Arkship Alliance

by Niel Bushnell

  ‘He’s an old friend,’ Bara replied proudly. ‘You know your ships?’

  ‘I’m a hobbyist. My position doesn’t give me much time to play anymore. Before my father died, I used to be a bit of a racer.’ Faron smiled, self-consciously.

  ‘If it’s speed you like then Lexica can deliver.’

  Faron laughed. ‘I’d like to see that, when this is over.’

  She checked the time, surprised to see it was mid-afternoon already. ‘How did your meeting go with Wynn . . . with Prince Halstead?’

  ‘Very well. You should have joined us.’

  ‘Wynn can manage without me.’

  ‘It’s now he needs you the most.’

  Bara looked at him, searching into his eyes for meaning.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Faron said. ‘I forget myself.’

  ‘No, no it’s fine. I’d rather you said what was on your mind.’

  Faron hesitated, then he replied: ‘The prince needs your guidance. You are everything to him, it’s obvious.’

  ‘Is it?’ Bara asked skeptically.

  ‘He is uncertain and afraid, as all good leaders should be. He needs people he can trust around him. You are his greatest asset.’

  ‘I don’t feel it,’ Bara muttered, regretting it immediately.

  Faron flustered, then turned his attention to the hull of Lexica. ‘He’s been in a few scrapes.’

  ‘Yeah, a few. But I think his fighting days are over.’

  ‘Perhaps that is for the best.’

  Bara rounded on him, her anger finding a target. ‘You think I should stay here as well? I shouldn’t get involved, is that it? It’s not safe out there for a duchess.’

  ‘It’s not safe, Bara. If you were my wife I’d do everything I could to keep you safe.’

  ‘But would you stop me? Would you forbid it?’

  ‘No,’ Faron admitted. ‘But the Prince does it for love.’

  ‘His love will suffocate me!’ Bara put her hand over her mouth, regretting her outburst. ‘I didn’t mean that, I’m sorry.’

  ‘Feels better, doesn’t it?’ Faron said, smiling.

  Bara’s tension eased. ‘I guess.’

  ‘Sometimes, we just need to let it out.’

  ‘You . . . you won’t say anything. . . will you?’

  Faron edged closer. ‘See this?’ he asked, pointing to a jagged scar on his neck close to his left ear. ‘Old wound. This ear’s pretty useless. I’m not sure I heard what you just said.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Bara said with relief. ‘I love him, you must know that.’

  ‘I know you do.’

  ‘I don’t know why I said all that to you.’

  ‘Sometimes we can say things to a stranger that we can’t say to those closest to us.’

  ‘Well,’ Bara’s smile grew. ‘You’re not a stranger any more.’

  Faron looked into her eyes, and they shared a moment of quiet intimacy. Somewhere in the distance of the hanger bay, a cargo crate clattered to the floor, the noise breaking their gaze. Bara moved back, putting distance between them.

  ‘You . . . you should have returned to the Benwick before we went into Cube transit,’ Bara said quickly. ‘You’re stuck here with us now.’

  ‘The Prince was keen for us to leave as soon as possible. We are to rendezvous with my arkships outside of the shipyard’s scanning perimeter. I’ll join my people then.’

  Bara shook her head as she placed her tools back into their storage box. ‘We know what happens from there.’

  ‘Perhaps . . . perhaps not. Go see Wynn, speak to him. He needs you, Bara.’ Faron bowed quickly, then walked away from Lexica.

  Bara didn’t look up, she continued to retrieve her tools, waiting until Faron was gone before she let her tears show.

  END POINT

  Gofal waited. It wouldn’t be long now.

  He had thought about this day a great deal, wondering how he should react. Should he stop it from happening? Should he change the course of history for his own ends? He enjoyed the simulations and hypotheses, but they all came back to the same end point: he would do nothing.

  Ever since his encounter with The Infinite, he had known today was coming. In fact, he knew everything that was coming. The wars, the deaths, the births, the love, the turmoil, it was all stored in his cerebral matrix like the chapters of a novel. They had given him the gift of foreknowledge, free of the vagaries of prediction and divination. This was precise, accurate, to the point.

  He had taken his time to study the nature of prediction, finding examples from throughout recorded human history. Even now, with their understanding of the universe, humans had a worrying knack of relying on signs and portents. They sought out fate, assigning its influence on their lives to make up for their own shortcomings and mistakes.

  It wasn’t meant to be.

  How little they understood it all. Even those who studied the Infinite Gods, even the Church itself, had no idea how wrong they were about the fundamental nature of the deities they purported to worship. He wished he could tell them.

  Gofal waited. They were coming for him.

  He felt a tremble of anticipation, realizing that even though he knew the outcome of the next few moments, he could still experience a sense of concern. He had noticed this in humans before, when they revisited a story, they would relive the same tension and excitement, even when they knew the ending.

  There, up ahead. This was the junction where it would happen. There was the aft escape pod alcove. Not long now.

  Gofal carried on as normal, making the same decisions as if he didn’t know the future. He was good at this now. He had partitioned his matrix so that he could carry on with his normal routines without accessing the information he had been given. He had even experimented with switching off access to his knowledge of the future. In an instant, it was forgotten. He soon saw that his decision-making was not impaired, so he had reinitialized access, confident that his store of future-history was not affecting his choices.

  They were coming for him, two of them, one in front, one behind. It would happen in eight seconds time.

  Gofal waited, counting down the seconds, while at the same time he carried on his duties, oblivious to his fate.

  He was counting down, scared.

  He was preparing a strategy plan for Wynn while he walked down a corridor.

  He knew they were coming for him.

  He didn’t see it coming.

  He turned the corner, into the junction. There was the man, his face instantly recognizable. At the same moment the attack came from behind, a jolt to the information processor in the small of his back. He couldn’t see him, but he knew who it was. He knew everything about his attackers. He knew who had sent them. He knew where they were taking him.

  The information processor shut down. Suddenly, he couldn’t move. Now the man in front struck, jamming an override device into the side of his head.

  One by one, in rapid succession, Gofal’s systems shut down, and he felt his mind slip away. All the reassurances that his future knowledge gave him could not obliterate the desperate fear that he felt in that instant as his consciousness was switched off.

  DIALOGUE

  Ice cold water splashed over Derward Tarkkail’s face, robbing him of air. He gulped, coughing, desperate to breath, but the torrent continued. He knew the only way to overcome this form of torture was to remain calm, but panic was never far away, no matter how hard he tried to contain it.

  ‘Enough.’ It was her voice, quiet and calm. She was early today, or perhaps Derward’s carefully crafted internal clock was off. The first trick in the torturer’s handbook was to play with time, confusing their prisoner, robbing them of their will to resist. But Derward knew how to avoid such traps, or at least he thought he did. Now, as Valtais Valine approached him, he began to doubt his own mental prowess.

  ‘How are you feeling today, old friend?’ Valine asked, pulling a chair up to sit in front of him.

  Derward caught his breath,
forcing his chest to slow its desperate search for air. He shook his head, letting the water drip from his face. ‘Couldn’t be better, Jacque.’ He knew using her first name rattled her. She hid it well, but he could see her jaw tightening. ‘How’re you today? Empty schedule?’

  She smiled, holding the moment, unblinking. ‘You’ll be glad to hear I’m very well, Derward. With every day, my power grows.’

  ‘Really? That’s not what Benon says.’

  Valine glanced over her shoulder at the nervous-looking guard waiting behind her.

  Good, Derward thought. He’d never spoken to Benon before, but it didn’t matter. It proved something; Valine was edgy, and her grip on power wasn’t as absolute as she would like him to believe.

  Valine turned back to look at him. ‘I wish I could have known you outside of this room.’

  ‘I’m flattered,’ Derward joked, ‘but I’m a bit old for you, don’t you think?’

  If Valine was frustrated she didn’t show it. Ignoring him, she replied, ‘I think we might have been friends, don’t you?’

  Derward grinned through his pain.

  ‘I came to tell you that I’m now in control of the Carter & Grey shipyard, that my empire grows beyond the dreams of even Orcades Draig himself.’

  ‘You’ve not stepped out from his shadow, have you? Still measuring yourself against him. Maybe that’s because he’s still alive.’ Derward had been spreading this rumor for months now, hoping that it might destabilize Valine’s grip on power. It was amazing how much weight a simple lie could have if it was told in the right way.

  Valine said nothing.

  He didn’t enjoy goading her, it always ended in torture, but it was a means to an end.

  ‘Tell me about your childhood.’ Valine said at last.

  This took Derward by surprise. So far, all of their discussions had been tactical in nature. Why was he here? What were his intentions? How big was the Kenric fleet? What will Prince Halstead do next?

  Derward quickly deflected the question. ‘I wasn’t born. I’m just a figment of your imagination.’

  ‘Tell me,’ she insisted. ‘What was young Derward like?’

  ‘I was born on Earth, before the Fracture. I lived on a little island in the middle of the sea, beautiful hot days spent jumping off cliffs into the water . . . then we’d sleep in the cornfields, watching the clouds.’

  ‘Even in your answer you give yourself away, Derward.’

  They had found his name in a stolen Kenric database, and Valine enjoyed using it. She thought it was a victory over him. She thought she knew his true identity, but he’d had many names over the years, many older than his current identity. Still, let her enjoy her moment, it was good that she was confident.

  ‘You talk of Earth, before the Fracture, two hundred years ago. Not many people bother to study such things, do they? But you paint a vivid picture. You know it like a Reader might.’

  Derward sighed. ‘This again?’ She had been trying to pin that label on him for weeks.

  ‘Sea, sky, clouds, fields. . . they tell me much about you, Derward.’

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘Even in lies, we let pieces of the truth through, we can’t help it. We can only create out of the things we know. You talk of sleeping in fields of corn . . . perhaps that is a morsel of truth wrapped in your fabrications?’ Valine said with a hard smile. ‘All the skies are gone, as are the seas, but there are still fields, on certain arkships, aren’t there?’

  Derward shrugged. That was a mistake, he realized immediately.

  ‘There can’t be that many arkships that bother to grow real crops. A simple search of the database would narrow things down, wouldn’t it?’ She nodded to an aide who was taking notes. The young woman acknowledged her leader’s request and left the interrogation room.

  ‘Cross referenced with your age . . . I’m sure we can pin down your birthplace quite soon.’

  Derward began to laugh, drawing it out.

  ‘Something funny?’ she asked.

  ‘You’re grabbing at shadows, Jacque, hoping you might find something. Does it bother you?’

  ‘Does what bother me?’

  ‘That you know nothing about me, but I know everything about you. I know where you were born, I know about your childhood, your life of struggle . . .’

  Valine’s shoulders tensed. ‘Tell me why you are here.’

  ‘It must have been hard, watching your family turn into addicts.’

  Valine stood up, her hand striking his face. ‘You will tell me everything you know, or I will rip out your other eye.’

  Derward laughed again. ‘Did I tell you anything when you took out the first?’

  Breathing hard, Valine loomed over him, her eyes filled with rage.

  ‘I’m sure you must have better things to do than talk to me,’ Derward said in a quiet voice. ‘Shipyards don’t run themselves, do they?’

  ‘No, they do not,’ Valine said, her teeth clenched. Her lips tightened into a smile, then she walked out of the room.

  Derward relaxed, just for a moment, enjoying his small victory. Then the water began again, followed by jolts of electricity, smashing through his body until he retreated into unconsciousness.

  THE FIELD

  The Ark Royal Caerleon slowed as it approached the outer defense perimeter of the Carter & Grey shipyard. Wynn sat in his chair on the bridge, aware that many eyes looked to him for guidance. In truth, he wished he had someone he could turn to. In the past he had Cam Tanis, his former Lord Chamberlain. He was a loyal friend, and a trusted advisor, someone who understood the traditions of the Kenric family, and his military career had given Wynn a keen insight into tactical decisions.

  Sometimes, Wynn would seek out Derward Tarkkail’s opinion instead. His experience outside of the House of Kenric had been invaluable in the few years he had known him. Now both men were dead or missing, and the void left behind was all the more apparent as the spires of the shipyard’s factories came into view.

  Wynn took a moment to scan the flight deck. ‘Where’s Gofal?’ he asked Commander Watson.

  ‘I haven’t seen him since this morning’s briefing. Would you like me to send for him?’ Watson asked.

  ‘No,’ Wynn replied, feeling even more alone. He wished Bara was here, helping him through this. As if in response to his thoughts, the flight deck elevator doors opened, and Bara stepped out. Wynn stood to greet her, a relieved smile easing his concern. ‘I’m glad you’re here.’

  ‘What’s happening out there?’ Bara asked, joining him at the operations map.

  ‘Nothing yet. We’re coming up on the edge of the shipyard’s security field. We’ve been sending out our identity code, but they haven’t responded.’

  ‘Unusual?’ Bara asked.

  ‘We’re still a long way out.’

  ‘And the Evanine?’

  ‘Rendezvoused with the Dulac fleet. If we need them they can be here in ten minutes.’

  Bara nodded, scanning the holograph. Wynn reached over and touched her hand. She looked up into his eyes.

  ‘Thank you,’ Wynn said.

  Bara frowned. ‘For what?’

  ‘Just being here. I’m not alone,’ he whispered.

  She squeezed his hand, reassuring him with a private smile.

  ‘Approaching perimeter,’ an officer announced.

  The Commander joined them at the operations map. ‘Still no response to our message. We are close enough now that they should be picking us up.’

  Wynn nodded, feeling the familiar tension growing. ‘Our status?’

  ‘Gun batteries are manned. All fighters are hot, ready for launch. The Gilgore gird is primed for rapid charge, and the Cube drive is online and ready. We are prepared for an attack, or we can be out of here in under three minutes, if we need to be.’

  Wynn smiled, approving. ‘Ready for fight or flight, good.’

  Commander Watson’s eyes shifted to the holograph over the operations map. ‘Passing perimeter. Th
ey know we’re here.’

  They continued closer, nothing but background static coming from the ship’s com system.

  ‘I think we’ve gone far enough, don’t you?’ Wynn asked Bara.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Okay, Commander, turn us around and–’

  A repeating tone cut through the com system, followed by a man’s voice. ‘Ark Royal Caerleon, welcome to the Carter & Grey shipyard. Can we be of assistance?’

  Wynn looked to Bara and Commander Watson as he picked up the com unit. ‘This is Prince Halstead of the House of Kenric. Who am I speaking to?’

  There was a moment of silence, then a new voice broke through the static. ‘Prince Halstead, this is Valtais Valine of the House of Draig. I am now the Chair of the Carter & Grey shipyard. It is good to speak to you.’

  ‘Congratulations on your new position,’ Wynn said cautiously. ‘We’re here to check on the progress of our arkship, the Tanis.’

  ‘Yes, named after your dead Lord Chamberlain. Very touching. The business interests of the Carter & Grey shipyard are unaffected by my new position. However, the Draig Empire has made several claims for damages against the House of Kenric for your destruction of the arkship Fenrir. In my capacity as Chair, I have upheld their claims against you. Therefore, the arkship Tanis has been seized by the Draig Empire as compensation. Furthermore, you will disable your weapons and prepare to be boarded. Our inspection teams will take items to the outstanding value of the claim.’

  ‘This is ridiculous!’

  ‘Finally,’ Valine said, ‘for your actions against the Draig Empire, you will stand trial as a war criminal. Our ships are approaching you now. Please prepare to join the escort team so that you can answer for your crimes.’

  Wynn held the com unit to his mouth, unable to find the words to respond.

  ‘We have multiple signals, inbound,’ Commander Watson said, pointing to the holograph.

  Anger a frustration surfaced, tensing Wynn’s face.

  ‘Don’t,’ Bara said quietly. ‘I know what you’re thinking . . . don’t do it.’

  Wynn stared at the holograph, taking his time to compose his thoughts. ‘Commander, get us out of here.’