Jason didn’t like surprises—when it came to Bristol. His brother, a murderous pirate currently spending the rest of his life imprisoned in what used to be HAB 12 on The Lilly, single-handedly killed too many crewmembers, and almost killed Mollie and Nan, and Boomer, more than once. So if this woman was involved with Stalls or Bristol, Jason needed to know the particulars.
“Hanna,” Dira said, “this is Captain Reynolds. He’d like to speak with you.”
Hanna looked at Jason, using her fingertips to brush back stray hairs from her face. “Hello, Captain. Thank you for saving me … for saving us.”
He watched her, particularly how she avoided making eye contact with Bristol who, only moments before, drew such an emotional response from her.
“Please excuse my abruptness, but I’m sure you understand that the security of my ship is paramount.”
She nodded.
“What’s the story with you and Bristol?”
With a quick glance, Jason watched Bristol’s reaction to the question. Hanna’s eyes darted to Bristol, who also stole a glance in her direction. Neither said anything, but Bristol’s face had flushed bright pink.
“What’s with the third degree, Captain?” Leon interjected. “Why don’t you give the poor girl a second to—”
“Mind your tongue, Mr. Pike … Need I remind you, you are a guest on this ship?”
Leon didn’t answer, but he didn’t argue either.
Jason turned to Bristol. “Who is she to you?”
Bristol used a fingernail to probe at his pimply chin. He shrugged. “I think she’s my sister.”
Jason saw tears begin to well up in Hanna’s eyes again. “I thought you were dead, Bristol. They said you were dead.”
Bristol crossed his thin arms over his chest. He was clearly uncomfortable with the situation and, by the way he was biting his lip, looked on the verge of tears himself. Jason let the silence hang in the air.
Abruptly, Hanna took two steps forward and threw her arms around Bristol. She cried into his neck. He slowly pulled his arms free and hugged her back. Jason and Dira exchanged a quick glance.
When they separated, Jason raised his brow, a silent prompt for one of them to explain.
Hanna said, pointing, “I haven’t seen him, my younger brother, Bristol … in six years. Actually, he’s my half-brother.”
Bristol’s sour expression was back. “Look … it’s no big deal. We share the same father … making me and Stalls her half-brothers. We had different mothers.”
“I spent the first twelve years of my life a captive at Flatigan Castle … my brother’s lair. My mother, abducted from her home planet, was held captive by the elder Captain Jerome Stalls,” Hanna said, disdain in her voice. “My mother died four years ago, during childbirth … she was well into her fifties.”
“Stalls said I have another half-brother, somewhere, too,” Bristol said.
“I don’t know anything about that. Hell, we all could have dozens of half-sibs out there,” Hanna retorted, dismissively.
Jason said, “You understand, any connection a crewmember, or a crewmember’s family, has with the Stalls clan needs to be scrutinized.”
Hanna nodded and looked at Bristol. “So Eston is still alive?”
Bristol somewhat grimaced. “No one calls Stalls that … But, yeah, last we checked.”
“I need to see him,” she said flatly.
“That’s not going to happen,” Jason said.
“If you’re thinking I’m going to help him escape, think again. I detest the man. But there’s something I need to ask him. It’s a matter of life and death.”
“Life and death for whom?” Jason asked, sounding suspicious.
“I can’t tell you that right now.”
Convenient, Jason thought. “And Bristol here doesn’t know the answer? The two were together when we crossed paths in open space. Both together … causing mayhem … pirating … plundering.”
She shot Bristol a disapproving look. “Captain, you can come with me; five minutes with Eston … Stalls, is all I need.”
“What makes you think he’ll tell you what you need to know?” Jason asked, his curiosity now somewhat piqued.
“Because like it or not, we’re family.”
Jason rubbed his forehead and shook his head. “I’m sorry, this is sounding like a lot more trouble than it’s worth.”
Hanna seemed to consider her next words. “Have you heard of the Sahhrain?”
That certainly got Jason’s attention. Considering his own father was most probably abducted by them, maybe killed, he was now very interested. “Yes, I’ve heard of them.”
“They are an evil … terrible people. Make even the Craing look like little angels.”
“Go on,” Jason said.
Hanna glanced back toward Leon then continued, keeping her eyes on him. “Three years ago the Sahhrain attacked a deep-exploration vessel and abducted its crew. One of the crewmembers is a scientist … and … well, he’s my husband,” Hanna continued, looking steadily into Leon’s eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this, Leon … I don’t even know if he’s still alive. But I have to find out. Rescue him, if I can.”
Leon shook his head. “You don’t owe me any explanation … and no one blames you for trying to find your husband,” Leon said.
Jason watched the exchange. Putting the pieces together, he realized something was going on between the two. “Let’s get back on track here; talk to me about Stalls’ connection with the Sahhrain. What is it Stalls can provide?”
“As far as I know, he was the only person given unfettered access into Sahhrain space. They loved the guy … he’s like an honorary Sahhrain. He provided them with both Allied and Craing secrets … for years … things that gave the Sahhrain military superiority.”
“Again … what is it you need to ask Stalls, specifically?”
“Isn’t that obvious? I need to find out where my husband is … if he’s even still alive.”
The captain seemed to consider that. “Bristol, get your sister and Leon set up in suitable quarters. I have pressing business to attend to, so we’ll meet again in an hour.” With that, Jason left Medical.
* * *
Jason routinely checked back with his XO to see if there were any new developments regarding the missing Assailant. Worried about his father, he was tempted to simply set new coordinates to that of his father’s same interchange wormhole out-point location and face whatever awaited them on the other side. But, with multiple subsequent lost probes, and thousands of Minian crewmembers’ lives at stake, he needed to come up with a safer, well-thought-out strategy.
Jason headed toward his ready room and decided to check in on Boomer. He hadn’t had the chance to see her since the previous day. He used his NanoCom to hail her but there was no response. He tried to hail Petty Officer Mansfield but then remembered she probably hadn’t had the opportunity to have her Caldurian nano-devices installed yet. It was a daunting procedure that required an overnight stint in a MediPod. She’d undergo a complete change in physiology: nanites would be introduced into her bloodstream, then nano-devices into her brain. After that, a regimen of hyper-learning modules would be uploaded, all in all giving her incredible healing attributes, broad communications capabilities, and a wealth of technical and ship-related knowledge.
Jason slowed and said aloud, “Minian, provide the physical location of Boomer.”
He waited for the AI to respond.
“Captain Reynolds, Boomer is no longer present on the Minian.”
“How about Petty Officer Mansfield?”
“Petty Officer Mansfield is no longer present on the Minian.”
“Their last-known onboard coordinates?”
“The Zoo, specifically outside of habitat 7.”
Damn it! He’d suspected as much. Jason told Boomer to stay out of that habitat and he’d told Mansfield the same thing. He broke his own onboard rule and phase-shifted directly into the Zoo’s entryway.
>
He took in the numerous corridors before him and tried to remember which one contained HAB 7. He hailed Jack, the Zoo’s caretaker.
“Um … hello?”
Jason was well aware that Jack was old school. He doubted he used his internal NanoCom very often. “This is Captain Reynolds, Jack. Where are you?”
“Right now?”
“Yes … where are you located? I need to talk to you.”
Jason cut the connection. Jack was already hurrying down the fourth corridor. He waved a hand, as if his bright green coveralls weren’t indication enough that he, indeed, was the one Jason sought.
“Yes, Captain … what is it? Is there a problem?”
“I’m looking for Boomer and Petty Officer Mansfield.”
“Well, they’re in here every day … Boomer works here, remember?”
“Yes, I know that, Jack. Can you take me to HAB 7?”
“You gave explicit orders for her to stay out of there,” Jack replied.
“Yes … is it this way?” Jason asked, already heading toward the first corridor, pretty sure HAB 7 was down that way.
“All the way to the end, Captain.” This place is immense, Jason thought, as he reached the habitat and waited for Jack to catch up. “Open it up, Jack.”
Out of breath, Jack moved over to the access panel and began to enter in digits. “I’m not sure why they’d go in here … you were very clear.”
Three beeps and the portal window disappeared. “If I’m not back in fifteen minutes, contact Billy.”
Chapter 27
Sol System
The Minian, Zoo Habitat 7
_________________
Jason entered the misty-gray environment of HAB 7. His fingers found the SuitPac device on his belt and he pinched the two small indentations on its sides. Within seconds, his battle suit expanded out, covering his body. He wanted to make full use of any information his HUD could provide. He quickly found that various readouts and indicators were all over the place—as if he’d entered some kind of Bermuda Triangle, where nothing made much sense. Jason’s primary interest focused on the bottom section of his HUD where life-icons, if they should appear, would reveal the proximity of anyone relatively close. Although he thought he saw two icons flash on when he first initialized his suit, it was only momentary, and now nothing was showing. He adjusted the HUD’s sensitivity for any life readings out to a distance of ten miles, but nothing showed … not even small, indigenous creatures.
Light drizzle had turned to rain and then, suddenly, to a full-blown torrent, coming down in buckets and making visibility difficult. In the distance, Jason could see what looked like ancient ruins so he headed in their direction. Again, he used his NanoCom to hail Boomer but heard nothing back. The wind had picked up and the rain was now hitting him straight on. Typically, his visor would compensate for that, but not now, not here.
Footprints, actually more like small oblong pools of collected rainwater, were his first indication of life about. There were three sets of tracks, all moving in the same direction, deeper into the collection of fractured columns, large stone blocks, and the remains of a crumbled, cobblestone road. Movement. Jason quickly spun left, but nothing was there, other than more remnants of the ancient ruins. He used his hand to wipe moisture off his visor and this time he definitely saw something. Two figures, dressed like nomads, were in the midst of a battle. Twenty feet up, on what once must have been the foundation of a great building, Parthenon-like, the two combatants moved with incredible speed, agility and grace.
Jason hurried forward, while setting phase-shift coordinates. He visually spotted a location, behind a row of six seven-foot-tall columns, and in a flash phase-shifted. He landed sixty feet away from his intended site. Instead, he found himself standing on the opposite side of the foundation, behind yet another set of columns.
One hundred feet away, the two nomads fought on, ignoring the near hurricane-like winds and heavy rain. Both were using some kind of weapon … more like a small shield, attached to one arm. Periodically, bright purplish distortion waves emanated from their shields. The shorter of the two nomads, the size of a typical Craing, seemed a more proficient fighter than the taller one, but both were amazing as they used their shields to push off from the ground—sometimes doing back flips, landing behind each other and attacking; other times, they used the distortion waves to knock the other off their feet.
Jason, keeping low and well behind one of the columns, tried to adjust his HUD to zoom in on them. It took him several tries but eventually it worked—to the point he’d magnified the fight scene by three. Startled, his breath caught … he continued to watch the smaller of the two figures and waited for her to turn in his direction. Her face was partially covered, but not the eyes. Boomer’s eyes.
He felt he should be angry. She’d lied to him … deceived him. But he wasn’t. So what was he feeling? Pride? What his little ten-year-old was capable of was nothing short of astounding. Boomer was a warrior, in the truest sense. And with that insight came something else: Sadness. What had happened to his daughter?
There was a momentary blip, a quick flash, where life-icons typically appeared on his HUD. Jason spun around to see three nomads quickly approaching him from behind. All three wore shields and all three were full-grown men. The middle one, the tallest, used his shield-weapon and, in an instant, Jason was propelled off his feet—thrown against the column directly behind him. Seeing the others raise their shields, Jason ducked sideways, just as the distortion waves hit the column, causing a fountain of sparks. He raised his arms, triggering his suit’s integrated wrist weapons to fire. Momentary relief came when he saw two of the nomads were struck, albeit only on their shields. How did they move that fast, to block my plasma fire? He reset his weapons from stun to their second-most lethal setting.
Jason continued to move fast, now running for the cover of a fallen column. Another distortion wave hit him and knocked him off his feet. Even before he hit the ground, Jason was firing backwards. This time, he hit one of the nomads, who hadn’t had time to block it. The nomad was not getting off the ground. Jason, now on his back, flipped sideways as more distortion waves came again. Even without a direct hit, he felt their power and that was enough to propel him to spin away and rise to his feet. He scurried forward, zigzagging, until he’d circled around and could make out their blurry silhouettes against the pewter-colored sky.
“This is bullshit,” Jason said out loud. He attacked, both arms raised and not letting up on the firing mechanism. Distortion waves came back at him but they immediately dissipated in his own plasma fire. Good to know. Another nomad went down, leaving only the taller one standing. He moved with no sense of urgency … almost casually. His shield always held in just the right place to deflect Jason’s plasma fire. Jason took another distortion wave to his solar plexus. In spite of the battle suit’s protection he nearly doubled over. The nomad drew closer, continuing to release wave after wave of bright violet wave-pounding distortions. Unable to return fire, Jason was forced to endure the blows as they came at him. The nomad stood directly over him now. He raised his shield again, but suddenly halted.
The barrel of a multi-gun was pressed against his temple, Billy’s finger on the trigger. “Move and I’ll blow your fucking head off.”
The nomad did not move. Jason got to his feet and, despite countless bruises, knew he’d survive.
“What’s going on here, Cap?”
Jason didn’t answer. His attention was on the two approaching nomads … one about four feet tall.
“Dad?” Boomer ran to him and wrapped her arms around his middle. “What are you doing here?”
He took another look at the tall nomad he’d just fought, then retracted his battle suit. The wind-driven rain quickly drenched his spacer’s jumpsuit. He dropped down to one knee and looked Boomer in the eyes. “You have some explaining to do.”
Boomer’s face reflected her guilt. She looked over at the other female and, for the fir
st time, Jason realized it was Petty Officer Mansfield. His anger returned. “What the hell is going on here, Mansfield?”
The tall nomad man spoke, “I’m sorry … I did not realize who you were … this place distorts one’s senses … please let us get out of this weather, Captain Reynolds. We have much to discuss and there’s little time.”
Jason caught Billy’s eye and nodded. Billy brought his multi-gun away from the nomad’s head, still keeping it pointed at him near waist level.
“Who are you and what are you doing with my daughter?”
“I am not your enemy … we … are not your enemy. Your daughter is here of her own free will and she is in no danger.”
“That doesn’t answer my question. Who are you and what are you doing with my daughter?”
“I am Prince Aahil Aqeel; please call me Aahil. I will explain all that you wish to know, below … out of the weather.”
Jason stood and pulled Boomer in close. “Stay close to me, Boomer.”
“Dad … these are my friends—”
“Don’t argue!”
Aahil turned away and walked back in the direction he and the others had come from. The two nomads Jason shot, he’d presumably killed, were no longer where they’d fallen. Billy fell in directly behind Aahil, with Jason and Boomer following. Mansfield joined Boomer’s side, holding Jason’s less-than-friendly stare.
“Hold your opinions of me until Aahil speaks.”
“Speak again and I’ll shoot you where you stand,” Jason said.
Chapter 28
Sol System
The Minian, Zoo Habitat 7
_________________
They entered a narrow gap between two immense blocks of stone—a gap that would have been impossible to see unless one knew specifically where to look. They descended single file down worn and rounded stone steps. The only illumination came from lit torches, secured to metal brackets mounted high up on the walls.
Jason’s irritation grew as they descended lower. How long had Boomer been coming here? Why did she feel it necessary to hide her doings from him? Because I never would have allowed it.
Star Watch Page 15