Empaths (Pyreans Book 1)

by S. H. Jucha

  “Back off, unless you’d like a taste of this,” Terrell snarled, and he patted the shock stick at his side.

  “That’s a pretty little thing, isn’t it, men? I wonder what Terror would look like wearing it as an ornament in an inconvenient orifice?”

  Terrell growled, shoved past the spacers, and stalked out of the store. His ears burned from the laughter he heard behind him.

  Not to be defeated, Terrell returned to the monitoring suite early the next day and focused on the cam in the main promenade, which captured foot traffic entering and leaving the Latched On. He wasn’t rewarded with what he sought until the following day.

  “Yes,” Terrell hissed, when he saw Jeremy enter the store. The corporal’s eyes remained glued to the screen, confident he could play back his recording any time he wished. A half hour later, Jeremy pushed a cart of material out the doors of the Latched On, and Terrell froze the image. He expanded the shot, focusing on the goods on the cart. It carried a full vac suit — helmet, accessory bag, backpack, and suit.

  Terrell jumped to the JOS personnel database and checked Jeremy’s employment record. He found he’d been the navigator of the Spryte for less than six months. A vac suit would have been required day one before boarding the ship, and, typically, the captain would have lent the new recruit the coin to outfit his position, taking it out of his earnings over time.

  “So why do you need a new vac suit, skins, deck shoes, and other gear, spacer?” Terrell whispered to the screen, and a nasty grin crossed his face, as an answer occurred to him. He searched the JOS logs of ship movements, which every captain was required to file. The Spryte had recently visited the YIPS to drop off a load of ingots. Coincidentally, the Pearl was at the YIPS at the same time.

  Terrell leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin. “The question is, Captain,” Terrell murmured, “did you put Aurelia on the Pearl or is that a feint, and you have her hidden aboard the Spryte?” What nagged at Terrell was he couldn’t figure out why Cinders would have wanted to give Aurelia a spacer’s vac suit, if that’s what he did.

  Despite the questions, Terrell decided he had enough to push his superiors to act. The corporal caught up with Sergeant Rodriguez and presented his evidence, but the sergeant immediately jumped it up to his lieutenant. Recognizing the explosive nature of the request and the circumstantial but convincing details Terrell had collected, Devon took it up with his captain, Liam Finian.

  Minutes later, Commandant Strattleford was listening to Terrell’s recital. “That’s it?” he asked when Terrell finished, and the corporal nodded enthusiastically.

  “Admittedly, it looks suspicious, sir,” Liam added, “but I can think of other reasons why Kinsman might have given up his gear. The captain of the Pearl might have hired a crew member off the YIPS and requested immediate supply from Captain Cinders. It might be a coincidence that Kinsman and Aurelia have similar builds.”

  Emerson thought for a moment before he made up his mind. “Request denied, Corporal. If you’re wrong, and the odds are against you, then Cinders will be filing harassment charges with the Review Board. Simply put, Cinders is a much-too-popular captain to antagonize. Bring me some hard evidence, and I’ll reconsider your request. Dismissed.”

  Terrell left the commandant’s office incensed and made straight for his cabin. For his next call, he needed privacy. Closing his cabin door, Terrell opened his comm unit and selected Giorgio Sestos’ number.

  * * *

  “Captain, we’ve got a problem,” Ituau announced.

  “Talk to me,” Jessie replied.

  “I’ve heard from two sources that Terror is tracking our crew, and he’s singled out Jeremy.”

  “How definitive is your information?”

  “I’ve got a friend, who works in security’s monitoring suite. She says Terror has spent days focused on cams to see where our crew goes when aboard the JOS. Then Gabriel at the Latched On said Terror walked into his shop minutes after Jeremy left. The corporal showed him a photo of Jeremy, heading into his store, and said he wanted to know what the customer bought.”

  “Your friend in security, is she reliable?”

  “We’re close, Captain, real close, many times,” Ituau said, grinning.

  “Spare me the details,” Jessie replied. He sat down at his cabin’s table to think and motioned to Ituau to take a seat. “Terror hasn’t let go of his suspicion that Rules never left the Spryte. He’s determined to find evidence of that.”

  “That’s my guess, Captain. If Terror was watching the entire crew, he saw Jeremy buying a whole new set of gear, and he’s asking himself why.”

  “I presume Terror got nothing out of Gabriel?” Jessie asked, chuckling.

  Ituau smiled in return. She knew the captain’s question was rhetorical.

  “But, if that little piece of effluent didn’t get what he wanted?” Jessie posited. “Then, he’d monitor or record that cam until Jeremy returned. What did the boy pick up? A vac suit?”

  “Afraid so, Captain.”

  “This means Terror might have stumbled on to the similar builds of Jeremy and Rules.”

  “But Terror wouldn’t know for sure that Rules isn’t aboard our ship anymore,” Ituau reasoned.

  “Which means the corporal will be anxious to find out. I think Terror might target Jeremy,” Jessie concluded. “From now on, crew members leave the Spryte in groups of two or more for safety, and, if they encounter Terror, they are under no circumstances to start an altercation with him. I want that clearly understood.”

  “Aye, Captain,” Ituau replied. The tone in Jessie’s voice said he would brook no disregarding of his order. “What about Jeremy? Should we keep him aboard?”

  “No, that would only alert Terror that we’re watching him, which would make him think he’s on to something concerning Rules. Furthermore, I don’t want any suspicion to fall on your friend in security, as a possible source of our information. We’ll let Jeremy continue as usual, but he’s always to be in the company of two other crew members.”

  “Understood, Captain. I’ll occasionally mix up the crew to make the threesome look random.”

  “Do that, Ituau, and stress to those you assign to accompany Jeremy that if they slip up and let him out of their sight, it could be medical or worse for our navigator.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain,” Ituau replied, rising from the table and exiting the cabin.

  * * *

  When Lise Panoy finished her call with Giorgio Sestos, she drummed a well-manicured set of fingernails on the chair’s arm. What had appeared to be a golden opportunity to overthrow the Andropov family was constantly and frustratingly attempting to slip through her hands.

  To complicate matters, Lise was suspicious that Sestos wasn’t bought, as she had first believed. She considered the possibility that he was playing a double game. For all she knew, the entire story of Dimitri’s death by an enraged empath was pure fiction. She imagined for a moment that it was an elaborate trap by the governor. If the family heads took the bait and swallowed the story, they exposed themselves as enemies of the Andropov family.

  Unfortunately, if the story was a trap, Lise couldn’t figure an alternate move. A girl did exist, and she did run from the domes to the JOS. Unless she was a paid actress, they needed to locate that individual and find out the truth. Lise picked up her comm unit and placed a call.

  “I hope this isn’t another late revelation, Lise,” the JOS commandant replied.

  “No, Emerson, this is a complaint about the effectiveness of your security forces. How much time do you need to locate one girl on a station? It’s not like she could fly away,” Lise replied hotly.

  “We had a solid lead, Lise, but it didn’t develop.”

  “Would that be a sniffer detecting the girl aboard the Spryte?”

  “You’re remarkably well informed, Lise.”

  Lise ignored the commandant’s attempt to gain information about her sources. She dropped the Spryte’s name to tell him tha
t his actions were being monitored, nothing more. “I understand your best DAD operator wasn’t allowed to investigate the ship. That was quite foolish of your senior people.”

  “Not much we could do about it. Captain Cinders did allow my lieutenant and his sergeant aboard, and they are qualified with a DAD.”

  “Not the same thing as an expert operating the device, is it though?” When Lise didn’t get a reply, she pushed the commandant for what she wanted. “Is the Spryte in dock?”

  “Wait,” Emerson replied, while he pulled up the terminal arms statuses. “Yes, she’s docked.”

  “Then I strongly suggest, Commandant, you get your expert over to that ship and prove once and for all that the girl isn’t aboard. Otherwise, the families will be requesting the station elect a new commandant, who can handle these tragic situations.” Before Emerson could respond, Lise severed the connection.

  Emerson fumed for a half hour before he got control of his anger and called Major Finian into his office.

  “Give Corporal McKenzie permission to carry out a DAD search on the Spryte.”

  “What’s changed, Commandant?” Liam asked.

  “Not a damn thing, but I’m getting pressure from downside to locate the girl, and I’ve decided to investigate every possibility, no matter how remote.”

  “Should I give Captain Cinders a heads-up?”

  “Absolutely not. Make it a surprise visit. Oh, and Major, make sure that Terrell has support.”

  “Support?” Liam queried.

  “Let’s think of them as witnesses, in case the corporal’s visit to the Spryte ends up creating more effluence than we can process. You read me, Major?”

  “Understood, sir,” Liam said, quickly retreating from the commandant’s office. Why can’t I get a decent commanding officer? Liam thought, as he made for Lieutenant Higgins’ office.

  Next, it was Devon’s turn to inform Sergeant Rodriguez.

  “Will you be accompanying me to the Spryte?” Miguel asked.

  “It won’t be necessary, Sergeant. You’ll be sitting right here in my office when the corporal goes on his quest.”

  “I hate to be dense, Lieutenant, but could you explain this to me? Aren’t we supporting McKenzie?”

  “Yes, we’re sending three privates to accompany him. As the major explained it to me, the commandant wants witnesses, in case the corporal makes a hash of his investigation.”

  “But he won’t have a superior officer along? Isn’t that asking for trouble, what with the corporal’s reputation?”

  “Let me ask you, Miguel,” Devon said, leaning across the sergeant’s desk. “Imagine these two scenarios. Aurelia is on the ship; Aurelia isn’t on the ship. Now, also imagine that you and I have led the search of the Spryte for a second time. What do you think the outcome of the two scenarios would be for either of us?”

  Miguel leaned back in his chair. He envisioned demanding access to the Spryte and requiring Captain Cinders to allow McKenzie to board the ship, per the commandant’s orders. If they found the girl, he would have to take Cinders into custody, and he winced at that thought. If they didn’t find the girl, he would have insulted the spacers’ most respected captain. Both scenarios were lose-lose prospects. “You’re absolutely right, Lieutenant. Your office is a much better place to wait out McKenzie’s search.”

  “Right you are, Sergeant. Give McKenzie his marching orders.

  * * *

  “This is the terminal arm manager calling the Spryte,” Jessie heard over the bridge speakers. He flicked the link on his chair’s comm board. “This is Captain Cinders. Go ahead, Penelope.”

  “You have inbound, Captain. Corporal McKenzie and three security newbies are translating through the ring. They’re headed for your arm. And, Captain, be aware, Terror is wearing one effluent-eating grin.”

  “Understood, Penelope. Appreciate the heads-up.”

  “You want me to call anybody, Captain?”

  “No, Penelope, we’re fine out here.”

  “You be careful, Captain.”

  “Will do, Penelope. Spryte out.”

  Jessie jumped out of his chair, thumbed his comm unit, and called his three officers. The officers gathered every crew member, and the group met Jessie in the axis corridor next to the exit airlock.

  “We have guests, Terror and three privates. No officers.” When the crew started to grumble, Jessie growled, “Zip it. You follow my next orders explicitly, and you be good little spacers. Copy?” A rousing chorus of assent came back from the crew.

  “We file off the ship, and you take an outward arm position and remain silent. I want neutral expressions on each and every face. I’ll be the one greeting our guests.”

  If deck shoes would have allowed strutting, Terrell would have been doing that as he exited the cap and walked the length of the arm toward the Spryte. He felt redeemed and was determined to search every meter of the Spryte to prove to his superiors that he’d been right. You can’t hide from me now, he thought.

  Terrell’s purposeful step faltered when he saw the crew of the Spryte flood out of the ship. That they took up a position arm outward leaving him open access to the gangway encouraged him, and he resumed his stride.

  “Captain Cinders, I have orders —” Terrell stopped, when Jessie held a hand up to his face.

  “I get it, Terror. You have an itch that you need to scratch. Be my guest, and search the ship. Mind you, I’m warning you in front of witnesses that you’re not to touch anything electronic or any personal items. Furthermore, I’m giving permission for you alone to enter the ship. The three privates will remain outside with me.

  Terrell regarded the looks on his security team. They appeared indifferent, and he tipped his head, saying, “Wait out here.” To Jessie, he added, “I don’t expect to encounter anyone aboard your ship, except the girl!”

  “Enjoy yourself, Terror,” Jessie said, standing aside, and sweeping an arm toward the gangway. That he continued to antagonize the corporal seemed childish. A better man wouldn’t do it, but then he didn’t aspire to be that kind of person.

  After Terrell entered the ship, the Spryte’s crew and the three security privates mingled amicably. There were friends and acquaintances between the two groups, and none of them had any fondness for Terrell McKenzie.

  Inside the ship, the corporal spent an hour checking the ship from top to bottom — bridge, cabins, galley, heads, wardrooms, vac suit rooms, and anything he could think of except the bays, which were in vacuum. In that regard, he wished he’d thought to bring a vac suit. But his belief that Captain Cinders had insufficient warning to put the girl in a vac suit and hide her in a bay made him feel confident that searching them was unnecessary.

  When Terrell exited the Spryte, there was a quick reshuffling of people, as they separated into crew and security.

  Jessie made a show of expectantly scanning the gangway behind the corporal. “Where’s the girl, Terror?” he asked in mock seriousness.

  Terrell bit his tongue. Anything he said now would put him in jeopardy with superiors.

  A female private asked what Terrell found, and he snarled at the privates to fall in.

  But before Terrell could take a step, Jessie commanded, “Halt,” which brought the security detail up short. “Corporal McKenzie, you’ve been aboard a ship unaccompanied by a ship or security officer. Under the Captain’s Articles, I insist that you be searched to ensure you aren’t carrying away any ship’s items or crew’s personal effects.

  “That’s not going to happen, Captain,” Terrell snarled and turned to walk away, but his path was blocked by the privates.

  “Sorry, Corporal,” a male private apologized. “The captain is within his rights to insist on the search, and the three of us are in jeopardy of reprimands, if not a Review Board hearing, if we fail to comply. Better we get this over with. Please raise your hands.”

  “Don’t touch me,” Terrell threatened and backed away from his security team.

  “If you p
refer, Terror, I can have my crew conduct the search. But, one way or the other, it’s going to happen,” Jessie said, his eyes holding the corporal’s.

  Terrell watched the Spryte’s crew fan out behind his team, anticipatory gleams in their eyes. “Fine, but my people conduct the search,” he said, and held his arms out wide.

  The private, who had encouraged Terrell to submit to the captain’s request, quickly searched him, turning out pockets for the captain’s viewing.

  When the search was complete, Terrell heaped all the scorn he could into his voice, asking, “Are you satisfied, Captain?”

  “Oh, completely,” Jessie replied with a bright smile.

  The Spryte’s crew broke out into laughter, and Terrell turned red-faced. He didn’t order his people to follow him. He simply turned and made for the arm’s exit. The privates didn’t bother to keep close with Terrell, which enabled the corporal to catch a cap by himself. He stomped his way to the commandant’s office, where Major Finian waited for him in the outer vestibule.

  Liam took one look at the corporal’s face and heaved a sigh. “Let’s get this over with,” he said, knocking on the commandant’s doorway.

  “Come, Captain,” Emerson replied. “Okay, Corporal, let’s have your report.”

  Terrell noticed Major Finian ease toward the commandant in an attempt to distance himself from the coming fallout. “Nothing, sir,” was all Terrell said.

  “Elaborate, Corporal,” Emerson commanded.

  “There was absolutely no sniff of the girl’s DNA. There should have been some residual pickup from when Lieutenant Higgins was aboard the ship. If I could have boarded the Spryte then, I’m sure I would have found her.”

  “Corporal, you’ve insisted Captain Cinders was involved with our suspect to the point that the families are clamoring that I support you. So, I gave you a chance. Now, you’re telling me there’s no proof whatsoever?” Emerson’s voice took on the shrillness that underscored his anger.

  “Sir, the only way this could have happened is by Captain Cinders opening his ship to vacuum to remove any trace of the girl’s DNA.”