The Heights of Perdition

by C. S. Johnson

  She decided not to mention it to Emery. Aerie turned her attention to the bit of information she could use to help herself. “You get Earth news up here?”

  “We’re very aware of what happens on Earth, Aerie,” Emery said. “It’s part of our survival to know. You’ll be able to see some of the reports on Levels Three and Four when you head down for your meals and entertainment.”

  Aerie hoped fervently that there were not any broadcasts about General St. Cloud’s missing unit member. She sidestepped Emery and picked up the boots she’d seen earlier. “Well, let’s get moving. After all that time in the med ward, I’m ready to stretch my legs a bit more.”

  ♦13♦

  The beeping noise was bothersome, Exton decided as he stepped onto the Command Bridge, but it was well worth its trouble to hear it. The notification system only beeped when he had messages, and he only had messages when he managed to anger the right people in the URS.

  Specifically, Dictator Osgood.

  Although it could be General St. Cloud as well now. He weighed his options of erasing the messages or answering them.

  He pressed down on the “Delete” button. There was no need to answer if he had the upper hand.

  “Thanks, Cap,” Jared replied from behind the control monitor. “That was getting annoying.”

  “I agree,” Exton remarked. “It is much less irritating in here without the constant reminder of the URS.”

  “It wasn’t anything important, was it?”

  “I doubt it. More bluster and pomp, probably. Or maybe the bounty on our heads got bigger.”

  “They’re going to run out of credit and gold at this rate,” Jared said with a laugh.

  Exton nodded. “Give me the reports.”

  “We’re back to the usual path, Cap. The ship is circling around the earth again, following its path with the moon. Currently, we’re … ”

  As Jared began his daily chore of updating him on the condition of the ship, the solar winds, the monitors, and various other atmospheric considerations, Exton noticed another blinking light.

  “Tyler,” he called, interrupting Jared’s exposition. “Get Emery up here. Aunt Patty’s got a message for us.”

  “Okay, Captain,” Tyler responded from the forward main control.

  “Sorry, Jared,” Exton apologized. “Continue, please.”

  “That’s all I had, Cap.”

  “Oh. Well, good job. Keep me updated on any navigation concerns.”

  “Will do.” Jared cleared his throat. “The only other thing I thought I’d bring to your attention is from one of the Tech System managers, Greer. She says there’s been some unusual activity near the Old Nova Scotian shores.”

  “What kind of activity?”

  “A lot of movement,” he said. “She’s working night shift, but I read her report from last night. She said several vehicles, military grade, were driving up from New Hope over the past two days.”

  “Could it be training for the newbies, since that just graduated?” Exton thought about Aerie. He didn’t need to look further than her to recall how he had interrupted the URS’s graduation day.

  “It’s possible,” Jared said. “But unusual.”

  Unusual was never an always or never situation, Exton knew. Still, he thought it best to check it out. “Have the report sent down to me. See if the day shift can track any other activity in the area to get a better idea of what we’re dealing with here.”

  “Yes, sir,” Jared replied. “I’ll get that to you right away, sir.”

  Tyler came up behind him. “He’s eager to please.”

  “You have him well-trained, that’s for sure.”

  “Being a people-pleaser has its advantages. I would know.”

  “Not always,” Exton replied with a smirk. “I can name a few times for you when it was not only not an advantage, but an inconvenient and dangerous one.”

  Tyler shrugged. “Sometimes fun and standing your moral ground are the same thing.”

  “Agreed. Is Emery coming?”

  “She’s on her way. She’s got your new recruit in tow.”

  Exton felt a rush of satisfaction. “Good. She’ll get to see the Command Bridge while she’s here then. That’ll take care of some of Emery’s tasks. I like getting on Em’s good side.”

  “It’s good to do it while you can,” Tyler said, “especially if you’re determined to get on her bad side so frequently. She told me you have a crush.”

  “I should have known she would tell you,” Exton muttered with a grimace.

  “You have to admit, it’s a fitting punishment for all the teasing you gave us while we were dating,” Tyler replied.

  “Poetic justice has never been my strong suit.”

  “I know. You prefer revenge.”

  Exton shot him a glare, but before he could respond further to his best friend’s teasing, the door behind him opened. “Get ready,” Exton muttered to Tyler. “I’m going to have you talk to her. And Tyler, I’ll need you to keep it light. She doesn’t know the truth about the Perdition, or the URS or any of that.”

  “From what I’ve heard, she should be interesting.”

  “She is.”

  Exton turned just as Emery came up to him, Aerie following behind her. In her new uniform and freshened up, Aerie radiated vitality. She was clearly enjoying her newfound freedom aboard, no longer confined to the med ward. Her eyes were round and large, trying to mask her curiosity.

  He knew the moment she saw him; he was gratified to see a slight flush appear over her cheeks as she met his gaze for the shortest second of his life.

  “What did you need, Exton?”

  Exton didn’t have to exude any effort in ignoring Aerie while Emery demanded his attention. He gave Emery a welcoming smile before drawing her aside. “Something has come up. Follow me. Tyler, please watch our guest here for a moment.”

  Exton glanced behind him enough to see Aerie frown a bit at his abruptness, but he knew Tyler could smooth things over easily.

  “What’s happened?” Emery asked as they headed over to a small room off the Bridge.

  “Aunt Patty’s sent us another message,” he told her. “I thought you’d like to be here when I played it.”

  “There’s no other reason you could possibly want me here, is there?” Emery’s brow arched suspiciously.

  “I’ll admit it’s nice to have your charge join us here on the Command Bridge,” Exton replied, “but family is family.”

  “I guess it has been a few weeks since we last heard from her,” Emery admitted. “Play the message.”

  Exton pressed down on the blinking button, and a moment later a voice that reminded him so much of his mother’s filled the small room.

  “Hi, kids. Wanted to give you a call. I know it’s close to the anniversary. Also wanted to give my best blessing to Emery and her new husband … ”

  “That’s all?” Exton muttered in a blistered tone. “Sheesh. She could have waited. We’ll see her soon enough, won’t we?”

  “Stop talking,” Emery hissed, punching him on the shoulder. “There’s more.”

  “The settlement is growing in number, but we’ve been careful to screen everyone as they come in. We have enough people to get much of the work done … ”

  “It’s just an update,” Exton grumbled.

  “Shut up.”

  “ … a new refugee from the Old West is here now. He says there are only a few pockets of resistance left up north now. He worked in the Comms Sec; he says that the URS has a new tool for their communications. I wanted to warn you … ”

  “They’re changing their communication method?” Emery repeated. “That’s not good.”

  “I knew something was wrong.” Exton shook his head as he paused the message. “And no, Em, it wasn’t guilt.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “When we attacked, Osgood sent out a bunch of fighter jets and began launching a lot of attacks.”

  “I know,” Emer
y said. “You mentioned that it was out of character for him.”

  “And it was. And this is why. He’s mobilizing his forces. He’s planning something.”

  “So?”

  “So, more people are in danger.”

  “They’ve always been in danger with him in charge.”

  “They’re using us as an excuse for battle now.”

  “Which is what they’ve been doing since we’ve been here,” Emery reminded him.

  “We’ve managed to derail their space program, and to keep them at an impasse for the past six years,” Exton continued. “They must have something that’s a game changer.”

  Emery started to look worried. “I see.”

  Exton’s face was grim. “We need to know what they’re planning.”

  “I’ll send Aunt Patty a message back and let her know we’re on it.”

  “Good. Once you’re done, have the Tech Systems recheck their satellite monitoring. There’s no use worrying about new communications if we can find a different frequency or see if there’s a missed code somewhere in what we do have.”

  “Okay,” Emery approved. “Anything else you want me to do that will keep me preoccupied long enough for you to get some time in with Aerie?”

  “Aerie?” he repeated. “You’re calling her that, too, are you?”

  Emery frowned. “She asked me to.”

  Regardless of her curt reply, Exton smiled. “You can see why I like her.”

  “She’s silly enough with some of her ideas and her questions,” Emery said slowly, “but she’s fairly easy to like.” At Exton’s grin, she wrinkled her nose and added, “Or at least easy enough to get along with.”

  “That’s the sister I know,” Exton replied with a laugh. “What else did you learn about her?”

  “She doesn’t trust us, but she likes us,” Emery said. “She was impressed with the med care.”

  “Most refugees are.”

  “Her mother died when she was younger.”

  “No wonder you’ve taken a liking to her. You like having people to mother.”

  Emery frowned. “She’s interested in plants.”

  “Keep her out of the Biovid for a few more days, then. I have the Memory Tree being processed in there. There’s no need to make her hate me more.”

  “I don’t think she hates you, although she might wish it.” Emery smiled. “You’re a puzzle to her.”

  “And she’s curious.”

  “Yes.”

  “I noticed that pretty quickly, myself.” Exton grinned. “Are you relatively certain she won’t try to kill us now?”

  “Relatively.” She sighed. “But I’m not sure she would join us. There’s something holding her back, and it’s strong.”

  “What do you think it is?”

  “Not a boyfriend, if you’re worried about that,” Emery teased. “I’d guess pride, but I’m not sure.”

  “Good to know.” He was almost out the door when he turned back to her. “One more thing, Em. This message is confidential. I don’t mind if you tell Tyler, but keep it quiet. We still don’t have specifics.”

  “Will do.”

  The thought of the URS doing anything was rightfully terrifying, but it could be a sign of desperation. Maybe the end was coming for the URS.

  Exton almost groaned to himself. He had just decided it was okay to let his heart breathe a little. Was it possible he was buying into the idea of optimism already?

  As if in answer to his question, Exton heard Aerie laugh. Turning to see her, to look at her, to watch her hair catch the light as it fell in soft waves down her back … he decided he couldn’t help it, any more than he could stop himself from liking her in the first place.

  “What’s so amusing?” he asked, coming up to Tyler.

  “I was just telling Aerie how I met Emery for the first time.” Tyler straightened his posture at Exton’s approach. “You have to admit, Exton, it was kind of funny. I mean, you hadn’t even mentioned you had a sister while we at university together. I was just getting to the part where Emery came around asking for you, Exton, and I’d been talking to her about ‘my roommate’ and his irritating, antisocial habits.”

  “Never say so.” Aerie smiled as she turned to face Exton, who only shrugged in response. “He didn’t tell me she was his sister either,” Aerie told Tyler, “so I can sympathize with you.”

  “For what?” Exton asked. “Looking like an idiot, or just feeling like one?”

  “Maybe a bit of both,” Aerie snapped, turning her full attention to him. “Seems inconsiderate, really.”

  “You should be flattered I have a habit of neglecting to inform others of my family,” Exton told her. “It would really only be inconsiderate if I lied to you about it.”

  “You lied about her spying on me.”

  “She’s the best we have, and more compassionate than me by half.” Exton rolled his eyes. “I’m not interested in spying on you. If I was, I’d be able to set up a cam in the med ward much more easily than lose my Coordinating Director to be your personal escort around the ship.”

  “I should have had my cam to record you saying that,” Tyler remarked. “She would have loved hearing it.”

  “Well, don’t tell her about it. She doesn’t need the praise.”

  “She said the same thing about you,” Aerie recalled. “It seems you have a lot in common.”

  “Then in that case, I would say it was the poor observational training the URS gave you, rather than my lapse in manners,” Exton said. “That makes sense, given the other areas in which the URS has been lacking in preparing their students.”

  “Hey,” Aerie objected. “I’ll gladly show you just how ‘lacking’ they were in preparing me for battle. Just tell me where to meet you, and we’ll have a rematch.”

  “I won the original match. There’s no need for me to agree to a rematch.”

  “Only because you had help.” Aerie smirked. “Emery told me she was the one who had to sedate me after I attacked you.”

  “She didn’t apologize for that, did she?” Exton shook his head. “My goodness, lady, what are you doing to my crew?”

  Aerie laughed again, and Exton smiled. When he saw the amused expression on Tyler’s face, he quickly hid it. “There’s no need for you to stain my honor over a technicality.”

  “Getting tranquilized is hardly a technicality.”

  “You were almost done fighting anyway,” Exton insisted. “Emery just helped put you over the edge. I still would have won, and it would have been a lot more painful for you.”

  “I disagree. I could have had you knocked out before she stepped in and you stepped up.” Aerie brushed back a lock of her hair from her face. “Come on. Just agree to a rematch. Deal?”

  She held out her hand, and Exton only paused for a moment before taking it. “Fine,” he agreed. “Just let me know when you’re free, and we’ll schedule it.”

  “I’d bet anything the crew would love to watch. Maybe we could set up a cam in the gymnasium?” Tyler suggested.

  Exton glared at him. “I don’t think so.”

  “Scared?” Aerie asked, the grin on her face glowing with anticipation.

  “No,” Exton told her. “Just irritated I have to attend to a childish need for attention.”

  “I am not a child.” She frowned. “You’re such a—”

  “All right, Exton,” Emery spoke up, interrupting Aerie’s argument. “I got those tasks finished up. Now, please excuse me and my charge. We were headed down to Level Five, where Aerie’s scheduled for some basic work training.” Glancing at Aerie’s face, she frowned. “Exton, you really need to stop provoking her, you know.”

  “I didn’t say anything,” Exton assured her, making Aerie scowl. He squeezed her hand gently, enough to make her blush, before letting go. “Excuse me. Duty first.”

  Exton could hear Emery’s sigh as he walked away.

  ♦14♦

  When they arrived on Level Five, Aerie felt her face f
inally return to its normal temperature.

  “I’d just let it go,” Emery told her. “Exton has a strange sense of humor.”

  “I didn’t think he was joking about the child remark,” Aerie muttered.

  “Then stop acting like one,” Emery said.

  “I’m not acting like one.”

  “I’m sure that’s just what a child would say, too.”

  Aerie was about to respond when she saw Emery had a kind smile on her face. I’ll show them, she thought, when I beat him in battle.

  “For the next part of your shift,” Emery said, “you’re going to be working on Level Five with some of our other crewmembers. I will pick you up here, by the elevator, when the shift is over.”

  Aerie looked up and down the endless halls. “Which elevator is this?”

  “This is the forward port elevator,” Emery replied. “It’s one of the few elevators that can go to all levels of the ship.”

  “When will I get to see the other levels?”

  “Some you won’t. Others you’ll get to see as you work through basic training and move onto more advanced jobs.”

  Aerie smiled. “So what is basic?” she asked. “I know that the URS has basic training for combatants. Is that similar?”

  Emery gave her a reluctant laugh. “Goodness, no. Not at all.”

  “What is it then?”

  “Basic starts with basic duties. Cleaning and repairs top the list.”

  “Cleaning?” Aerie repeated.

  “Yep. Cleaning. Here comes your instructor now,” Emery said, nodding toward a tall shadow making its way down the hall.

  Aerie straightened her posture as an older lady approached, followed by a girl Aerie thought seemed close to her own age. There’s no harm in making a good impression, Aerie told herself, even though I know I’m not obligated to.

  “Aerie, this is Olga, our Level Five Manager, and one of her assistants, Alice.” Emery gestured to the long halls. “Olga runs this level and sees to the cleaning of the entire ship.”