Corruption_Age Of Expansion_A Kurtherian Gambit Series

by Sarah Noffke

  “It’s a dog!” she exclaimed, running for the animal who was panting, an excited look on his face.

  She halted beside Harley and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him unabashedly. The child’s glee was infectious, and had almost everyone smiling.

  Everyone but Hatch.

  He turned to Lewis and Bailey, a pinched look on his face. “She’s your responsibility. Don’t let her get in our way.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Engine Room, Ricky Bobby, Tangki System

  Liesel squatted down low, squinting at the ignition charge of one of the ship’s engines. She shook her head, her necklace of sparkplugs making a clattering sound. “I don’t get it. There must be an internal combustion stability issue. That’s the only thing I haven’t crossed off the list.”

  Mechanics weren’t Bailey’s strong suit, which is exactly why she’d offered to help the chief engineer. Liesel did have the biggest job, getting Ricky Bobby operating. The longer they hovered in space, uncloaked and with their shields down, the higher the risks.

  “How do you check for that?” she asked.

  “Luckily, I don’t have to.” Liesel smiled triumphantly, rubbing her first two fingers against her thumb. From the far corner of the large space, the ferret materialized, running straight for his owner.

  “Was that your signal to Sebastian?” Bailey asked, curious.

  Liesel nodded. “Yes, ferrets have great ears.” When Sebastian arrived in front of her, he sat back on his hind legs, looking up at Liesel with expectant eyes. “I need a full check on sections Four B through Six D. Got it?”

  The ferret didn’t respond, but turned, scurrying back the way he’d come. Bailey guessed that he’d be checking the combustion stability issue using his ferret skills. She shook her head at the strangeness of it.

  “What about the shields?” she asked.

  Liesel lifted her hair off the back of her neck; it was hot in the engine room. The cooling system had definitely taken a beating during the upload. “I think that Hatch and I have figured out the issue. I need a solid few hours to patch things up. But the hoses in the engines are all clogged as well, so I’m going to have to flush them.”

  “I’ll take care of the hoses,” Bailey offered.

  Liesel wiped her hand across her forehead, leaving a grease mark as she did. “But you’ve got other concerns.”

  Bailey looked up, catching Lewis in her periphery. He was chewing on a stick of dehydrated meat.

  “I can’t do anything until we know more about the intel that Hatch and Jack are studying.” She shrugged. “I can clear the hoses while you work on the shields.”

  “Clearing the hoses is kind of a two-person job, though,” Liesel argued.

  “Perfect, I have a helper.” Bailey extended a hand to Lewis, who was in the shadows.

  “Help? Yeah, I can help,” he agreed, striding over. “What do you need me for?”

  Liesel ran her eyes over Lewis’s pressed white shirt and slacks, and then looked back at Bailey. “Are you sure? We can flush the hoses together and then I can work on the shields.”

  The lieutenant wanted to laugh. Lewis didn’t at all look prepared for a mechanical job, but he was at least wearing a willing smile. “Lewis can help me get the engines operating. It’s the chief priority.”

  “Okay,” Liesel chirped. “Hopefully Sebastian will find the other combustion issues, and I’ll be able to fix those right away. Though Hatch has offered to help, if we need extra hands.”

  “Or eight extra tentacles,” Lewis said with a laugh.

  Liesel offered him a genuine smile, and picked up her toolbox. The feathers she’d stuck in her hair waved in the wind as she took off.

  The detective turned to Bailey with a bemused expression. “Is it strange to you that we’re relying on a ferret to help fix the engines?”

  “Welcome to Oz, Harlowe. You aren’t in Ronin anymore,” Bailey said fondly. She often thought of herself as Dorothy when a big challenge arose. She’d remind herself that she had the power, but just had to learn it for herself.

  There were many other lessons for her to take from that book, but they were connected to the people she’d left behind.

  “So what exactly did you sign me up for?” Lewis was eyeing the large engine beside them.

  “We’re going to clear the hoses,” Bailey explained.

  “That shouldn’t take long,” Lewis said, looking the engine over.

  His partner lifted her hand and gestured at the row of machines. “In all the engines.”

  Detective Harlowe nodded, rolling up the sleeves of his button-up shirt. “Challenge accepted.”

  Holding tight to the gasket around the hose, Lewis waited until Bailey gave him the all clear.

  She held up her thumb, grease streaked down both her cheeks. Lewis could only imagine that his face and hair was as messy as hers. “It should be secure,” she told him.

  He let go, looking down at his once white shirt, which was now covered in various colored fluids that had splashed from the hoses as they cleared them. He felt like he was back on the ranch, except that the animals were the engines of the ship, and the smell of manure was more chemical.

  “Last one,” Bailey announced, tapping one of the hoses and listening.

  “Good teamwork. That only took…” Lewis looked at his watch, and his eyes grew wide. “Wow, that took us three hours, but it felt like no time.”

  Bailey smiled. “Yeah, it feels good to get our hands dirty. And now we’re that much closer to making Ricky Bobby operational.”

  A low rumbling stole their attention, wiping the smile off Bailey’s face. It was easy to forget that the monster was lurking in the bottom of the ship, threatening to break loose and upload them all. If they were the rescue team for Ghost Squadron, who would rescue them?

  “I almost didn’t recognize you guys,” Dejoure said, poking her head out from the shadows. Harley was by her side, happily panting.

  “Yeah, we could use a bucket to wash up with,” Lewis agreed.

  Bailey shook her head. “I’ll take a clean-shower.”

  “Well, I can’t help you there,” Dejoure said, leaning down and scratching Harley behind the ears. “But I did make you some roast beef, garlic mashed potatoes, and steamed green beans. Hungry?”

  Lewis’s mouth dropped open, and he stumbled forward a couple of steps. He pressed his hands in front of his chest like he was praying. “Please don’t be lying.”

  The girl laughed. “I’m not. I told you I would cook and pull my own weight if you took me in. I wasn’t telling stories, I promise.”

  Lewis gave Bailey a tentative look. “Are we done here? Can we take a break to—”

  She strode past him, cutting him off. “Ladies first.”

  Cafeteria, Ricky Bobby, Tangki System

  The roast beef seemed to melt in Bailey’s mouth. She hadn’t even poured the brown gravy onto the slab of meat, which was cooked medium rare—also known as ‘cooked to perfection’.

  Lewis was busy soaking up the gravy with one of the fresh baked rolls that Dejoure had forgotten to mention when describing the meal. If Bailey had known there was bread being served, she probably would have sprinted to the cafeteria; crackers and chips were her fuel, but bread was her life support.

  “Dejoure,” Bailey began, and to her horror, she mispronounced the “j”. “Um. You can really cook. These green beans are perfectly done.”

  Lewis picked up one of the green beans and popped it into his mouth, chewing. “Yep, slightly al dente, but not too much.”

  “In my last home, I had to do all the cooking,” the girl explained, untying the apron from her waist. “There were ten children, and most were picky eaters so I learned how to make a little of everything.”

  “She can even bake,” Lewis exclaimed, grabbing another roll from the basket.

  “You found all the ingredients for this meal in the kitchen?” Bailey asked incredulously. She had stared at the contents of t
he freezer and pantry, at a loss, for way too long.

  “Oh yeah,” Dejoure said. “There’s enough food in there to feed an army or…well, I guess the past population of this ship.” A haunted expression jumped to the girl’s face.

  She’d taken the news of the monster and the missing crew fairly well, and had acclimated to the ship immediately. She hadn’t been any trouble at all; actually, based on the meal Bailey saw before her, the girl’s contributions were already proving to be beneficial. However, she still worried they’d made a mistake by bringing this child onto the ship, endangering her and their goals.

  “How old are you?” Bailey asked her.

  Dejoure pushed her black hair behind her ear. “I think I’m twelve, but no one knows for sure.”

  “You don’t have any birth records?” Lewis asked.

  She shook her head and stooped down to rub Harley’s chest. To Bailey’s surprise, the girl was wearing a sort of smile. “No, I was dropped off at an orphanage with a note pinned to my blanket that said, ‘Dejoure’.”

  When the girl said her name, it had a melodic tone, sounding much different than when Lewis or Bailey said it.

  “That’s it?” Bailey asked. “No middle or last name? No explanation?”

  Dejoure looked up, her arm around Harley. She shrugged nonchalantly. “No. Sometimes people can’t take care of the kids they have. You don’t worry about it. Just move forward.”

  The girl sounded like she was reciting words said to her by someone else, most likely a caretaker from one of the orphanages.

  “And you weren’t ever adopted?” Lewis asked, dabbing the sides of his mouth with a napkin. The conversation seemed to have slowed his eating. Or maybe after two servings, he was finally getting full.

  Dejoure shook her head as the ship shook underfoot. Her eyes dropped hesitantly to the floor. The monster was awake. “No, but I was moved around a lot. I’m good at things, so if one of the facilities needed someone to help out, they’d transfer me.”

  The girl was the perfect definition of an ‘old soul,’ with her strange green and brown eyes. She seemed to know more than a twelve-year-old should. And yet, as she combed her hands through Harley’s fur, she looked like an ordinary child.

  “Well, we’re glad you’re here, and not just because you can cook,” Bailey stated, spooning the last of the fluffy mashed potatoes into her mouth. “This ship and what’s happened here may not be the super-secret agent stuff you signed on for, but you’ll be safe. We promise. And I’m sure there are many ways you can be helpful.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Dejoure asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “This ship is the coolest place ever. Before, I was so bored, but now I have a dog and special agents to look after. This is a dream come true! The monster doesn’t scare me.” After a moment, she asked, “You think it’s linked to Starboards Corp?”

  “We’re certain of it,” Bailey said. “Do you know of anything that could help us?”

  Dejoure shook her head. “I wish I did. But I’ll keep thinking; I’ll find a way to help. I promise.”

  Lewis pushed his plate away, a satisfied look on his face. “I have no doubt that you will.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Bridge, Ricky Bobby, Tangki System

  The glowing green text scrolled through the air in front of Lewis. He’d been sifting through the files they brought back from Starboards Corp, looking for something that connected it to Monstre. So far, he’d found nothing. The organization was despicable; he’d concluded as much after reading files on nuclear weapons, biological warfare, and cyborg testing. However, there was nothing to suggest that they were the ones behind the monster.

  Lewis swiped his finger through the air, and the text disappeared, replaced with another report.

  “I thought I’d find you here,” Jack said, striding onto the bridge. The lights were still low, even though Ricky Bobby had recently informed them that the generators were once again up to full capacity. Currently, all the energy was being diverted for other repairs.

  “You could have asked me where the detective was located,” Ricky Bobby cut in. “I’m aware of where all members are on the ship.”

  Jack waved a dismissive hand through the air. “I needed to stretch my legs, anyway.”

  “I’ve been reviewing these files you gave me access to.” Lewis shook his head, scanning the words scrolling in front of him. “Tell me again why you think that Solomon Vance and his corporation, Monstre, are behind this?”

  “He’s a known criminal who stole biotech from the Federation,” Jack reminded him. “He’s been rumored to be working with Starboards Corp, which really means he’s using them to create technology while he stays hidden.”

  Lewis tapped his fingers against his lips. “I hear you, Uncle, but just because Colonel Mustard was at the dinner party doesn’t mean he killed Mrs. Peacock. Are you sure you’re not allowing your bias to interfere?”

  Jack unbuttoned his suit jacket and took a seat next to Lewis. “Vance is a man I’ve been hunting for a long time, but this isn’t about a personal vendetta. We know for a fact that he stole advanced biotech that was both dangerous and ingenious. Reason tells me that it was the basis for the monster.”

  “Reason might tell you that, but the facts are unclear.” Lewis pinched the air where the file sat and tossed it away, making it disappear. “From everything I can see, Starboards is our guilty party.”

  “That’s what Vance wants the discerning mind to believe,” Jack insisted.

  Lewis gave the other man a long, calculated stare.

  After an extended moment of silence, Jack sighed. “I know you think my time with the Federation has colored me, and maybe it has, but I’m telling you that Vance is behind this. He’s covering his tracks. That’s why the Starboards ship was used to try and blow up Ricky Bobby. That’s why Phoenix Tech had dealings with Starboards and not Monstre. Vance is sitting somewhere right now, plotting all of this and pitting us against the wrong enemy.”

  “Well, Starboards is evil, that’s for sure,” Lewis said, thinking of the case files he’d read.

  Jack nodded. “Yes, but they aren’t the big dog, and if we’re going to find everyone who was uploaded, we have to take down the leader of the pack.”

  “Well, what did you learn from the files you studied?” Lewis asked.

  Jack lifted an eyebrow, a clever look on his face. “D-factor is the element doromantinium.”

  Lewis whistled through his teeth. “I see why they call it ‘D-factor’. That’s a mouthful.”

  “Well, it’s also a smart name because the rock is half metal and half etheric energy,” Jack explained.

  “Which means if it was used in the composition of something, it would be a major component—or factor,” Lewis said, his eyes searching without seeing.

  Jack crossed his ankle over his knee and leaned back. “Exactly my thoughts. One would have to get the D-factor just right.”

  “So, do we know if this mineral is part of the composition of the monster?” Lewis asked.

  Jack shook his head. “Not yet. Hatch is still evaluating the sample you and Bailey obtained.”

  “And we wouldn’t want to assume,” the detective said, chewing on the inside of his cheek.

  “But we did learn that Starboards has been buying up all the D-factor they could get their hands on,” Jack related. “There are no records of what they were doing with it, only that they have been acquiring it.”

  Lewis was suddenly assaulted with the surrealness of the situation. He was sitting across from his uncle and discussing a case they were both working. He’d never worked with his uncle before; actually, most of the cases he’d handled had been outside the Federation, for private clients. When everything had gone to shit, including Lewis’s reputation, Jack had tried to help, but since he was operating outside the Federation, it was outside his uncle’s control.

  Jack leaned forward now, catching the serious stare Lewis was giving him. “When you
look at me, do you see him?”

  That’s not at all where Lewis’s head had been, and he blinked in surprise. He didn’t need to ask who his uncle was referring to; Jack was the mirror image of Lewis’s father. How could he not be? They were identical twins. But Lewis would never mistake Jack for his father. They might have looked the same, but they were very different people.

  Lewis cleared his throat. “Not really.”

  Jack nodded. “I miss him every goddamn day.”

  “Me too,” Lewis said, rubbing his hand over his chin and mouth.

  “He’d be proud of you,” Jack said, a tenderness in his eyes that he rarely showed.

  Lewis shook his head. “I’m not so sure about that.”

  “You found his murderer and justice was served,” his uncle argued.

  Stefan Russell.

  The name still burned in Lewis’s throat. Finding his father’s murderer had been his first case. Out of a tragedy, he found a passion for investigating, and after successfully bringing down Stefan Russell, he had gone on to take other cases, becoming the most sought-after detective in the galaxy.

  But like his father’s life, all good things had to come to an end.

  Lewis was never good at talking about his father, so he was grateful when the screen flickered at the front of the bridge, interrupting the discussion. After a couple of seconds, Hatch stared back at them, a sour expression on his face. He was standing in his lab, three of his tentacles stretching offscreen, occupied.

  “There you are, Jack. I’ve been looking for you,” the mechanic grumbled.

  “You are all aware that, as the AI for the ship, I know where everyone is located, right?” Ricky Bobby’s voice echoed overhead and through the speaker of the telecom.

  “It’s more fun to see if my inclinations are correct,” Hatch answered. “I tried your office, then the gym…this was my third guess.”

  Liesel’s head popped into the frame, grease streaked down her nose. “I told him to try the bridge first.”