“Just so you two know, there will be no extraction, for a few obvious reasons,” I told them. “Your messages didn’t go anywhere, and you won’t be there even if they had. For old times’ sake, you can do it however you like, but I’ll only give you a minute. If it was me, I would make a run at it and jump and feel the universe around me before the black took hold. One way or another, though, you’re off my ship in sixty seconds, starting now.” I slid my sword out and stepped out of the way. There were pistols drawn and ready.
“It’s cold blooded murder.” Bill said.
Matt did as I said and made a run for it. I saw the force field shimmer for a split second before he was tumbling head over heels through space. Bill collapsed and began to cry. It was a natural reaction to facing death, with a lot of time to think about it. He told me I couldn’t do it, it was murder again, I was a coward, and I should fight him to the death. Then, I deserved to die like my parents —when he said it, that did it.
He got his wish. I hit him so hard that his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed. I felt the bones in two of my fingers break, and then felt Taz’s gift go to work repairing them.
Can I have that one? Imelda asked.
No, not this time. I think I have used you too much, my friend.
I know who is friend and who is foe, she said.
Yes, and he somehow became both. My sorrow and anger battle, and I would rather it all be on me. You will be able to roam and hunt soon, Imelda, just be patient. But you can pick him up and toss him off my ship for me.
Blue Eyes and Angel were looking down at the floor and didn’t see Imelda coming. She was like a giant ballerina, tiptoeing around and trying not to step on anyone. The giant claw hooked into Bill and dragged him to the back. She lifted him to her maw and inserted his head. His body hung, arms flailing and legs kicking. Imelda crouched like she might jump out the back of the ship herself and flung Bill’s body. I say his, body because blood was spraying from his neck for a few seconds as it tumbled away. I walked up to her and weaved around her legs to face her. I could see my reflection in her huge black eyes.
You had better follow my orders from now on, or I’m going to leave you behind somewhere nasty. I took my index finger and stuck it in the fur between her eyes to poke her as I talked. Do you understand me?
She spat the head out, and it began its journey to catch up to the body it had lost. I like your daughter better, I believe, she said. Up she went to her bed in the cross members. It was a fluke that the Allond put the oversized drives in a ship of this size, leaving us with a huge amount of wasted space in the hold. There was enough that a second level could be added for long-term storage, but for now it was the domain of a queen.
“You two need to stand up now,” I told Blue Eyes and Angel. “I’m in no mood for any bullshit, so if there is something you want to tell me, now would be a good time to clear the air.”
“You killed them both,” Angel said. “What kind of monster are you?”
I saw red at her words. I hadn’t expected that, not after Matt had admitted to being involved in setting her up and blackmailing her. She wanted to blame me. I had killed them, two people I had liked and respected. It hadn’t been easy and I wasn’t proud of it, but it was done. I was about to see how thick her skull really was, when Taz wrapped her arms around me, pulling me away.
“Nedra, take her and lock her in a room, just not her own. What about you?” I yelled at Blue Eyes. “You got anything to say?”
“Yes, Benjamin, I do. I know where to find the man who killed your family.”
I was stunned at her revelation and had to pause. I began thinking that I had gone overboard. Some of my crew must think I am a homicidal wacko. I would give them time to process things, and if it was too much for them, then they could leave. I wouldn’t try to make them stay. I wasn’t done, anyways; there was a lot more to come.
“I need to clear my mind,” I told Blue Eyes. “I will send for you a little later and you will tell me everything you know. In exchange, I will make sure you have your freedom like we discussed. I can leave you on 6410 with some credits and a name. It’s a human settlement, so you’ll blend in. I am sure someone will overlook your lack of papers if you flash those blue eyes a few times.” I forced a smile. I needed to be free of the reminder of Andrea that had been walking around my ship.
“Taz,” I added, “could you let me go now?” She squeezed me harder and laughed.
“You know I can break this hold, and you won’t like looking up at me from the floor,” I added.
“Oh, you never know. I think I would. Not in this situation, though,” she said, her smile mischievous. She was trying to lighten my mood, but I wasn’t sure it would work yet.
“Benjamin,” she told me in a more serious tone, “I have governors of many years who could not make the decisions you make. You have met them. They are good administrators, but lack in judicial skills that go above what their subordinates handle for them. They would think and rethink each situation, putting off anything that would keep them from making a life-or-death decision. Then there are some who are tyrants, who kill just to kill, and I have to deal with them myself. They abuse the power I give them and usually abuse my people. It is one extreme or the other, most of the time, but I have a few good governors who manage to handle everything properly. You would be the latter if you were a governor.”
“I worry I don’t give things enough thought,” I answered, “and that it won’t be the bad guys getting hurt, but someone close to me. Do you understand how I would feel if I made a mistake like that?”
“No,” she said. “I don’t understand because I don’t make mistakes. I am the queen of Cjittan, like my mother and her mother before me. We rule by right and might and our word is law.”
“And you said I wasn’t right in the head,” I chuckled.
“No queen has ever taken a mate that is not of Cjittan stock,” she told me, eyebrows raised. “It is my hope that someday you will accept and be my husband. I will have to decree that the queen can choose outside of our breeding stock before we can consummate our marriage, however. But I am queen, and so my word is law. It will be done and you will be mine.”
“Now I know you’re not right in the head,” I said. “Come on, Your Craziness. I want to lie down and think. You might as well come by invitation, just so I feel better about myself. You know it’s not all about you.”
“On Cjittan I could have you killed for uttering anything that implied I was not in control of my faculties!” she protested.
“I know, your word is law, and all that shit you were just muttering. Are you coming, or do you want to stay and preach that steaming dung pile at Imelda? I’m sure she would love to listen to it for a while.”
You will pay for that! Imelda said.
That’s what you get for saying you like Natalia better, I replied, walking out of the hold. Taz followed me reluctantly.
“Benjamin, I believe that Angel has nothing to do with your situation, and your blue-eyed clone will help you and remain true to you,” she said, changing the subject, for which I was thankful.
“Is that law now that you have said it?” I smirked at my comment.
“You are most definitely what people call a pain in the ass, Benjamin.”
“That sounds much better,” I said. “Keep with the human sayings and leave your starched collar talk for your own people. You pick the craziest time to start talking about relationships.”
“When is there not a crazy time to talk about anything?” she replied.
“True. All this craziness keeps me sane, I guess. I learned to embrace it long ago. No more talking about husbands and law and me in the same conversation, though, please. I don’t think I’m good at either.”
Chapter 30
I had Adam make a meal for the whole crew. I didn’t want to call another meeting in the cargo hold. One meeting a week that resulted in death was enough. I had Genius monitor for any other messages, just in
case I was wrong about anyone left onboard. I knew Aisling was itching to contact the Warhammer and find out what was going on, on her ship.
I sat at the head of the table with Taz and Natalia to my right and left. Aisling sat next to Natalia and Blue Eyes next to Taz. Buddy and Grubb helped Adam get the food to the table, and Angel sat at the far end as far as one could get from me. Everyone else was present and accounted for. Binda was going to eat quickly and get back to the bridge; Lorelei would fill her in on anything important later.
“Yesterday was a very tough day for me and most of you,” I told them all. “I’m still angry and sad, and will be for a long time. I have no idea the long-term damage that the informants have done to us, so we will need to be very aware from here on out. I am going to inform E’Aria of what has occurred and ask her to arrange a meeting with the Warhammer. I think it will be best to avoid contact with the Warhammer until Aisling can return and get to the bottom of how she was removed from her ship. Any questions so far?”
“Will you ask her to have my ship escorted to Trillond?” Aisling asked.
“That’s probably a good idea. We can stop, help you get things straightened out, and be on our way. Angel,” I added, looking at her and gesturing to Aisling, “this is Captain Aisling O’Shaughnessy. If you would like to serve on a starship, there is no better captain. Currently she and the crew are taking in the sights of the Trillond system, and will not be returning to Alliance space anytime soon. You can blame me for that also, if you want. I know it’s not easy being my friend.”
“Stop it!” Aisling said. “That was no more your fault than mine. The cat’s out of the bag now, and she is sitting right next to you. They cannot deny the existence of the Cjittan or what happened around Hyson. As long as Trillond doesn’t agree to turn us over, we are going to stay right where we are. I’m hoping they can write us and the Warhammer off.”
“I believe your president will request you return home, Captain,” Taz exclaimed. “I have spoken to him at length and provided documentation of other life forms that your species may one day encounter. I pointed out the foolishness of trying to hide the existence of any species from his people. Had I chosen, I could have pointed my war machine at your pitiful Alliance and erased it. My people would have full bellies and there would be a governor over your system now, guiding it into a new era as a member of the Cjittan Empire.”
“Calm down, honey,” I said. “You and your war machine need to chill out and stop talking about eating and conquering my people. Where was I? Angel, Blue Eyes — this is the deal, short version. We will be making some stops. If you want off, get off. If you’re still here when we leave, I’ll assume you want to stay. Simple enough?”
“So are you going to tell us what you’re going to be doing, or are we waiting for your girlfriend to invade Trillond also?” Lorelei said.
“Very funny. Blue Eyes and I are going to take the shuttle and go back to Athena. It will take us at least three times as long to get back, so—”
“That’s bullshit!” Shawna yelled from the far end of the table.
“Yeah, boss,” Snake said. “I’ve got to agree, you shouldn’t do this by yourself. I’m not sure about freckle face over there, but you should take your team with you. You’ll need brains and brawn and someone to stitch us up when we screw up.”
“Thank you both for interrupting,” I answered. “I was going to ask for a couple of volunteers to watch my back and assign a designated security team to run herd over everyone here on the ship with the approval of our captain.”
“Why do I need a security team assigned? We should be alright; we aren’t morons,” Lorelei said, adding her usual sass.
“Because you are going to be parked, and it’s hotter than hell and easy to get lethargic. I’ve been there before, and there were some strange creatures the last time I visited. Just set up a guard duty and a rotation, giving everyone involved some rest. You’ll have Imelda, too, so use her. There are some humans living on that moon, but not many as of five years ago. Maybe more by now, or none at all.”
“When are you leaving?” Taz asked.
“I was going to go to 6912 with you, but I’m thinking we should go right after we break from this meeting. It will cut my time going back by half. You can lay low for a couple days, then meet us on our way back. Then we head to Trillond space and get Aisling back in the saddle.”
“I’m going with you!” Shawna said, jumping back into the conversation. “I know enough about how to fly that shuttle, just in case your friend there isn’t with you when it’s time for you to leave.”
I looked at Lorelei before answering. “Shawna, Snake, and the rest of you — clear it with the captain. She is responsible for my ship and your lives. This is personal for me. It’s not a mission where you’re earning your pay. You could end up dead helping me get vengeance. It’s a big price to pay.”
“I want to go too,” Harry said. “You helped me and my village, and took a shot for me from the little green man.”
“You do care!” I said, looking at the big guy and giving him a smile. He held up one of his hands.
“Only this much.” He pinched the fingers of one hand together, leaving almost no space between them.
“Great, Natalia! Did you teach him that?” I called out to my daughter. She was in a daze, lost in thought.
“No,” she said, snapping out of it. “Well, maybe. Dad, I want to go.”
“No!” I said.
“No!” Aisling said.
“No!” Lorelei said.
The others just shook their heads, not getting a word in.
“But—” Natalia said.
“No!” I repeated. The chair she was sitting in went flying and she stormed out. I sat there, not knowing what to say. I wouldn’t let her go this time; I had my mind made up on that point.
Harry stood. “I will go talk to your child,” he said. He walked out to search for her. I looked to Nedra for an answer.
“He misses his family,” she told me. “Natalia likes him and teaches him things, and he in turn has grown attached to her. They are both orphans in a way, even though they have new families.”
“I can see that. Look around you, we are all orphans and misfits. I hope you stay here with Lorelei, she may need you,” I said.
“I had not thought of asking anything different.”
“Shawna, Snake, Ronnie and Genius,” Lorelei called out. “Get packed, but not too heavily; you’ll be back soon.” I hoped she was right.
“Shawna, come with me. Let’s go find you some suitable armor and weapons,” I said.
“Now you’re talking. I love it when you order me around,” she answered, smiling wide.
I looked over at Aisling. “Where did you get this one again? Did you owe her family and take her as payment?”
“You could do a lot worse than Shawna, and she likes you the way you are. If my tally is correct, every woman you could have wants to change you, including Taz. I think that’s because we are all older than you,” Aisling said, then looked around at the faces.
“Didn’t really help me out there much, did you?” I said to her. “Let’s go, Shawna; I’ll make my rounds and see you all before I leave.”
We walked to Matt’s room and I put in my override code. We entered and I began rummaging through his things.
“This is weird. Do I have to wear his things?” Shawna asked.
“Not right this minute, just try them on and we will load them up. You’ll have a day to get over it, and the team will tell you how much better it is.”
She started unbuttoning her shirt and I turned to search through other areas of the room. It didn’t take that long. I found his pistol and knife, and he had a katana in the wall locker.
“Take a look at these and see how they fit,” Shawna said.
I turned to find her standing in her underwear, with no shirt or bra. She was making sure to stand so her curves were very noticeable.
I was searching for so
mething to say. All that came out was “nice,” a pause, and then, “could you get the thermal on please.”
“They are nice, aren’t they?”
“I said so, didn’t I? Now get dressed, we have places to go.”
Matt’s armor fit her well enough, except the inseam his legs were longer. I put the belt and side arm around her waist and cinched it up tight. It was in perfect condition, but I expected no less.
“Okay, you can change back, or wear those so you don’t have to carry them and change later,” I told her.
“How about you sit down in the chair right there and watch while I change,” she said. “I may need some help with the buckles.”
I clamped my mouth shut and smiled.
Anyone watching as I walked away would have seen me shaking my head and talking to myself. I hoped that girl would take an interest in Genius or somebody else. A pile of duffle bags and weapons had begun to form outside the shuttle. A second pile of electronics was forming as Genius checked off a list on his data pad.
My armor was still hanging outside the shower, so I carried it over and loaded it with Matt’s katana Both of my rail guns were going on this trip, along with a stunner. I returned for the helmet and boots, clean thermals, and a personal hygiene kit.
In the past, going into battle affected every person differently. The one thing I tried to never think about was whether I would come back. If I did my job to the best of my ability and made it back, then that was all I could do. But I wasn’t so sure about this trip; I was too involved emotionally to be so nonchalant about it.
I walked on the bridge and looked around, not so much at my crew, but the ship itself. I was still amazed. The crew had all turned and were staring at me. Natalia was at communications and I went to her first. She sat sulking. I reached out for her and she ignored me. I walked away.
I went from station to station, giving each one a hug and kiss goodbye. They all looked over at Natalia and shook their heads when we parted. Nedra was last, and then I headed for the door. I was hurt, but I knew it was hard on Natalia, and I also knew she was safe staying, which was the most important thing to me, even if it made her angry at me.
The Chronicles of Benjamin Jamison: No More Lies (Book 3) Page 24