He took another drink but it was tasteless. He had to get out of here before she saw him. He stole a glance to the right. There was another way out, to the side of the bar by the toilets. He’d escape that way.
Braxton waited for the sounds of chairs being pulled out, for Dalia and her entourage to be seated. The waitress padded along the carpet.
“Tell me about your list of exclusive wines,” Dalia said. Braxton’s spine chilled at the sound of that voice.
This was his chance. Without even an ‘excuse me’ to the Japanese couple, he rose from his seat and went for the side exit.
Chapter Five
Haylee turned and smiled at Ronald. He gently stroked her hand with his fingers.
The floor show was winding up. The band were playing a Frank Sinatra song from over two hundred years ago. The singer didn’t have a bad voice. But the highlight had been Mike Mallard’s comedy routine.
There’d been no chance to tell Ronald about her troubles yet. Maybe on their way back, after the show. She twisted her wristband back and forth.
The musicians bowed low to the pattering of applause. A man in a tuxedo stepped up to the stage.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen. I hope you enjoyed our show tonight. Let’s hear it again for the band, and for Mr Mike Mallard.” The applause thundered this time. “We’ve had a great time, but the night isn’t over yet. My name is Glen Price and I’m the cruise director here on the Jewel of the Stars. It’s my pleasure to make sure you enjoy every minute of this cruise.”
Ronald leaned closer to Haylee.
“That concludes our floor show, but the band will be back in fifteen minutes and there will be dancing. I’m sure all you beautiful people out there have some great moves you’re dying to show off, so don’t disappoint me. Thank you very much.”
The house lights rose and people stood. Ronald rose to his feet and offered Haylee a hand up. She took it.
“You want to go dancing?” he asked.
She scrunched up her face. Dancing would put off the conversation for a while, but no. No more delaying tactics. She shook her head.
“We should probably relieve the babysitter.”
“I guess so.” Ronald’s face fell. “But you look so good in that dress. I want to see you in it a bit longer.”
I look even better out of it, she wanted to say. But somebody might hear. Besides, after learning her news, Ronald probably wouldn’t be in the mood.
They exited the theatre hand in hand. Some time together without the kids had done wonders for her, but her problems remained. It had been such a good night. Maybe her news could wait. Why spoil things?
They entered the hallway. Someone collided with Haylee, pushing her forward. She turned to find an African American man entangled with a Caucasian woman.
“So sorry,” the man said in a distinguished British accent. “We weren’t watching where we were going.”
Okay, so American was the wrong term to use. “We weren’t watching where we were going.”
“Yeah,” his luscious companion said, in the same accent. “We were too busy snogging.” They both giggled, and kissed.
“You two newlyweds?” Haylee asked.
“Sure are.” The woman raised her ring finger and twirled it about. A simple gold band encircled her finger.
“Yeah, we’re on our honeymoon,” the man said.
“You two have a nice night.” Ronald turned to leave. Haylee, still connected to his arm, allowed him to pull her along. Newlyweds. They had such passion, always so engrossed in each other. She and Ronald had been like that on their honeymoon. They’d never have afforded a cruise like this. Oh, for the good old days.
“So what’s been up with you today?” Ronald asked.
“Hmm?”
“You’re not yourself. The way you keep exploding at Austen in front of everyone. You know how embarrassing that was?”
“Yeah. Sorry.” Haylee’s cheeks warmed.
“I know he’s hard to handle, but you usually cope better than that. It’s like you’ve been drained of all your patience.”
Haylee bit her lip. So much for putting this off. She closed her eyes to steel herself.
“I’m sorry. I’m on edge. I find Austen hard to cope with when I’m already stressed.”
Ronald snorted. “What have you got to be stressed about? You’re on a cruise, for apple’s sake.”
Haylee chuckled at the expression. So uniquely Ronald. “I have my reasons.”
“Well, how about you tell me what they are.” Ronald’s voice took on a hard edge.
Haylee stopped walking and let go of his hand. “You really want to know?”
He nodded.
“Okay, but let’s grab a coffee.”
Ronald gestured towards a coffee lounge at the end of the deck. They wandered in and took a seat.
A waiter took their orders, a latte for Ronald, and a herbal tea for Haylee. A few minutes of deafening silence followed before the waiter returned with their drinks.
“Okay. Spill it.” Ronald said.
Haylee stared at her cup, rotating it on the saucer.
“I lost my job. I’ve been made redundant.”
Silence.
She looked up.
Ronald’s mouth gaped.
“The military contracts are drying up. The entire fleet is refitted now, so the company doesn’t need so many staff.”
“Honey, I’m sorry. When did this happen?”
“Yesterday. As I was leaving to come on vacation. Can you believe it? What a time to break the news.”
Ronald shook his head and touched her hand. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to ruin the vacation. I mean, it’s all paid for. I wanted the family to have this one fun memory before I had to spoil everybody’s day.”
“Yeah, it’s been special so far. Between Austen’s meltdowns and your mood, it’s been a real hoot.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
“You’ll find another job.” He squeezed her hand.
“In this economic climate?”
“You’re a great engineer. Tell me, how many others have experience with alien technology?”
She shrugged. “A few hundred, I suppose.”
“A few hundred out of all the engineers on Earth, not to mention the colonies.”
“You’d want to move to the colonies?”
“Maybe. All I know is this isn’t the end. Something will work out. We’re not gonna end up tramps on the street, are we?”
She went back to staring at her cup.
“Come on Haylee.”
She forced herself to look up.
“You’d look great in rags.” He grinned. “I bet you’d make sure we had the tidiest box in the street.”
She smiled.
“That’s more like it. I can’t guess all the feelings that are swirling around inside you, but I do know Austen needs his mom. So does Elsie. Have you seen the way she tries to mother him? She needs to be reminded it’s okay to just be a kid. I need to know you’ll be here with us.”
“I’m here. I promise.” She took his hand in both of hers.
That could have gone worse. At least it was all out in the open. Trouble was, now he had to carry all of this too. He talked tough, but she’d seen that look in his eyes before. He was worried.
Chapter Six
The next morning, Braxton flopped into a sitting position on his bed. How could he avoid Dalia Spring for the rest of the trip? Where could he go that Dalia wouldn’t go? Somewhere Braxton would at least halfway enjoy? He called up the ship’s directory and scrolled through the list.
The casino? Dalia didn’t gamble—that was a matter of public record. Well, she didn’t gamble in the traditional sense. No, Spring gambled with companies rather than casino chips, but it was basically the same thing.
He stood, strolled over to the porthole, and gazed at the stars.
Of course, Braxton wasn’t much of a gambler either.
<
br /> Before he did anything else, he should reply to Jane’s message. He tapped his wrist band, selected the message from the menu displayed by his eye lenses, tapped to dictate a response.
“Jane, I’m devastated to hear about the loss of the Adelaide. I wish I was there with you. It sounds like you have your hands full with whatever this is.
“Instead, I had the bright idea of going on a cruise. It was a big mistake. I just wanted to be in space again, but this isn’t space. Not really. It’s all so insular and manufactured. So much about this ship is fake, from the enhanced image of the nebula, to the smiles plastered on all the crew’s faces.” He chuckled. “I’d actually be happier on the crew than as a passenger, but one of the terms of my honourable discharge was that I never work in space again.
“You won’t believe who I spotted on board—Dalia Spring. Let that one sink in. I’ve been trying to avoid her. Last thing I want is a confrontation with the woman who destroyed my career.” Braxton shook his head, not that Jane could see him. “How’d it come to this? Middle-aged men don’t hide from little old ladies. But we both know that the physical shell means nothing with someone like Spring.” He gave a grunt that could have been a laugh. “Be nice if I could hide out in the crew-only areas of the ship. Might remind me of the the Hobart. Man, I miss it there.”
Braxton stood and began to pace.
“Thanks for still believing in me. Someday, maybe I can tell you the whole story of what happened. In the meantime, do something for me. Stay alive. Whatever you’re up against, I know you can handle it.”
He signed off and sent the message.
Braxton shook his head. He couldn’t spend all his time hiding from Dalia Spring. There was more at stake. What had destroyed the Adelaide? Something weird was going on out there. Time to find some answers.
#
Les smiled at each of his senior officers as they filed into the meeting room across the hallway from his office. Maya, then Sarah McLaughlan, the chief engineer, followed by security chief Jaylen Banks.
“Captain, you’ll be pleased to know all the electrical faults have been resolved.” Sarah took a seat.”
“Glad to hear it, but that’s the least of my concerns right now. We have bigger issues.”
Cruise Director Glen Price mock-ran into the room. “I hope I’m not late.”
Les shook his head.
“Did you want me here as well?” a Jamaican voice said from the doorway. Doctor Rashona Clarke poked her head through the door, her stethoscope still slung around her neck.
“Yes. Please take a seat, doctor.”
Once they were all seated Les leaned forward in his chair. “For those who aren’t aware, we’ve kept long-range sensors trained on the Alpha Centauri system since our course was diverted. We have detected a large build-up of military ships in the area, and can now confirm they are engaged in active combat. I’ve called this meeting to discuss how we can ensure the safety, comfort, and happiness of our passengers.”
“Who are they fighting?” Jaylen asked in his deep rich voice.
“We don’t know. The ships are like nothing we have on record.”
“Wait,” Sarah said. “You don’t think they’re …”
“Aliens?” Les scratched his neck. “It’s looking that way.”
Silence pervaded the room.
Doctor Clarke shook her head and whistled. “Oh, my Lord.”
“So … first contact.” Sarah pressed a hand to her chest, fingers splayed.
“Yes. Sadly, not on the good terms we might have hoped for,” Les said. “But I want to make it clear that we’re in no danger. The Alpha Centauri System is far enough away from here. We’ve detected a few stray alien ships in other sectors, but they all seem to be headed towards the main engagement.”
“How are … um …” Glen said. “How are our boys doing?”
“It’s not looking good,” Maya said. “Our forces are vastly outnumbered.”
“Plus our military are accustomed to keeping the peace from pirates, not holding back an invasion.” Les stood and paced around the conference table. “We’re removed from this situation. The battle isn’t ours. Our concern is the physical and mental welfare of the passengers on this ship.”
“What are you getting at, Captain?” Jaylen asked.
“I think we need to be very careful about the dissemination of information regarding any possible invasion.”
“You mean, you want us to keep the truth from the passengers?” Maya’s eyes narrowed.
Les nodded, scratching his chin. “The last thing I want is a panic.”
“What about news broadcasts?” Glen asked.
“Seems Earth is under a communications black out at the moment. I’ve had no word from head office.”
“Captain, I have to protest.” Maya crossed her arms. “We can’t hide the truth from people. They have a right to know.”
“Would you want to know?”
“Absolutely.”
Glen leaned forward in his chair. “I’m inclined to agree with the captain. These people have paid a lot of credits to get away from it all. If we spoil their holiday by stressing them out over the situation in the Alpha Centauri System, then aren’t we failing to deliver our promised service?”
“You can’t be serious,” Maya said. “We’re talking about the right to information here. What if the invaders reach Earth? Most of the passengers on this ship have loved ones back home. Wouldn’t you want to check on them?”
Glen shook his head. “But if there’s a communications black out—”
“No.” Maya turned to Les. “I’m sorry, but I object to hiding this information, Captain. You should make an announcement.”
Les stopped pacing and took a few deep breaths. “All of this is moot if the invasion is defeated, and comm lines open up again.”
“But what if it isn’t?” Doctor Clarke asked.
A communication notification appeared. Les swiped it to accept the call. It was the second officer.
“Captain, it seems communication lines are open again. We’ve received an emergency transmission. Audio/visual.”
“Put it through, please.”
A moment later the three-dimensional representation of a news anchor appeared above the conference table, projected by everyone’s eye lenses. Her face was pale, haunted.
“Minutes ago, an extraterrestrial invasion force broke through our defensive lines at Alpha Centauri,” the anchor said. “The ships are now on a direct course to Earth and will soon encircle the planet.” Her voice became frantic. “All ships out of our solar system are advised to flee. Get as far away from Earth as possible.”
The woman vanished. Les tapped his wristband again. “Bridge, withhold that transmission. Don’t release it to the public network until I say. I want a full comms blackout ship-wide. Understood?”
“Yes, Captain.”
Les closed the line. He turned to face Maya, whose mouth hung open, eyes wide. “Just until we figure out what we’re going to do and what we’re going to say. Okay?”
Maya nodded.
Les looked up at the ceiling. Their home planet was being conquered. What was he supposed to do?
Chapter Seven
Les looked up at the empty conference table. He’d dismissed the rest of his senior staff ten minutes earlier. If only he could weep … but the tears wouldn’t come.
He turned to face the doorway. Maya still stood there, eyes downcast.
“Maya.”
She lifted her gaze to meet his.
“I … I didn’t realise you were still here.”
Maya shrugged. “Where could I go? What could I do?”
Les stood. “My feelings exactly. It was so fast. All those people back home. It’s unthinkable. Who are these alien aggressors? Where did they come from? It was unprovoked. I guess I need time to process it all, figure out how I’m was going to handle it.”
“Captain, you don’t have to carry this alone.”
&nbs
p; Les shook his head. “Isn’t that my job?”
“You may be the captain, but you don’t have to be isolated.” She took a step into the room, and the door closed behind her. “We’re all here for you. I’m here for you.”
“There’s nobody I’d rather have at my side.” Les smiled as he paced around the table again.
“They didn’t train me for this one, Maya. How am I supposed to break this news to the passengers? To the crew? What can I say?”
“Tell them the truth, sir. Give them the facts, and reassure them they’ll be okay.”
“They’ll be okay? How can I say that?”
“Because it’s the truth, captain.” Maya rested her hand on his forearm. “We’re going to make sure of it. I know you. You’ll keep everyone on this ship safe if it costs you your dying breath.”
An ironic chuckle escaped his throat.
“You know I would, Maya, but I don’t know if it’s possible.”
“If anyone can find a way, it’s you. You’re like a Dobermann with a bone.”
Les managed a genuine smile, although it only lasted a second.
“What do you think is happening on Earth right now?” He asked.
“I don’t know, but it won’t be pretty. Thank God my daughter is here on the ship with me.”
Les raised an eyebrow. “She’s here?”
Maya nodded. “I don’t see her enough. I thought it would be good for her to spend some time on the ship with me. Work on the crew a bit. You know. Gain some life experience.” She chuckled. “In the end, it took my ex-husband to convince her to come. You know teenagers.”
“Can’t say I’ve known any since I was one myself.”
“I’ll bet you were a terror as a teen.” Maya grinned.
“I had my moments.” Les shrugged.
He closed his eyes, took in a deep breath, and eased it out. Then he locked eyes with Maya.
“You’ve been my right hand for so long, and you’re right. I can’t do this one alone. Would you help me draft my statement?”
She smiled. “Of course I will, Captain.”
#
Jewel of The Stars - Season 1 Episode 1 - Earth's Remnant Page 3