by James Darcey
The mobile suited one wrapped up a few of the nicer pieces they had on display, including the fluted tube shell I'd drank from. This was a gift for the enjoyment of watching me drink the water. There wasn't much I could answer about how a surface dweller could do something like that. In the end I let it rest that I must be part eel or something.
I didn't see Traxel at all for three days, but part of the reason was that I spent little time aboard the ship myself. It was difficult to keep dodging out of the way when the workmen were stringing new power junctions throughout most of the ship. It seemed like every time I turned around Panzo would be tracking me down with a list of questions. My favorite answer seemed to be 'I don't know'.
After several times of telling him to make his best choice in it, the questions ended. I wasn't the one to ask about ship systems, but I couldn't tell him that. My knowledge didn't extend past what I'd read in the manuals, and I already knew that was severely lacking in relation to this ship.
True to his prediction, Panzo's crew had finished all of the work in the upper deck in less than two days. Since the AI was still completely unusable he strung an optic line up to the Captain's cabin for me, with a portable terminal connected so that I would be able to conduct the business a Director needed to do.
My biggest task was going to be staying one or two steps ahead of any hunters following my trail. The first part of that would be to figure out just who my hunters were. I knew the name Teyrn Elon, but beyond that had no idea what he was connected with.
I looked up Flux Genetics to get an idea of just what I was getting into. Turns out that Flux Genetics was a big name; It owned a few other companies as well, which in turn owned others. Down a long line of ownerships I found that Cynet Systems was the majority owner of Flux Genetics.
In all there were about eighty companies that were mixed into the whole maze of ownerships with not a single one actually owned by a person. All these companies somehow owned themselves. These weren't little companies either. Through the various connections Flux Genetics owned, among other things, about seventy percent of the Reliance Guard ships. No wonder that captain had been so congenial.
I was once again feeling as though I was tiptoeing along the strands of a spider web, only this time the threads were coated in ice. The slightest falter and I would be wrapped in a dagger filled cocoon and devoured. I couldn't beg for help here if they found the truth. Teyrn Elon was a big name in Flux Genetics, and they practically owned the Guards here.
The cunning part of my brain told me I better not plan anything using the station's network. From the stuff I had found it would be too easy to trace my escape. I did, however, plan a route to a planet listed as quarantined. It was a good looking planet that was off limits due to planetary conflicts. It was also in a different direction than Sol system. I plotted a course and did fuel calculations for there. I had it shift the information to the ship's data network, and tagged it for deletion from the network. I then plotted two other random courses with calculations, but didn't delete these.
When they came looking, and I was sure they would, they would find those two random courses. After searching that way they would return and dig deeper to find the quarantine one I had plotted. It would look like I had tried to hide it better. I hope a planetary conflict is big enough to keep them busy for a while.
When the ship's main AI was installed a few days later, I grabbed Traxel on one of his trips out. Together we planned the run to Muuaca system. I made sure that no reference was made to Muuaca on the network, and all of our planning was done by writing it down. It was about halfway to Terra Sol, and was just a minor trading point. It was also outside of Flux Genetics' normal operating area. I had memorized the spatial references for it from when I had done my searching, once the new AI was installed it would be simple to input.
I didn't have to wait long for that time, although as nervous as I was the twelve hours seemed like days. We had been sitting on Reliance Station for a little over five days at this point. The work crew was down to three, and they were busy cleaning up the mess from five days of frantic repairs. I made one last trip out to stock up on enough food to fill the pantry. This time I had an idea of what was good. We would have more than enough food to last the entire trip, so that we wouldn't need to restock.
Upon my return from the stocking trip I found Panzo standing outside the main hatch looking a bit nervous, and Captain Korcktl beside him. The captain brightened up when he spotted my approach, calling out a greeting they likely heard at the other end of Reliance. I thought I had seen the last of him when Traxel had arranged for the coins.
"So good to see you again, Director Ion! Z'Turstl tells me that your ship is ready and you are set to depart right away."
I nodded wondering why he would be mentioning this to me. I had already settled the payment with Z'Turstl for slightly more than had been originally agreed upon. That had been the only time since we first arrived that I'd even seen the Senior Repair Operator since the work had begun. I had needed his print on the release so that I could file a departure notice for one of the random plots I'd done.
He wasn't supposed to have divulged that information so readily. Nervous energy started building within me at the thought that I had missed something important; had my ruse been discovered? My hands were so charged that if I shook the Captain's hand I would likely electrocute him by accident. I did my best to hold back the bolt as the captain continued. He had no clue how close he came to being electrified.
"Anyway, this is my cousin Panzo. I understand you have already met him, but I was asked to make sure to introduce you. He's applied for a position in your research department. I'll leave you two to talk. Oh! I almost forgot to thank you on behalf of the crew. They truly enjoyed the party."
With a wave he walked off. Party? I turned to find Panzo standing there acting so nervous that he was shuffling his feet. This was not like the Kanari that had been barking directions to a few dozen workers! Something was happening, but it didn't feel threatening. There was only one way to get the answers, and he better start talking.
"What is it, Panzo?"
"Ma'am?"
"It's Ion."
"Uh,... yes, Director Ion, as you know the entire comm system was damaged and had to be replaced. You also know that we were unable to get a response from the AI and had to replace that as well."
Now I was starting to get nervous once again. With the Captain's departure I had started to wind the energy back down, but this was uncharacteristic of Panzo. I'd been over all of that during the repair process. Was he going to tell me something else was broken and I'd be stuck here longer? I had already stayed too long! Teyrn Elon must surely be getting around to searching this system soon.
I had done nothing to keep those hunter ships from dropping into this system blaring out an alert to arrest me. Surely if Traxel had thought of this destination then Teyrn would as well. Enough time had passed that he could have already searched some other system and then come here. He didn't even have to dock before the message would have them coming for me. As quickly as that thought blossomed into being, it was dispelled by the realization that I would already be in custody if that were the case.
"The Cynet FGIV AI you had in here was an older one and not available any longer. We had to install one of the new Cynet FGVII systems. There hasn't been time to fully test it, and..."
"How long?"
"Well, that's the point. It can't be done in the station. We need to be far enough away that it won't panic before we awaken it the rest of the way."
He wasn't talking about another few hours sitting in the station, he wanted to take the ship out. There was no way I'd be left without my escape route. There was no way I could stand by as this Kanari took off in my ship, not even for a single hour. Panzo had done a great job in fixing the mess I'd made of the ship, but it was my one and only ticket to reach Terra, Sol.
"I will have to be onboard as well."
"Actually, I was talk
ing about me riding along for the next high drive run to test all of the functions. I will be no bother to you. I have my own food and gear, and I know there is more than one stateroom open."
I was getting an uneasy feeling about this. I didn't need another liability on the ship. Traxel already knew that I was escaping, but this Kanari thought I was third step from the top of a multi-system business empire. When he found out...
"I know this is sudden, but to dispel any doubts I will sign a loyalty agreement. As you know I can only be bound by a single agreement, and so must dismiss my prior one with Reliance System Guards. That's why he was here, to let you know it was approved."
Now the pieces started falling into place. A Kanari can sign an oath of loyalty that will mean absolute loyalty unto death. To change it the holder of the oath must agree to let it go. The captain was here to say it was approved, and also to remind me that they had been there when I needed help.
The message was clear; I was to allow this Kanari to accompany me to the next system, and become acquainted with his work. He would demonstrate his expertise such that I would arrange for him to be hired by Flux genetics. I had no idea what would happen when it was discovered that I couldn't hire him.
"Very well, register your oath. Then you can gather your things so that we can depart. The ship is ready to go when..."
He handed me the tablet he'd been holding close to his chest, and picked up a shoulder bag nearby. The tablet was all set for me to register his oath. All that was required was to press my thumb and He would be bound to me. It was an uneasy thought that he would be as much mine as I had been to Teyrn Elon. No, that wasn't true. He would be mine by his own choice. I looked up to find him staring at me patiently. The soft beep recorded my print and it was done. He followed me aboard closing the lock behind him.
TOC
RAKU
It was an agonizing five hours to the null point. Traxel spent the time crouched in the pilot seat constantly making minor adjustments to the controls. I think that he was just as nervous as I was about having the extra body sitting in the engineering seat. While those two were occupied with keeping the ship pointed toward the nearest null point, I went to work entering all the data needed for us to make it to Muuaca. Hopefully there were no skip missiles this time.
Panzo couldn't sit still for even a moment. I lost track of the trips up and down the ladders to the vast array of testing equipment seemingly connected to every console and sub system in the engineering room. It looked as though he had loaded half of his repair bay into the ship. If we had been equipped with this gear when we arrived, there would have been no need to be towed into Reliance Station. Well, perhaps there still would have been, because I had no idea how most of it worked.
I felt just as out of place as when we were leaving the orbital lab. I had done what I could, and now that left me making circles throughout the ship. I couldn't sit still with my nerves so jangled on thoughts of the Reliance Guards suddenly coming after us. Those ships had more than just two missiles each, and all it would take was one hitting us.
Every time I went into engineering, my nervousness seemed to spread to Panzo, making him a bit jittery too. He was busy concentrating on fine-tuning the connections to the new AI system. Something was keeping me on edge, and I couldn't quite figure out what.
I spent one of the hours arranging the trinkets on my shelves. I liked it much better with things that I'd picked out. I spent another of the hours making use of my new exercise machine. It held up quite well. Of course that meant another shower in water that felt wonderful, and back to shifting trinkets. I finally gave that up and went to hover over the shoulders of Panzo and Traxel. For the last hour of the run to null point they were both in the cockpit. That left me sitting in the auxiliaries seat, or running back to the common room to bring them drinks.
Shortly before reaching the null point Panzo requested that full flight function by turned over to the AI in order to test the critical interface connections. We needed to verify that they were completely free of fluctuations before trusting them with a high drive transition. Everything seemed to be working according to the specifications for the final ten minute approach to the null point. Traxel announced that the zeta field was operating at maximum, and all systems were showing ready for high drive transition. I think even he was glad that we were about to put this system behind us.
In the lower corner of the view-port we could all see the small chrono that counted down our final moments in this system. I found myself mentally counting down the time in cadence with the chrono. I know it was silly, but this felt like the step that would lose Teyrn far behind us. This leap would add a thousand systems to the places he'd have to look for us. There was a minor shudder of the ship at three seconds. I had time enough to look up before the viewer lit up with the force of a sun.
The ship lurched sideways and the stars went grey with the shift into high drive. Colored diagrams began overlaying the screen showing the stars along our path as predicted by the nav computer. One thing about traveling faster than light, you have to guess where things are going to be when you get to them. If you guess wrong then you run into the star before you see it coming. Everything relied completely on the accuracy of the star charts, because no sensor could detect what lay ahead. This was only my second trip into high drive, but that hadn't looked right.
"What just happened? Traxel?!"
Panic was doing its very best to build in my chest, while I was struggling to hold my voice and nerves steady. That's not easy when the last thing I saw looked like we had done a left turn through a nova. My instincts were looking for a target to lash out at, and I needed answers more than a pile of charred insectoid in the pilot seat.
Panzo spoke up from the engineering seat where he was fine-tuning a few controls. He sounded more confident than he had since coming aboard with us. This was more like the Panzo that had pushed through the repairs in five days. What's more, his tone hinted at knowledge that I didn't have, yet desperately needed.
"Well, one theory is that the new nav system malfunctioned, causing the missile bay to explode as we attempted to go to high drive, thus destroying the ship and everyone aboard."
Now I was feeling rather ignorant and simple minded, as my next words confirmed.
"Missile bay?"
"I'm sure the director is fully versed with all the systems aboard her ship. You have no need to fear discovery of military weapons aboard a civilian ship. I signed the pledge."
I turned my attention to Traxel who was still trying to find answers in the pilot's controls. I threw a string of demands at him, hoping to find something. He looked up, and with a bit of agitation in his voice, he began to exclaim that there hadn't been time to inform me of the missiles previously, but that he had meant too. Meant too? He'd had a relaxing week on the trip here to tell me everything!
Panzo interjected again, "Please allow me to explain since it is I who just hijacked your ship."
The statement slammed into me with the force of a charging Selstlak. My mind was reeling with thoughts of a betrayal that couldn't happen, but had. I had read about it in the records when I was looking for information about Flux Genetics. Reliance and Kanis systems were key points for them due to the unbreakable oath. The Kanari oath was a defining point of their culture. Did I miss something in the wording on the tablet? Was the tablet a hoax? Where was he taking us, and the ship?
"I was the one who did all the interconnections for every system aboard this ship, so I had to be familiar with everything on it. The AI is, after all, the brain of the ship. It has to know about all the fingers and toes it possesses. Oh sure, I had other workers placing things and making connections, but I was the only one that knew all of it."
He explained how I had seemed oblivious to some of the systems he was connecting, and actually gave wrong answer to things he knew from looking at the ship. It was as if I had only read the sales book on the ship. Some of the things were knowledge that anyone who spe
nt time on a ship would know; someone like a Flux Genetics Senior Director.
After the first several such answers he had even made a game of it. Many of the things he had asked me were only asked in order to map my knowledge. If I was really who I said I was, then the questions should have prompted me to arrest him. Because I hadn't done so, he started digging further for answers. Then while integrating the data banks he had come upon the entry listing me as director. The entry had been entered at a time when we were in high drive, and the picture had tags on it from being edited. Obviously someone aboard had the codes to enable that entry to be made.
With his work on all the systems he also found the bio-scan entry listing me as project 417. We were very fortunate that the AI had been so badly damaged when the patrol craft picked us up, or they would have spotted the deception then. The patrol craft Guardsmen were not as thorough in their searching as Panzo had been. That was likely because of the charade I was pulling. Nobody who knew better would have dared pulled that disguise.
Traxel was getting more agitated with every word out of Panzo. The Kanari continued with his list of findings that had blown the top off of my ruse. His investigations revealed the source of the overload was in the panels behind the spinal mount. And the final piece was that I was just too friendly to workers to be a director. A director, especially a senior director, would have shunned the workers, and only worked through an assistant.
"When I put the pieces together it became crystal clear that you deserted your contract and stole the ship in order to escape. Then you were desperate enough to connect the raw engine feeds to protected electronics in an attempt to hide. It's a wonder you still live!"
Traxel jumped out of his seat and ran down the corridor, heading for the common room. I could guess what he was after. I was getting the idea that when he got cornered he would fight his way out. That had been his first thought when the Reliance Guards boarded as well, though he had pulled out pop guns too weak to dent the armor they wore. I couldn't blame him though, I was ready to bite the head off Panzo as well. I just needed answers more than vengeance.