by Z D Dean
“I can’t believe you are here,” said the man as he clutched Mara fiercely, as if she would disappear again if he let go. “I wasn’t sure if I would ever see you again.”
As Mara echoed the sentiment, the pieces fell into place for Sam. She realized that the guard was Max, Mara’s brother. Mara began detailing what had happened to her since Max had been presumed dead. Only when she got to the part about her rescue did his attention turn to the man he had shot repeatedly in the head.
“We have to get him to the medical bay. I can’t be responsible for killing the man who saved my sister,” Max said frantically.
Karn had moved up to the clutch of people sometime after Sam had gotten there. He singled out two other guards, the ones who had been blocking Sam and ordered them to get a stretcher.
“We will take care of him,” Karn said. “We have good medics here.”
“I am not detecting any life-threatening injuries,” Ann said to Samix privately, through her comms. “Just a simple concussion. It would be better for him to rest in his quarters.”
“He’s going to be fine,” Samix said, then turning to address Mara. “Can you help me get him back to the ship?”
“If you insist on using your facilities, at least let my men help you get him on the stretcher and move him,” Karn said meekly.
“That won’t be necessary. Mara, can you grab his legs?”
The woman quickly donned her helmet to free her hands and took her position at her captain’s feet. On the count of three, the two women easily lifted him and took him to his quarters. The other guards took the hint that they were not welcome aboard Ann, but Max insisted on trying to follow the trio aboard. As soon as Mara’s tail cleared the exterior door to the airlock it slammed shut, preventing anyone else from entering.
“That is twice that he has put himself in harm’s way to save me. Maybe I’m not cut out to be part of the crew,” Mara mused quietly. “I don’t know what my brother was thinking. He never used to be so quick to resort to violence.”
“Ann suggested my treatment and I pulled through. I trust her judgment, and I don’t know who we can trust out there,” Samix replied. “As for your place amongst us, I’m not sure you’re a good fit either, but I do know Zade saw something in you to even make the offer. We are traveling a dangerous path. Injuries will be inevitable along the way.”
As the second in command, it was her responsibility to keep both the ship and the crew safe and operational. She tried to shift the blame away from Mara to save her the guilt, but deep down, she was beginning to resent the woman. Twice in as many weeks, Mara had found herself in situations that had almost taken Zade from her. Her resentment was only tempered by the fact that she, herself, had almost gotten him killed once as well.
“Why don’t you go spend some time with Max,” Samix said sympathetically, nodding at the sleeping captain. “I’ll stay and keep an eye on him. guys have a lot of catching up to do.”
∆∆∆
Zade woke to find complete darkness after he finally coaxed his eyes open. His body ached because of the time spent motionless and his head still throbbed from the gunshot. Upon noticing he was back aboard his ship, he sat up gently and swung his legs off the edge of his bed. The movement itself didn’t hurt too badly, but trying to bend his legs to put his feet on the floor was uncomfortable. The pain reminded him of how his body felt two days after a heavy workout, but the pain in his head was brutal.
Careful not to lose his balance, he stood and began stripping off his armor and under suit. As the pile of protective plates began to grow atop his sheets, all he could think about was how much better he would feel after a scalding hot shower. When he had begun moving, the lights in his cabin raised just enough to so he could see what he was doing, but not enough to be uncomfortable.
He shuffled to his bathroom, which already had the shower running thanks to Ann. He spent far longer than it took to wash beneath the scorching shower, simply letting the water wash away the stiffness he was experiencing. Once his skin began to prune, he shut off the water and began drying himself.
As he worked the remaining water off his skin with one of the plush, white towels he had specially ordered, he heard the door to his cabin open.
Nobody should have access to my room, he thought as he wrapped the towel around his waist and stepped out into the main area to examine what was going on.
As soon as Mara saw him, she made her way towards him, arms outstretched.
“You’re finally awake!” she exclaimed. “I was so worried.”
He tried to stop her, fearing the pain that would accompany the woman’s embrace. As he held his hands up to stop her approach, the towel around his waist fell to the ground. Without acknowledging the wardrobe malfunction, she embraced him tightly. The gesture, meant as a sign of affection, felt more like an attack on his sore body. Her arms were vicelike, and she buried her head against his which had begun throbbing anew at the pressure.
“It’s good to see you,” he managed to say between labored breaths.
She stepped back, holding him at arms-length and gave him a once over.
“It’s good to see you, too,” she said, the color beginning to deepen in her cheeks. “As much as I’d like to stay and admire the view, I’ll go get us some food ready while you dress. You must be starving after being out for three days.”
Garbed in a clean suit, he made his way to the galley to find two trays heaped with food. Sam was sitting at the table picking at one, choosing to wait for him before digging in. He grabbed the pot of sloop that completed the meal and poured himself a cup before sitting down across from her.
“What’s been happening while I was asleep?” he asked.
“Nothing really,” Samix replied. “As the acting captain, I’ve been pushing everything off until you woke.”
“You’d probably be better at dealing with this stuff than I am,” he said as he took a sip from his cup. “I’m sure Karn is worried about our reaction after one of his men tried to kill me.”
“He is. He has tried to come visit you several times over the last few days, but Ann is reluctant to let anyone aboard who isn’t part of the crew.”
“Makes sense. The more they know about us, the better they would be able to combat us if they wanted to. How is Mara?”
The question was met with hard eyes.
“What is your obsession with her? She hasn’t proven she is a valuable addition to the crew.”
“I just want to make sure she is ok,” he started defensively. “It would be pretty shitty to find out I got shot in the head for nothing. Besides, we need a flight engineer. Even though Ann is back up and running, I’m sure years of neglect has caused some things to slip.”
The hologram of Ann appeared next to them.
“I am equal parts flattered that you care about my well-being and offended that you think I am operating at subpar levels.”
“Sorry, that’s not what I… No, you know what, fuck it. I’m tired of apologizing and feeling bad about my choices and concerns. Sam, lose the jealous shit. One way or another, we need a flight engineer. I’m not even sure Mara is going to stay with us now that she’s found her brother. Ann, you’re doing great but you have been left in disrepair for centuries. I’m not wrong for wanting someone to get you back to fighting shape or who can repair you if something goes wrong.”
He had felt the tension building between the women, including the AI, since Mara had come aboard. Only now, after Sam’s snipe at him, could he identify it.
How did I get myself in this situation? he took a deep breath before continuing.
“Ann, you are the most advanced piece of technology any creature alive has ever seen. You are developed enough to have a personality, which makes you a person in my book. But, I’m not wrong in wanting someone who can make sure you are functioning optimally. You wouldn’t get snippy if I brought a medic aboard to make sure the crew stayed healthy, would you? Think of it as a medic for you,” he said t
o the hologram.
“And you,” he said, turning to Samix. “We have been through a lot together. We are friends and maybe I want more than that, but you are also my pilot and second in command. My goal is to get back to Earth and save my entire species from subjugation from either the Domain or Unity. I need a crew to make that happen. I respect your opinion and feelings, so if you have a problem with Mara, relieve her of duty, collect her gear, and find me a new fucking engineer.”
Samix looked down at her cup of sloop, refusing to meet his eye. Ann’s projection stood at the end of the table. He wished he could tell if she had the capacity to feel anything at all, or if her stern look was completely unaffected.
“Ann, get me a meeting with Karn. I want to extricate us from this situation and get back to saving my entire species. I want to be back on the road as soon as possible with this fucking system in the rearview.”
He finished his sloop and headed back to his quarters.
He figured Karn would be busy running the colony, and he took his time getting equipped. He wore his armor, sidearm, and one part of the battle axe, but left his rifle. In the tight confines of the mining ships, it would be unwieldy, and he didn’t expect any trouble from the inside. As he made his way to the airlock, Ann informed him that Karn would be waiting for him.
He stepped into the docking bay to find Karn surrounded by his security detail. There were fifteen armor-clad Baast flanking him, all alert and scanning their surroundings.
“Don’t worry, captain. They’re not for you. Well, they are for you, but we don’t want anyone to get spooked by your presence and do something they will regret. I have a meeting room ready for us.”
“What is it that you expect I can do for you?” Zade asked as the men began making their way into the tighter confines of the passageways that connected the docking bay to the rest of the complex.
“In time. Let us get away from prying ears.”
They wound through the mazelike passages until they came upon the room that had been prepared for them. Zade was expecting a sterile room with a long table surrounded by chairs, but what he found was much more comfortable. Carpets covered the metal floor and there were a few comfortable looking chairs flanked by tables of refreshments. Karn dismissed the guard detail and began making himself a plate of snacks before seating himself in one of the chairs.
As a show of comfort, Zade took off his helmet, set it on the table beside the remaining unoccupied chair, and fixed himself a small plate. He wasn’t really hungry, but he did walk out on the food that had been prepared for him back aboard Ann. Plus, he figured not taking something could insult Karn’s hospitality.
“The Miner’s Alliance, as we have come to call ourselves, here at Pickaxe has grown to the limit of our capacity,” Karn said after Zade had settled into his chair. “Without a patron providing supplies and other necessities, we will never really gain a permanent foothold here in the system.”
“What does that have to do with me? I have no access to the things you need. Hell, the only reason we stopped here in the first place was to search for supplies and equipment,” Zade retorted.
“Your ship and armor are made of a technology we have never seen before,” Karn said. “I was hoping you would be able to use it to make Pickaxe safer and more habitable. For a fee, of course. Fifty percent of all profits from mining operations would be yours as our patron. The rest would be given to the miners for their labor and used to improve the settlement.”
“Shit, Karn. I wish I could help you,” Zade said halfheartedly, “but, Ann is a warship and I have to be moving on shortly.”
“Would you be willing to destroy Brax and the others so we could move to the planet? It wouldn’t help our supply issue, but at least it would allow us to live in areas that are protected from the vacuum of space.”
“I can’t and I won’t. This is your fight, not mine. I don’t mind helping out where I can, but I can’t do the fighting for you,” he said, fearing the conversation was going to be a complete waste of time. “Unless…”
He trailed off, thinking for a long moment before continuing.
“Would you extend the same offer of payment to anyone who acted as a patron?”
“As long as they treated the miners fairly, yes,” Karn replied.
“I think I have an idea. I know a guy who has made a living doing the exact things you need. He is a good person and he owes me a favor. Can you take me to your communications room?” he asked excitedly as he stood and put on his helmet.
“Sure. But I would like to talk to him personally before I sign any agreement.”
His excitement had rubbed off on Karn who led the way to the communications area. The comms section was only a small part of a larger operations center that took up the entire cargo bay of one of the mining ships. One section was dedicated to mining operations, while the other focused on security and miner recovery operations. Common stations, like communications, were in a row between the two. Karn led the way towards a station manned by a leopard colored Baast.
“Leave us for a minute,” Karn ordered, and the man left quickly. “Do I need to work the system for you?”
As they had walked, he filled Ann in on what he was thinking. She almost sounded impressed when he had finished and told him she thought it was a great idea. She informed him that all he would have to do is touch the transmitter and she would be able to send his message.
“No, I will do it,” he answered.
As his gloved hand touched the communication equipment, his mysterious friend’s address filled in, along with his message.
Hope all is well with your clan. I am calling in the favor that is owed. It will be a lucrative prospect for all involved, especially those well versed in setting up habitation and mining operations. Please meet at the coordinates of the origin of this message.
Your most recent shipside chess partner.
P.S. – Bring the board. I would like a rematch.
As the last line finished, the message disappeared from the screen, replaced by a box that confirmed it had been sent. Karn read the message as it appeared with fascination. As a strategist, his mind began putting the pieces together and was floored by the conclusion he had come to.
“I only know of one race organized in clans that are well versed in habitation and mining. Does your friend happen to be a Settler?” he asked.
“He is. While I was on the last ship, I earned a favor from him. If anyone can help you out, it’s him.”
“We had tried to get support from the Settlers, but they never even bothered to respond,” the rugged security commander’s voice broke and he quickly wiped the building tears from his eyes before any of his men could see. “You cannot use a favor from such a powerful ally on us.”
“If these rocks are as full of resources as everyone seems to think, I’m not sure he will feel put out. It might just be me doing him another favor. Either way, this is the only solution that I can come up with. We’ll wait and see how it plays out.”
With business concluded for the moment, Karn headed back to his office, still dumbfounded at his change of luck, while Zade went back to his ship. He had been left alone so it took some time before he finally found the docking bay where Ann had landed. As he approached his airlock, a lone guard was waiting. Zade saw him and took off his combat helmet.
“Captain, for what you have done to help my sister, I pledge my unyielding service to you,” Max said as he took a knee, head hung in subservience.
“Not this shit again,” Zade said as he pushed past the man, letting the airlock close behind him.
The scene inside the ship wasn’t much better than the one outside. Both Sam and Mara were waiting for him, both trying to speak overtop each other as soon as they saw him. All he wanted to do while he waited for Axis was tinker around with his forger skills, but captain duties dictated otherwise.
“One at a time. Sam, go.”
“What is going on? Ann alerted me that we should be scann
ing for new ships entering the system. Are they a threat?”
“I called up Axis to help the miners out. With any luck, he will fly in, see the potential, and take them off our hands so we can continue towards Earth. Any luck on finding a new engineer?”
“No. I took some time to evaluate the situation and talk to her,” Samix replied sheepishly. “The problem was with me, not her. I think, once she fully integrates with the technology, she will make a great addition to the crew.”
“Awesome,” he said to Sam before turning to Mara. “What’s up with you? And make it quick. Your brother is waiting for you outside.”
“He’s not waiting for me, and you know that,” Mara said. “I heard him through the door. But that is what I want to talk to you about. You need someone to watch your back when you are off the ship and he is a good fighter. After you risked your life for me the second time, I realized that I cannot be that person.”
He couldn’t see a problem with what she was saying, but he was hesitant to bring another Baast aboard because of their misplaced sense of duty and honor. At the very core, he realized, basic maneuver required at least two parties. One to fix the enemy and the other to maneuver on them. Having a second person on the ground with him would, at the very least, give the enemy someone else to shoot at.
“Tell you what, let’s sort this out later. We should take some time to decide if he should come along.”
Before she could argue with him, he absconded to the comfortable silence of the forge room where he tinkered around at his station. He had been making significant strides in combining the material sciences and armor manufacturing with the Rua work he could do as a forger. The days spent waiting for Axis to arrive were not squandered.
After examining his armor, helmet, under suit, and holdout gun that he had found in the safe, he quickly learned that the armor was the least complex and easiest to modify. The plates were made of an ultra-tough material, unlike anything he had seen on Earth. Instead of changing them in their entirety, he used the Rua to fill imperfections and reinforce the molecular bonds in layers of the material. When he was finished, he had alternating layers of perfect and imperfect material. He had laminated the material just like the plates he wore in the Army. Projections showed that he had nearly quadrupled the stopping power of the armor.