which seemed to her to shine even brighter as if to salute her triumph. Then within an instant Jubilant's attitude switched completely as she heard muffled commands being shouted to her, the Faux guards had come back.
Jubilant slowly turned to see three Faux troopers with combat pressure suits hastily put on with rifles trained on her. While she didn't dare move her body Jubilant eyed the rifle she had dropped a few feet away. Once again Jubilant's mind ramped up to perform a series of rapid calculations. She figured that with the scepters cradled in her arms the Faux wouldn't dare shoot her. Of course, if she dropped them to reach for the rifle her advantage would be lost and she would surely lose in a firefight with three highly-trained Faux soldiers. Then again if she acted swiftly enough she might be able to take them by surprise. No, that isn't what Finder and I had planned.
“Drop the scepters now,” the Faux commanded once again. With her head getting lighter and lighter and air becoming heavier and heavier Jubilant found it increasingly difficult to breathe or even think. She wanted so badly to wipe away the hefty beads of sweat on her forehead but continued to use her precious Apocryph fragments as her shield. Those six objects and her trust in Finder were her only weapons now.
“If you do not drop the Apocryph scepters we will open fire,” the Faux warned as he and his compatriots carefully adjusted their aim to Jubilant's head. In response, Jubilant simply closed her eyes and smiled while focusing in on the budding feeling of serenity deep within her. And just as the Faux were about to shoot, Jubilant heard a thunderous cracking sound accompanied by the feeling of small fragments of glass pelleting her from behind. Then a powerful force pulled her back and she heard nothing at all. For a few brief moments Jubilant felt completely at ease as the wind drained out of her and her mind emptied. Within her hands she possessed nearly everything she had desired, the most coveted objects of her research and physical representations of her affection for her father. Then Jubilant's whole body collide with a hard metal surface and everything faded to black.
–
When Jubilant woke up she was greeted by the pleasant sight of Finder standing over her brandishing that thin expression which he attempted to pass of as a smile and the incredibly disagreeable ringing inside of her skull. Once the pain enveloped her brain Jubilant sharply shoot up but was pressed back down again forcefully by Finder.
“Woo, there,” he said in a strangely chipper voice. “You took quite a tumble there.”
“Yeah, I did,” Jubilant said messaging her temples. “Tell me Finder is this usually how you ex-Vigilant's rescue damsels in distress? By ramming a starcraft into a the side of a space station and catching her in a cargo hold.” Finder almost seemed to smile full on at the remark.
“Not usually,” he said. “But I also usually don't find myself escaping from one of the most secure facilities in the Refuge.”
“Where are we? Did we evade the Faux?”
“So far, yeah. Where traveling at near light speed so even at their fastest it'll take them time to regroup before they can pursue us. And that assumes that they know where we are going and our new benefactor doesn't pull a few more strings for use.”
“You have never seemed to be one to play the optimist. We now?”
“I'm not sure. Maybe it has something to do with this little green rock of yours,” Finder remarked as he held up the Echoshard.
“Does that mean it's been whispering to you to?�
� Jubilant asked excitedly as she rose up again to cradle the shard in both hands.
“How hard did you hit your head?”
“Now, Finder. I'm being serious. Ever since I've had the Echoshard, I've been able to hear the tiniest whisper emanate from it on occasion. You don't hear them?”
“No, all I heard was what you were babbling in your sleep, about going to the coordinance the shard had laid out.”
“And they are?”
“Where do you think? Vincinal.” Finder answered as he left Jubilant in her cot to recuperate. “Even at best speed it'll be a while before we get there, so I suggest you rest up.”
–
Inside the Ace's cargo hold Finder went through the routine pre-flight diagnostics on his shuttle. And as he worked he found that Ephemris was not without a number of nagging questions.
“Why did you have to go and save her, Captain?” The AI queried.
“I thought that would be obvious by now,” Finder answered casually.
“It isn't. This woman has put you, I, and the Ace in face more danger than it's worth. Even with the amount she's paying you, nothing is worth your life.”
“Don't you think I'm aware of that?” Finder said. “And I think the reason I saved her, and why I'm dedicated to seeing this mission finished is obvious. It isn't just about money.”
“Nothing will restore your status to being a Vigilant again.”
“Of course,” Finder said with a suppressed sigh. “But that's not it either. It has more to do with Carly and what she wants to do, even if it is all just Apocryph mythology.”