by S. H. Jucha
“You mean she’s off station?”
“That’s what the evidence indicates, Liana. We’ve engaged some security officers to make inquiries offline to investigate this aspect of the case, and we’ll continue to apply pressure. After all, we can’t have anyone, downsider or topsider, thinking they can get away with murdering one of our own.” Lise managed to add a sincere smile for Liana’s benefit.
“Thank you, Lise,” Liana said, rising and offering her hand.
“I’ll keep you informed if I hear of any progress we make, Liana. My maid will show you out,” Lise said, accepting Liana’s hand and indicating the woman who’d appeared in the salon’s doorway.
Lise was enjoying the afterglow of interaction with Liana when a tapping at the door indicated that Idrian Tuttle and Rufus Stewart, who had seen Liana leave, were ready to resume their conversation.
“That must have felt good,” Rufus chuckled.
“You have no idea. I could bask in that sensation for a year and never get tired of it, but enough about Liana’s downfall. Where were we?”
“Discussing the recent events concerning the Belle,” Idrian reminded Lise.
“Yes, this bit of news about retired spacers communicating with … what was the name of that one aboard the Belle?”
“Dingles?” Rufus replied, laughing.
“Where, for the love of Pyre, do these people get these absurd names?” Lise said, shaking her head.
“To the spacers, Lise, they’re a sign of respect from the crews, who endow their veterans with these nicknames. We need to be careful not to adopt a dismissive attitude about them. If anything, these should be a warning sign to us that we’re speaking about someone who has influence within the spacer community.”
“Whatever,” Lise said, waving off Idrian. She was annoyed that she couldn’t enjoy thinking of the spacers as individuals she needn’t consider in her grand strategies. “How certain are we of this information that this Dingles is intending to hire spacers for the Belle?”
“It’s solid, Lise,” Rufus replied. “We learned from Emerson who it was that Giorgio Sestos was communicating with aboard the JOS for station intelligence. It was a Corporal McKenzie. Apparently, he’s one nasty piece of work. With the arrest of Markos and Giorgio, the corporal lost his patron, and we conveniently offered him a new opportunity, which he was eager to take. The corporal has a heavy and costly taste for coin-kitties and kats. Seems he’s constantly penalized for medical services afterwards.
“Ugh,” Lise commented. “Well, whatever works for station trash.”
“This has to be adding up to something, Lise,” Idrian speculated. “The Belle holds a snap election, and Harbour emerges as the captain. Now, one of her senior spacers is hiring retired spacers. If I didn’t know better, I’m thinking Harbour is intending to move the colony ship.”
Rufus laughed uproariously at Idrian, who frowned in resentment. But, it was Idrian who had the last laugh, when Lise pointed a manicured finger at Idrian and nodded her head, while she considered the idea.
“That makes sense, Idrian,” Lise said. “But the real question is: Where would she move the Belle? Maybe far enough out that shuttles couldn’t reach her, but what good would that do her and her people? No, if she moves that ship, it has to be for something greater.”
Rufus was about to voice a suggestion, but his eye caught the drumming of Lise’s nails on the arm of her chair, a sure sign that she preferred not to be interrupted, while she ruminated on a subject.
“No, Harbour’s no idiot. She has something unique in mind. I’ve always thought her capable of so much more, but she’s preferred to remain passive when it came to politics. Maybe that’s changed,” Lise posited.
“My thought, Lise,” Idrian volunteered. “It’s about the spacers at Triton.”
This time Rufus kept his laughter to himself. Instead, he eyed Lise, waiting for her reaction.
“Idrian, sometimes genius flows out of that mouth of yours,” Lise commented, rising from her chair. “That’s it. Captain Harbour is sailing the Belle to Triton,” she exclaimed. A knuckle of her fist was held between her exquisite teeth to prevent her from emoting any further in front of the two men, who she now considered subordinates, although they wouldn’t have agreed with her.
“We can’t let those spacers be rescued. We have to stop her,” Rufus demanded.
Lise pulled her hand away from her mouth and eyed Rufus coldly. “Think, before you attempt to give me orders, Rufus,” she said, her voice biting. “This couldn’t be better if we planned it. If, and I say if, Harbour is planning to take the Belle to Triton, she’ll fall under the same quarantine restrictions, and it’ll restart the clock again for Cinders’ people.”
“But the Belle can easily haul the supplies that the spacers need,” Rufus commented. He was smarting from Lise’s rebuke and was determined to regain some favor.
“True,” Lise replied. “It would have been more useful to remove Cinders and two of his ships, but that was never my primary intention.”
“No?” Rufus queried.
“No, Rufus. Stranding Cinders and two of his ships at Triton for six months would have crippled his company, even if he found a way to survive the quarantine. Essentially, the quarantine was supposed to ruin him and his reputation. The beauty of Harbour taking the colony ship to Triton is that she would be out of our hair for six months.”
“And it would be better for your governorship, Lise, if the quarantine, which was imposed for the safety of the citizens, didn’t lead to the death of the spacers,” Idrian added.
“Yes, it would, wouldn’t it?” Lise mused. Finally, it was her turn to laugh.
“What?” Rufus asked.
“I was just thinking of calling Harbour and asking her how I can help her prepare for her journey to Triton,” Lise replied, laughing and clapping her hands.
* * *
“How’s the work proceeding on the cantina, Dingles?” Harbour asked.
“Better than expected, Captain,” Dingles replied. “Maggie will have it completed within the timeline we requested.”
“I’ve been stocking the shuttle with the cantina’s supplies on return trips,” Danny added. “Maggie told me on my last trip that it was the final load.”
“Good thing too, Captain,” Dingles said. “The coolers and shelves are filled to the brim.”
“What’s left?” Harbour asked.
“Furniture and bar installation,” Dingles replied. “We’re expecting a shuttle delivery tomorrow. The foreman said he could have it done in two days.”
“And our extra spacers, Dingles?”
“Ready to go, Captain, just waiting for the word.”
“Anything else holding us up?”
“Nope, Captain. When the work crew and the delivery shuttle leaves in a few days, we’re ready to begin the final transfers of our people and the new crew,” Dingles replied.
“Speaking of which, what’s the final count of the departing?”
“Everyone who voted against you, Captain … two hundred and ninety-eight people. Arlene made sure of that,” Dingles replied.
“The sooner that woman is off the ship, the happier this place will be,” Danny grumped.
“What’s that number mean for you, Danny?” Harbour asked.
“These people are carting a lot of baggage, Captain. I estimate it’ll take ten or eleven shuttle trips. The trouble is that loading and unloading all that gear will triple the usual roundtrip time. I’ll need two days to transfer everybody off the Belle.
Dingles tipped his cap back on his head to scratch an itch on his forehead. “My concern is that security and stationers will notice the stream of people from Danny’s shuttle, Captain, and they’ll be doubly curious when they get a look at the loaded carts arriving at the cargo landing platforms of the JOS. There’s always the possibility that the commandant will object to what you’re intending. He might not have a right to do so, but that won’t stop him from interfering wit
h our launch, if he gets enough pressure from topside or downside.”
“I don’t intend to give the commandant the opportunity, Dingles,” Harbour replied. “We’ll get the Belle underway after Danny completes his fifth run. Didn’t you say, Dingles, that one of the spacers you’re hiring is a shuttle pilot?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good, Dingles. Get him over here now. He’ll work with Danny on the transfers. We’re going to shorten this process from two days to thirty hours. And once we’re underway, security’s shuttles won’t be able to block us. A ship underway and all that,” Harbour said, winking at the men.
“Captain, you’ve been studying!” Dingles exclaimed.
“We have a great deal of missing documents from the library, but the ones on basic navigation, ships’ right-of-way, and so much more are still there. It’s made for some educational evenings.”
“Whatever the plan, Captain, don’t you dare leave me behind,” Danny said, with mock seriousness.
“It would never happen, Danny,” Harbour replied, laughing, and she sent him a token of her appreciation, as she left.
“I’ll never get tired of that,” Danny commented.
“It’s like a thirsty man getting a drink of water,” Dingles added, having benefited from standing next to Danny.
Danny regarded Dingles, and he started chuckling.
“What?” Dingles asked.
“I had a vision of the future. I saw a bunch of us spacers working to please Harbour for a touch of her power. When one of the crew was successful, the rest of us would close up on him to share in the reward.”
“We would look mighty silly,” Dingles agreed. “Makes you wonder what those around Aurelia are experiencing.”
“Guess that would depend on the girl’s personality. Is she like Harbour or Arlene?”
Dingles shivered at the prospect of a strong empath with a nasty personality. Danny saw the reaction and grimaced in agreement.
-32-
Sasha
Helena and Sasha shared a cabin aboard the Belle, but it wasn’t the most convivial arrangement. Helena was content to be free of her imprisonment and to live safe and secure under Harbour’s protection, but Sasha wasn’t content with much of anything. At least when Sasha was downside, she had a view. She could look out a window and see trees, blooming flowers, and a gardener or household member. In the Belle’s cabin, she felt she was transported back to her downside bedroom and stuck staring at four walls.
Sasha had taken to the habit of waiting until her mother fell asleep and then slipping on some thermal clothing to wander the giant colony ship. The first night she’d become lost for nearly a quarter of an hour before she ran into a young tech, who guided her back to the cabin. After that, she was careful to memorize the twists and turns of the corridors during her investigations, so that she could find her own way back.
Tonight, Sasha was venturing into a new area of the ship, a direction she’d seen taken only by older empaths, and her curiosity drove her to explore. A heavy hatch confronted her at the end of a corridor. No door actuator was present, but a manual, wheel-locking mechanism was well worn. The wheel turned easily in her hand and with some effort, Sasha was able to push through the hatch, locking it in the open position.
The short corridor was lined with cabins, which had well-appointed doors. It was a superior area of the ship, which intrigued Sasha. Pausing to regard the first cabin door, a voice called out to Sasha, “Child, cease your ranting.”
Sasha triggered the cabin door open and peeked into the salon. A grandmotherly woman sat in a comfortable chair with her comm unit in her hand. “I didn’t say anything,” Sasha says quietly.
“Who said you spoke, child? Your mind screams anger. Who’s been teaching you?”
“Who’s been teaching me what?”
“Are your faculties not working, child? I’m asking about your training to control your power, of course.”
“Nobody, yet. I only arrived here from downside.”
“Ah, you would be the rescued child, Sasha.”
“Uh-huh, who are you?”
“I’m the previous Harbour. Now I’m called by my original name, Lindsey Jabrook. You weren’t warned this was a restricted section of the ship?”
“Uh-uh, why’s that?”
“Because people like me can’t stand loud children.”
Sasha laughed, thinking Lindsey was teasing her.
Regardless, Lindsey was relieved to sense a lessening of the bombardment of the young girl’s ever-present animus.
“Seriously, why can’t people come here?” Sasha asked, taking a seat on Lindsey’s couch.
“If you’re going to invite yourself to visit, child, the least you can do is close the door behind you.”
“Sorry,” Sasha replied, popping up to close the cabin door and regaining her seat. She adopted the same position favored by her sister.
Lindsey was aware that the more she engaged Sasha, the quicker the youngster gained control of her power, which was considerable, if Lindsey could detect Sasha’s broadcast through the cabin door.
Lindsey educated Sasha on the empaths’ ugly end-of-life sentence. She explained that, at some point, the elderly empaths lost the ability to prevent the emotions of others from reaching their minds. The only answer appeared to be isolation and to be visited by only the most mature empaths, who had firm control over their powers.
Sasha listened intently to the story, and Lindsey expected an outburst of tears or a bitter denial that she would end that way. Instead, Sasha regarded Lindsey with a child’s sad eyes. “Then you’re in your own prison.”
“I would say that’s true.”
“I’m sorry for you. Prison sucks.”
Lindsey broke out in laughter. It felt good. She couldn’t remember the last time she was entertained by a guest and by a child, at that. “Yes, my dear, it does.”
“Can’t you fix what’s wrong with you?”
“No, Sasha. We’ haven’t found any means of protecting the older empaths from the feelings of others, especially angry, young children.”
Sasha grinned at the jab. Much of Lindsey’s style reminded her of Aurelia, when her sister would redirect her attention away from Sasha’s resentment of their imprisonment.
“Maybe I can help,” Sasha said. “I’m really strong. I know that, because I scare people.”
“Your offer is appreciated, Sasha, but I’m unsure how you could do that.”
Before Sasha could reply, the cabin door opened. “Lindsey, I found the hatch blocked open, and I was checking to make sure everyone was okay,” Nadine said, before she noticed Sasha seated on the couch.
Nadine was about to reprimand Sasha when Lindsey quickly intervened. “Nadine, please join us. Sasha and I are having a lovely conversation.”
Caught off guard, Nadine took a seat next to Sasha, as the girl slid over, flashing a bright smile. So much of the rancor, Nadine had sensed from the child, was gone. How that had happened in the presence of the retired Harbour was the first question in her mind.
“Nadine, I was explaining to Sasha the predicament of elderly empaths, and she kindly offered to help me.”
“Did she?” Nadine replied. “That’s generous of you, Sasha.” Nadine was uncertain how the child could help, but she kept the thought to herself, but, unfortunately, not her emotions, although she thought she had.
Sasha eyed Nadine. “You don’t think I can do it,” Sasha accused, her power spinning up.
Alarmed, Nadine was about to object, even though she knew Sasha had perceived the truth.
“I can show you. My sister, Aurelia, and I played this game all the time.” Sasha bounced off the couch, kneeled beside Lindsey’s chair, and took her hand. “Now, Nadine, send us your strongest emotions, light or dark, it doesn’t matter.”
“Sasha, please, I don’t want to hurt my friend. Lindsey’s sensitivity is wide open,” Lindsey pleaded.
“You won’t hurt us,” Sasha decl
ared, jutting her chin out. As insurance, she cupped Lindsey’s hand with both of hers.
“I’m interested in this experiment, Nadine. You have my permission to proceed as Sasha directs,” Lindsey said. She hadn’t had this much entertainment in years and was prepared to accept a hefty dose of pain to encourage it to continue. “Ready, Sasha?”
Sasha nodded firmly, closed her eyes, and projected her power with all her might.
Nadine chose to project her love for her long-time friend and sent it with a significant amount of power, hoping the warm feelings would mitigate the discomfort.
Lindsey felt enveloped in a child’s sense of humor. It was a giddy sensation, and it was all-encompassing. She couldn’t help but laugh, and she heard Sasha’s giggles. Her mind was flooded with colors that accompanied the sensations, and she chose to embrace them, feeling as if she could strip off her clothes and dive into them. But, the wonderful input soon faded.
Nadine stared in awe at the two, one elderly and one young. They were grinning at each other like idiots. “Didn’t you feel what I sent?” Nadine asked.
“Not a thing, Nadine,” Lindsey replied, and she held out her arms to Sasha, who crawled into her lap. Lindsey hugged her and kissed the top of her hair.
“How did you do that?” Nadine asked.
“You didn’t think I could,” Sasha challenged.
“You’re right. I was wrong, and I apologize.”
Sasha leaned into Lindsey’s embrace, feeling some of the comfort that Aurelia had always offered her. “It’s a game my sister and I played. I would protect mother, while Aurelia tried to get through to her with an emotion. Aurelia always won, but lately it took her longer and longer to do it, and she said she had to use more of her power each time. One of these days, I’ll be as strong as her.”