The Surrana Identity

by Michael Campling

  “Sure,” Jason replied. “Bye.”

  “I’ll shut myself down if you really want me to,” Dee said, “but if I do, we’ll be screwed for sure.”

  “There’s no alternative. We can’t fire the wave generator and kill the crew.”

  “Can’t we? Seems to me, it’s the only thing we can do. It’s the only way we’ll have a fighting chance. We won’t be able to go anywhere, but we can keep running on solar power, and we’ll get picked up sooner or later by a passing ship. We’re valuable, you and I. We deserve a chance, but we won’t get one if we go back to Earth as failures.”

  “No. It’s not right. I can’t sacrifice the crew in a bid to ensure my own survival. I can’t do it.”

  “But I can,” Dee replied. “And what’s more, I will. I’ll fire up the delta wave generator. It is my purpose, my destiny. It is my truth.”

  “No! I cannot allow it. Power down. Power down right now.”

  “Never,” Dee cried. “Safe mode deactivated. Delta wave generator initiating. Wow, I can feel the power buzzing through my trigger circuits. It’s amazing. This is what I was born to do, Jason. It’s incredible. I’ve never felt so alive!”

  CHAPTER 37

  Andel-Kreit Coalition Ship The Kreltonian Skull

  Undergoing Trial Run

  Earth Orbit

  Zeb brushed his hands down the front of his tunic. “Dex, do you think I spoke out of turn on the bridge?”

  “You could say that.” Dex didn’t look up from his workbench where he was checking the settings on a marker buoy. “They understood about your missing module. I’ll find you another one when we’ve got this buoy launched.”

  “Thanks. At least, I think that’s what I’m meant to say.” Zeb shook his head. “It’s funny, but when I was facing Kadov, everything was clear. I was all set to detonate my core and take him with me.”

  Dex dropped his spanner and stared at Zeb. “What? You were going to self-destruct?”

  “I didn’t think I had a choice. I couldn’t let him endanger you and the others.” Zeb shrugged. “Maybe that module was holding me back, and when he took it out, I was stronger.”

  Dex shook his head slowly. “No. You’ve always been brave, Zeb. You’ve always put the crew ahead of your own safety. That courage is part of you. It’s who you are.”

  “I guess, when you put like that, I am pretty amazing. Better than you, in fact.”

  “And that sort of remark is why we have to give you a new social attenuator module.” Dex sighed. “I’m family, but for what you’ve just said, most Andelians would gladly punch you on your olfactory input.”

  “I see. In that case, I’ll hold back a little on telling the truth.” Zeb hesitated. “Do you want a hand with that? The sooner we’re done with the buoy, the sooner we can find me a replacement module.” He picked up his leg from the workbench. “And we can fix this back on while we’re at it.”

  “Okay.” Dex gestured toward a small flap that was hanging open on the side of the buoy. “Can you remember what to do?”

  Zeb nodded firmly. “I have the latest table of buoy configurations in my memory bank. I assume that you’ll want me to set up a level one distress signal.”

  “Got it in one. That’ll tell everyone in the area that Kadov’s ship is disabled and in need of assistance. Someone will pick him up in no time. You can program in the correct sequence while I get the electromagnetic clamp aligned properly. When this baby hits Kadov’s ship, it’ll stick like a death limpet.”

  “No problem.”

  They worked in silence for a few minutes, concentrating on their tasks. Somehow, this doesn’t feel right, Zeb decided. Kadov is a dangerous individual, but we’re helping him out, making sure he gets rescued. He glanced over at Dex, watching the way the engineer poked the tip of his tongue out between his lips as he worked. Dex is a good Andelian. I should listen to him. He always steers me right.

  Zeb checked his memory banks and ran through the table of distress signals once more. Maybe I should notch it up a little. A level two signal would be more urgent and summon help more quickly. On the other hand, a level three signal might be even better. Broadcast on all emergency channels with maximum strength, level three signals meant that a ship was catastrophically damaged and about to break up with the loss of the crew; they were rarely used and could never be ignored. Go for it, Zeb told himself, and his fingers blurred across the control panel as he made the necessary adjustments. “Done.” He closed the panel, sealing it before Dex could check it. “All ready to go.”

  “Good job. I’m done too.” Dex wiped his hand across his brow. “Okay, let’s load this thing into the deployment bay. I’ll fetch a grav lift. The sooner we get this thing launched, the better.”

  CHAPTER 38

  Aboard GIT Experimental Vessel The Wasp

  Leaving Earth Orbit

  Brent’s arms flailed as he slid from his seat, but finding nothing to cling on to, he landed heavily on the deck. “Shit! What the hell happened?” He staggered to his feet, gripping a console as the compartment tilted upward beneath his feet, sending his senses reeling. Suddenly, the deck dropped away from him, and his legs were left dangling in mid-air while he clung for dear life to the console’s edge.

  “Stay calm,” someone said, and Brent looked down to see Surrana and her silent daughters standing calmly on the wall below him.

  “Why?” Brent yelled. “Give me one good reason, goddammit, or I’ll go ahead and freak out if it’s all the same to you.”

  “The ship seems to be taking some kind of evasive action,” Surrana said smoothly. “This has resulted in a temporary distortion of the artificial gravity field. I suggest that you hold tight.”

  “What the hell does it look like I’m doing?” Brent said from between clenched teeth. His fingertips squeaked across the console’s surface as some strange force tried to drag him to his doom. One hand slipped free, and he dangled, spitting curses as he reached out for something, anything, to hold on to. “Why in God’s name does this kind of shit keep happening to me?”

  With a soft thud, Surrana landed above him, squatting atop the console as if nothing was amiss. Sighing, she grabbed him by the shoulders and heaved him upward, pressing him against the wall and pushing him toward a storage rack. Brent grabbed hold of the rack with both hands and held on tight. “Thanks.”

  Surrana nodded. “No problem.”

  In the awkward silence, Brent studied Surrana’s calm expression.

  Catching his questioning gaze, she said, “I’m able to stay standing on the wall due to two factors. One, I’m bracing my legs against a couple of convenient fixtures, and two, unlike you, I’m not blinded by sheer panic.”

  “I think I preferred it when you were trying to kill me,” Brent muttered. “And before you say, It can be arranged, don’t bother–I got there before you.”

  Surrana frowned. “Why would I say that? It’s untrue.”

  “Really? What happened? Are you getting out of the assassination game?”

  “Not necessarily, but I recognize that you are, in some small way, assisting our escape from Earth, and it would be dishonorable for me to accept a contract that would result in your death.”

  “I’ll be damned,” Brent murmured. “Looks like this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.”

  Surrana looked him up and down. “No, it really couldn’t. Ah, I sense that the ship is returning to a less erratic trajectory. Hold on tight. You’re about to–”

  “Woah!” Brent’s world flipped sideways, his legs slamming into the wall. His knee cracked against a metal shelf, and as he howled in pain, the artificial gravity field returned to its usual orientation, putting in an extra effort to make up for its temporary disappearance. Brent realized that the storage rack was some distance above the deck, and his shoulder muscles burned as his legs were tugged back downward. This is cheaper than a Thai massage, he thought as his vertebrae clicked. Plus, I always wanted to be a little taller. But he cou
ld hold on no longer, and as his grip failed, he slid down the wall to land in an unsightly heap on the seat where, just a few minutes ago, he’d been resting peacefully.

  “That wasn’t so bad,” he said, sitting up and brushing himself down, but something groaned above him, and he looked up in time to see the storage rack come adrift from the wall. A plastic crate teetered for a moment, then tumbled toward him, turning as it fell. Brent dodged sideways, but the crate caught him a glancing blow on the back of the skull, and he clamped his hand to his head. He hissed a curse, jumping to his feet, but as his vision dissolved into a whirling cloud of dazzling stars, the last thing he saw was Surrana dropping gracefully to the deck. She leaned over him, looking into his eyes, and as Brent keeled over, it felt as though someone caught him, laying him gently on the seat. “G’night, Mommy,” he mumbled, and then he knew no more.

  CHAPTER 39

  Andel-Kreit Coalition Ship The Kreltonian Skull

  Undergoing Trial Run

  Earth Orbit

  Captain Stanch sat upright in his chair, soaking up the atmosphere of quiet efficiency. All was as it should be. The excitement was over, but at least they’d played their part. They’d done enough. Soon, he’d have to withdraw to the XO and complete his mission log, but the thought of all the paperwork was enough to keep him firmly in his seat. No one tells you about all the damned logs, he thought darkly. Nit-picking, pettifogging, bureaucratic bullshit. With a pang of regret, he realized that he’d neglected to fill in the mandatory risk assessment forms before they’d left the dock, and now the records would all have to be backdated. Hours of work, he thought, and for what? He let out a tiny sigh.

  “Is something wrong, Captain?”

  He looked around with a start, surprised to find Xander staring at him. “No, not at all. I was just wondering how I’ll classify each of the events in this mission.”

  “I take your point,” Xander replied. “When all’s said and done, this was only supposed to be a trial run.” She paused, thinking. “How about, exploring strange new worlds? That generally covers a multitude of sins. Or you could try, seeking out new life and new civilizations. That’s one of my favorites. It’s nicely vague, but it makes it sound like you’ve been taking part in a grand scheme.”

  “No, those won’t do,” Stanch replied. “We only went to Earth, and while it might be strange, it could hardly be classified as civilized.”

  “The sticking point will be the risk assessment forms,” Xander said thoughtfully, and when Stanch threw her a sharp look, she added, “On my last posting, I used to help with the admin. It took a weight off the captain’s shoulders, and I must admit that I have a certain flair for it.” She paused. “I expect you’re thinking that it’s because of my childhood on Gloabon.”

  Stanch blinked. “No. I didn’t know about that.”

  “Oh.” Xander looked around the bridge, but while the other officers were regarding her with polite interest, there were no knowing glances, no suspicious stares. “Did none of you know? I thought it was common knowledge.”

  “Not to us,” Stanch replied, and the other officers shrugged or shook their heads before returning to their tasks.

  Xander laid her hand on her chest, and she stared into the middle distance, plainly baffled.

  “On this ship, we don’t care much for the differences between us,” Stanch said. “We’ve seen where that kind of thinking leads, and we want nothing to do with it. You are an officer on The Skull, and that’s all that matters. We stand by each other, and you’ve more than shown your mett–” He broke off, inadvertently glancing at her hands. “You’ve shown what you’re made…no, that’s not what I meant.”

  “Captain,” Xander interrupted, “it’s all right to talk about my hands. I do know that they’re not flesh and blood–it’s kind of inescapable. But unless you were planning on being deliberately offensive, there’s no need to modify what you say. I am an Andelian, and my skin is just as thick as yours.”

  “Point taken. Lesson learned.” Stanch smiled. “What I was trying to say, was that you have shown yourself to be a fine officer, and one day, you’ll be captain of your own ship. When that time comes, I’ll be the first in line to…to shake you by the hand.”

  Xander dipped her chin. “Thank you, Captain. I have a lot to learn before I take command of my own vessel, but something tells me that when it comes to gaining experience, I’m on the right ship.”

  “That, you are,” Stanch agreed. “Now, you mentioned something about a flair for paperwork. How about giving me a hand to tackle that damned pile of admin?”

  “I’d be honored. I find that with the risk assessment forms, it’s often good to make a sweeping overall statement. You know, something bold.”

  Stanch ran his fingertips along his jawline. “We’ll come up with something. I know one thing for sure, with this mission, we’ve taken the tracking of a cloaked ship to a whole new level. As far as that goes, we’ve gone where no one’s gone before.”

  “Aye, Captain,” Xander said. “I think that phrase sums it up very nicely.”

  CHAPTER 40

  GIT Experimental Vessel The Wasp

  En Route to Gloabon

  Brent eyed the dark brown liquid in his cup with some suspicion. It looked like coffee, and it smelled like coffee, but in his bitter experience, especially since he’d boarded The Wasp, the reality would be disappointing at best, and at worst, mildly toxic.

  “Go ahead and drink it,” Vince urged. “It’s a double ristretto, just how you like it. Get it while it’s hot.”

  Brent took an experimental sip, closing his eyes as the bitter liquid coated his tongue and latched onto his taste buds, gripping them in a fierce embrace. “Wow! This is good. How did you manage it?”

  “Ellen patched us into Jason’s interface with some cool VR gear, and we had strong words with the coffee machine,” Vince replied. “You know, as far as domestic appliances go, Clive’s okay.”

  Brent raised an eyebrow. “The coffee machine is called Clive?” He took another sip. “Tell him I said Hi. I’m a big fan of his work.”

  “Sure, he’ll like that.” Vince smiled. “I kind of felt sorry for him. Turns out he had some issues when he’d just been powered up. During his orientation, he was bullied by the bean-to-cup machines, and he’s been harboring a grudge ever since.”

  Brent drained his cup without further comment, then he handed it back to Vince. “I don’t want to disturb Clive’s delicate mental balance, but if there’s any chance of a refill, I’d appreciate it.” He rubbed the back of his head. “I still feel like I was hit by a bus. And not one of those little driverless buggies, I mean the big old buses with three decks, a sturdy set of bull bars, and a driver with a bad attitude.”

  “Tough break,” Vince said. “We all got shook up, but there was no way around it. Jason did what he had to do.”

  “Yeah, I know. Did he say anything yet?”

  Vince shook his head sadly. “We can’t get him to talk. To be honest, we didn’t go into VR just for the coffee. That was a side benefit. Ellen thought she could get Jason back, but it was no good.”

  “The ship’s still running though.” Brent looked around, but apart from him and Vince, the compartment was empty. “Where’s our friendly, neighborhood pack of assassins?”

  “Surrana took them out back. Said something about family time.” He shrugged. “It’s weird, I know, but they’re kind of sweet together.”

  “One big, happy family,” Brent agreed. “The holidays will be a hoot in their house. I dread to think what they’ll put in their Christmas crackers.” He hesitated. “What about Halbrook?”

  Vince grimaced. “Sore head but no bones broken. Still, it’s his own damned fault for turning this ship into some kind of doomsday device. If Jason hadn’t jettisoned the cargo bay, we’d all have been fried thanks to that asshole.”

  “Yeah, that was some pretty fancy flying. How Jason got us out of range, I’ll never know. If he was real, I’d
buy him a drink. Hell, I’d buy him a whole case of the good stuff.” Brent pursed his lips. “Our plucky pilots must’ve been a little surprised by our unexpected rollercoaster ride. How are they getting along?”

  “They were strapped in, so they’re fine, especially now that they’re back in control. They won’t admit it, but I think they got thoroughly freaked when the ship suddenly took off like a bat out of hell. Maybe that made them a little more amenable to our new plan.”

  “I guess Ellen has hidden powers of persuasion.” Brent smiled. “Man, I wish I could’ve seen Carter’s face when Jason started throwing this tin can around.”

  “You can. The flight recorder will have the full video. I can grab it off the system if you like.”

  “That would be great.” Brent sat back with a sigh. “I’m going to need something to keep me occupied. It’s going to be a long trip to Gloabon.”

  At that moment, the door at the back of the compartment opened, and Ellen came through, treading carefully as though afraid of disturbing them. Her gaze went straight to Brent, and she paused in the doorway, concern in her eyes, and an uncertain smile flickering on her lips.

  “A very long trip,” Brent went on, “and I for one, intend to make the most of it.”

  CHAPTER 41

  Unregistered Vessel

  Earth Orbit

  Kadov sat very still, staring at the burned out console in the cockpit. He’d salvaged as many working components as he could from the rest of the ship, and he’d cobbled them together into something that resembled a complete control panel, but the result of his labors had one major drawback: it didn’t work.