by Jason Hutt
“I’m sure,” he said, “Just like they’re looking into our application.”
“I’m sure it’s just an administrative error,” Maria said with a smile.
Hlinka shook his head and walked away.
Maria glanced at the next name. “Miss Seok?” Maria looked up to see a tall, long-haired woman looking down at her.
“A year ago we petitioned for relief in some of the Wildlife Protection Act measures. We have yet to hear any kind of response,” the young woman said.
“What is the issue?” Maria asked.
“Rats, well they kind of look like rats, have been breaking into the silos. Conglomerate traps are ineffective,” she said.
“We’ll see what we can do,” Maria said. Her wrist computer scanned Ms. Seok’s chip and recorded her residence and contact information. A moment later and she was ready for the next person. “Mrs. Parmalee?”
“My husband was a planetary scout, out here as part of a Republic Geological Survey team. He died while doing his job. It’s been two years. I’d like the Republic to pay me what I’m owed.”
After several moments of hesitation, Maria could only say, “I’m sorry.” She could think of nothing else to say. Then Mister Johnson asked about with a rejected patent claim for a new tiller. Then Doctor Jameson stepped forward with a complaint of an application stuck in the system that he needed approved to start clinical trials on a potential treatment for a peculiar airborne virus plaguing the farmhands. On and on it went, person after person complaining about something stuck in the bureaucratic machine.
More than a hundred people stepped forward with a complaint or question and Maria listened to each one of them, gave them a smile, and told them her office would look into it. People started filtering out after the first hour when it was clear Maria had no real answers to offer. They turned away, shoulders slumped, eyes cast toward the floor, and headed into the evening with a doubtful shake of their head.
“It was good of you to listen,” Cillian said after Maria shook the last person’s hand. “You have to see though that nobody thinks you’ll be able to do any good.”
“I can’t fix all of this, Cillian. You know that.”
“I know.”
“What the hell am I supposed to do? I’m just one person. To respond to all of these would take teams of people.”
“Yes, it would,” he said, “Now maybe you see why I’m taking matters into my own hand. The system doesn’t mean much out here.”
“I can’t agree with that,” she said, “It’s everything I’ve fought against for the last ten years. I can fix this. I have to fix this.”
“Maybe,” he said, “You have a voice that people will hear. You’re inside the system. Maybe you can make it work better for them. I can’t count on that.”
Maria nodded, but said nothing.
Hours later and with the anger of the crowd now fading in her memory, Maria shook hands with Cillian at the edge of the landing pad. She looked at him with regret, brushing a loose strand of hair out of her eyes. She bit the inside of her lip as she struggled to find the right thing to say.
“I hope you believe me when I say I’m working to fix this.”
“I believe you, Maria, and I know you have good intentions. But when was the last time a decision was made in our favor? We don’t have the money to lobby for our own sake.”
“Those people were the lobbyists I really needed to hear,” she said.
He gave her a half smile. “That’s a nice sentiment, but…well…I’ll just say thank you for coming back…and for listening. I think the trip was good for all of us.”
“Take care, Cillian,” she said, “You’ll hear from me soon.” Maria turned from the Governor and walked toward the shuttle. The open ramp was just a few steps away when she felt a slight tingle. A shrill alarm came from her wrist computer and the screen flashed red. She felt a bite in her side. Maria stumbled a half a step and fell to one knee. She put a hand to the sting and felt something wet.
She heard something, someone yelling something, as the world around her started to go out of focus. Why was her hand wet? She looked down; her fingertips covered in blood. Her eyelids were heavy. She blinked and found herself looking up at Cillian, concern covering his dark-skinned face. He was yelling into his wrist computer.
Maria thought she heard sirens.
Part II
Chapter 9
“Tell me, Commander, what exactly happened to Victor Chen?”
Akimbe looked his superior officer in the eye, his gaze unyielding.
Admiral Dorn met his stare with a stern, unforgiving will that was every bit his equal.
“I believe I have included all of the relevant details in my report, ma’am,” Akimbe answered. He sat across from her, his hands laced together in front of him, sitting up straight.
“Strange then, that his identification chip recorded his time of death to be so long after you had reported being in control of Evergreen Station,” Dorn said as she scanned the text of his report. “Cortisol levels, heart rate, and other indicators show that Mister Chen was under considerable stress by the time he died.”
“I would not think that would be a surprise for a man who was leading the most notorious child trafficking operation in the Republic, a man who suddenly had to face the consequences of his actions.”
“True,” she said, “That doesn’t explain the endorphin levels in his brain.”
“What exactly are you accusing me of, Admiral?” Akimbe asked. “Have I not delivered you eight of the top ten criminals on Sector Security’s most wanted list? Have I not disbanded their operation and returned more than three dozen undocumented children, all of whom represented severe security risks to our Republic?”
“You have,” Dorn admitted, “But the ends do not justify the means. This Navy does not abide thugs, tyrants, or torturers.”
“I am none of those,” Akimbe said.
“Yes and remarkably not one member of your crew will substantiate any of the claims of Mister Christian Volkov who filed a complaint regarding your strong-arm tactics used to coerce information out-of-him, including blackmail and threats against the well-being of his wife. Add that to what we know about Louis Locke and Victor Chen, both of whom met an untimely demise while under your care.”
“Louis Locke was injured when we disabled his craft,” Akimbe said.
“Yet if you were to stab me in the kidney, modern medicine could grow me a new one within two days,” Dorn said, “And if something went wrong with that an artificial organ could be transplanted within hours.”
“I wasn’t aware that the combat casualty rate had dropped to zero.”
Dorn measuring Akimbe with an icy stare. He didn’t flinch. The two of them stared at each other in silence as seconds slowly ticked away.
Dorn looked away first. “Your Chief Medical Officer has corroborated your reports. Your crewmembers have provided consistent inputs to the Inspector General’s team. Your team is very complimentary of your leadership and you have inspired some true believers in your troops.
“Beyond the unsubstantiated testimony of Mister Volkov and the data from Mister Chen’s chip, I have no hard evidence of any wrong-doing in this matter.
“But I have heard the rumors, Commander. I’ve heard stories of your methods,” Dorn said, “And I will not tolerate those actions in this Navy. Your request to continue pursuit of Maxime Cabot and Hannah Cabot is denied.”
“I do not believe that is a wise decision,” Akimbe said, “Even this delay, forcing me to come in for review, has given them ample time to hide away in some dark corner of the Republic.”
“Wise or not, it is my decision to make. You are being reassigned. The task force will be placed under the command of Captain Lal. You will be assigned the Fifth Fleet under the command of Captain Boulina.”
Akimbe’s eyes narrowed and he breathed out through flared nostrils.
“I will, of course, protest this decision,” Akimbe said.
>
“As is your right,” Dorn responded, “Your protest is denied. I am will deploy my officers as I see fit, to best meet the needs of the Republic.”
Per procedure, Dorn activated the voice recorder in her desk.
“Congratulations, Commander Akimbe. You have achieved a great victory for the Sector Security Naval Forces and the Republic. With the threat from the Maisha colony greatly diminished, I believe continued command of this task force would be a waste of your talents. With that, I’m reassigning you to a more active theater of operations.”
Dorn deactivated the recorder.
“You’ll be receiving your orders within the hour.”
Akimbe’s hands had involuntarily balled into fists. “You’re making a grave mistake, Admiral. You are ignoring a true threat to this Republic based on nothing but hearsay and suspicion. I will be vindicated.” Akimbe stood and saluted.
“You’re dismissed, Commander,” Dorn said and then returned the salute. “And if I so much as catch word that your shirt is untucked, I’ll find a reason to drum you out of my command.”
Akimbe turned and marched down the corridors of the Ceres installation. After half a kilometer of fuming through the corridors, he turned into the gym. Someone here would be looking for a sparring partner.
An hour later, with his face covered in sweat and his knuckles scraped and bloodied, Akimbe arrived at his quarters to pack up his few personal belongings. Roland was already there, putting things in his duffel.
“We received word thirty minutes ago, Commander,” Roland said, “We were ordered to ship your belongings over to the transfer terminal. I understand you’re headed out within the hour.”
Akimbe grimaced. “I am.”
“I’m sorry, Commander.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about, Roland. You’re a fine officer. I’m sure your new commanding officer will recognize your abilities. Perhaps someday, when the powers that be come to their senses, we can work together again.”
Roland got up to leave, but lingered in the doorway. “I’m putting in for a transfer. I’ll join you once you send word of your new command.”
Akimbe shook his head. “Don’t do it. I doubt the Admiral wants to see anyone from my cult of personality follow me on this new assignment. Besides, you can do more good in continuing what we’ve started.”
“Captain Lal is an undisciplined moron.”
“Easy, Lieutenant Commander, he is your superior officer. That just means you’ll have to work harder to keep the crew vigilant…and to route me whatever data you find on Cabot and his daughter.”
Roland smiled. “With pleasure, sir.”
“I don’t intend to stop my pursuit. I will find them and when I do, Admiral Dorn will regret her decision today. When I bring those two forward she will have no choice but to admit her mistake. Max and Hannah are out there and I intend to find them.”
***
Only one person in the galaxy could drive Hannah crazy with nothing but a flippant shrug and a dumb, vacant stare and that person just happened to be the only other person in the galaxy that she had any kind of relationship with. At least with two starships for two people, she could get some distance from Max. The Starbright was rundown, in dire need of a new coat of paint, and smelled vaguely of rotting eggs, but it was otherwise empty and it had a running track.
Hannah pushed herself with every stride on the track. Her feet pounded against the floor, each step echoing off the walls of the dimly-lit gym. Sweat poured over the scowl on her face and she could feel the pounding of her heart in her ears. Eventually, her muscles screamed for her to stop, but she couldn’t. She had to keep running.
To not run meant she would spend her time sitting around in the lounge or sitting in the cafeteria or sitting and watching the stars. Sitting meant seeing the faces in her nightmares. When she closed her eyes, all she could see was a gaping chest wound. When she lay down at night, all she could hear were the screams of children and the desperate shouts of the father about to kill them. She dreamt of Victor Chen, his face being eaten away by the viscous gray goo that had torn at his flesh, rending him apart bit by bit.
Hannah had woken up in a cold sweat every night since Chen and everyone else she had ever known had been captured or killed. Dark splotches had formed under her eyes. It was more comforting to not sleep at all.
She cried herself to sleep that first night after Victor’s death, after the capture of everyone else she knew, biting into her pillow to keep from being too loud. She cried so long and so hard that her chest had been sore the next day. She was grateful to have had a separate cabin on the Starbright. She only ran into Max once the entire day, but even in that brief encounter, she was fairly certain Max’s eyes were red-rimmed as well.
“Hannah,” Max’s voice burst from her wrist computer. She nearly jumped out of her skin at the sudden break in silence. “Please meet me on the Guardian.”
“On my way,” she said as she ran out of the gym. She continued running through the corridors of the Starbright until she reached the connection between the two ships.
Max was finishing up work on the galley systems, trying to augment the little ship’s systems with one of the gourmet food processors from the Starbright. He was reinstalling a panel when Hannah trotted in.
“You’ve been running a lot,” Max said.
Hannah waited a moment for his question to come but it never did. Instead, silence lingered between them for long enough that Hannah felt compelled to speak. “I can’t just sit here.”
Max grabbed a bowl from the galley cabinets and held it out to her.
“Want to try the first batch?”
Hannah shook her head.
“You look tired. Have you been sleeping?”
“Not well,” she admitted.
“What’s keeping you up?” Max put the bowl under the dispenser and a grayish paste squirted out with a couple of loud pops and a gurgle.
Hannah recoiled slightly at the sound.
Max tentatively sniffed the bowl’s contents. “Looks like shit,” Max said. He dipped a spoon in and took a small taste. “Not bad though. Look, what we’ve been through over the last couple weeks would rattle anyone. I’ve seen that look before. I know this isn’t easy. Death is never easy.”
“I’m okay,” Hannah insisted. She cast her gaze to the floor and felt as if her eyes were about to slam shut.
“You’re lying,” Max said, “But you don’t have to tell it to me. Talk to the psych programs if that’s what you need. Don’t bottle it up though; it’ll eat you alive.”
“Interesting choice of words,” Hannah said.
Max gave her a wry smile. “Yes, I drink to forget. Sometimes, I drink because it’s the only way I can sleep. When you see things like we did back there, like they did to Victor, well, let’s just say I’d rather not dream. They say you don’t sleep as well when you drink, but it beats not sleeping at all.”
Hannah felt her eyes glistening. She was tempted, however briefly, to hug him, to feel the embrace of another person. Instead she stood there, biting the inside of her lip as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She blinked and looked away. “So what now?” She finally asked.
Max took a bigger bite from the bowl and tossed it and its half-eaten contents onto the counter. “That’ll need some adjustments to really work, but it should give you some variety in your meals.”
Max’s tone was odd. Hannah’s brow furrowed as she looked at him. Then she noticed the bag sitting on the floor next to the galley.
“What’s going on?” She asked.
“You asked me before if I knew anybody - anyone who could help us. Well, I do. Sort of…I mean, I’ve heard of him. And frankly, I’d rather you didn’t. He’s not someone I’d normally associate with, but under the circumstances, I don’t see any other choice.”
Hannah stared at him. Max continued to stare at the galley plumbing.
“I need to take the Starbright,” Max said, “I need to do some
thing.”
“What?” She asked.
“The less you know, the better,” Max said.
“That’s crap, Max,” she said, “You’re just going to abandon me out here?”
“I’m giving you my ship, Reggie too. I want you far away from here.”
“Are you serious? You’re doing this now? Now that we’re all that’s left? What are you just going to run and hide, cowering in some dark corner with your tail between your legs?” Hannah felt the heat rising in her cheeks.
“Don’t think that hasn’t occurred to me,” Max said.
“Damn it, Max. I’m serious.”
“I know, Hannah,” Max said with a sigh, “I know that all too well.” He leaned against the bulkhead, arms folded across his chest.
She stood across from him, brow set, back straight, arms resting on her hips.
“Hannah, I can’t give you the life you want,” Max said, “I wish more than anything that I could. I would love nothing more than to let you have a normal life, to let you explore the stars, go from world-to-world, but that’s just not going to happen. And I don’t know what to do about that.”
“This is bullshit,” Hannah said, shaking her head, “There’s always another option. We fight, Max. Just like Victor told you.”
“And then we’ll die, just like he did. Just like your mother. Just like so many others. I can’t take that anymore.”
“You have to,” Hannah said, her voice a harsh whisper.
“I can’t,” he said, “I’ve got nothing left to give.”
“Damn you,” Hannah said. They stood in silence. Max still stared at the floor as Hannah’s eyes burned through him. “So you’re just going to run then? Hide away somewhere?”
“No, I’m going to do what I’ve needed to do since all this started. I’m going to rescue Eleanor.”
Hannah gritted her teeth and shook her head. “You’re going to risk getting yourself killed to save this girl, yet you won’t…you’d just walk away from this? Leave me to fight for myself?”