by T. M. Catron
“Deep down, he knows that. But he thinks I should have tried harder to persuade you to stay. He thinks that if I had put my foot down about it, you wouldn’t have run away.”
“He can’t blame you for that!”
“You know your father. Once he gets something stuck in his head, there’s no changing his mind.”
Jane had never been so free with information. She had always been distant, always kept her relationship with Davos private. Rance didn’t know how she felt about the sudden confidence.
“Mother, I’m sorry he blames you. But I wouldn’t want any other life. I like my friends, my crew, and my ship. Sometimes it’s hard when I can’t see you, but I’m glad you support me even though father doesn’t.”
“Of course I support you.” Jane put her hand on Rance’s shoulder, then quickly removed it as if she were uncomfortable touching her daughter more than once a day.
“Why are Galaxy Wizards watching you? Is it because of that artifact?”
“Yes, I am sure of it.”
“Why do they want it?”
“I have theories, but nothing concrete. As I said before, I wasn’t even sure that the item was genuine until I spotted the Wizards following me.”
“How did you find out?”
Jane took a deep breath. “I saw one I recognized. Your father has dealt with them before.”
“Was he in trouble?”
“No. He worked with them once. I met them only briefly. When I did recognize the man, he vanished. But I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched.”
Rance sat up, intrigued.
Jane saw her daughter’s interest and shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t know enough about the particulars to tell the story. Maybe someday you will be able to ask your father why he worked with them.”
“When I’m old and gray, well past marrying age.”
“You’ll never be too old to marry.”
Rance smiled. “Well, too old to arrange my marriage to some drunken heir. When will father give it up?”
Jane smoothed out the blanket beneath her. “Davos is a very stubborn man.”
“No kidding.”
“How did Roote know the Wizards were watching your ship?” Jane asked.
“He’s very perceptive. And it’s his job. You were worried about me traveling the stars alone. But I’m not alone, Mother. I’m surrounded by people who are better than I am.”
Jane sniffed and rose. “I envy your attitude, dearest. Get some sleep. I won’t bother you anymore tonight.”
“You didn’t bother me. Goodnight.”
Rance felt uneasy about the whole situation. She tossed and turned, wishing for sleep and hoping they had a smooth landing on Persephone. And then, she reminded herself that Deliverance had said this was going to be a smooth flight. The risk was low. Rance drifted off to sleep, thinking that maybe Jane’s life was fascinating, after all.
Rance dreamed of a curved sword. Its white glow burned so brightly that she had to shield her eyes from it. The sword swept over the galaxy, igniting planets, turning ships into flames. Terrified, Rance tried to call out, to warn someone, but all she could do was watch as the galaxy turned to dust. Humans, aliens, stars. All were lost.
Even the ground beneath Rance’s feet crumbled and fell away. Shocked, she floated in the dark void around her.
As she watched, the sword sliced through the last star in the galaxy. The star went out, plunging the universe into darkness. Rance walked across the void toward the dead star, staring, unbelieving. Suddenly, the sword lay at her feet, no longer bright but black like ash.
The captain bent down to touch it. When her fingers brushed the wooden handle, the sword turned into a black metal staff.
“Captain,” Solaris said. Rance tried to pick up the staff to show him. To ask him what he thought it was.
“Captain.” Solaris’ voice drifted through Rance’s dreams.
“Yes?” she asked. She turned, expecting him to be behind her. But there was nothing but darkness there.
“Captain?”
Rance woke with a start. She sat up, heart pounding. Sweat soaked her body and clothing. “Did someone call me?” she asked.
“I did, Captain,” Solaris said over the comm. “We have a serious problem. You’re needed on the bridge.”
“On my way,” Rance said, already tugging boots onto her feet. She grabbed her flight jacket and put it on over her pajamas. When she climbed into the cockpit a minute later, Solaris sat staring at a screen with a deep frown on his face.
“I really was sleeping this time,” Rance joked quietly.
Solaris nodded to her and pointed to the screen. “We’re being followed.”
Rance leaned over to peer at the display. A beeping dot indicated the Star Streaker, with waves parting around it to simulate their journey through hyperspace. “It looks normal. How do you know?”
Solaris pointed to the area behind the Streaker. Just before the waves met, something blipped on the screen as if they went around a bump.
“Those Unity Dark Fighters you told me about,” Rance said, fighting the cold thrill of fear creeping up her spine. “The ones that were equipped to follow a ship into hyperspace…”
“We have one on our tail.”
“Galaxy Wizards?”
“That would be my guess.”
Rance let out a long sigh and sat down in her chair across the aisle from Solaris. “Mother was right.”
“Looks like it.”
“She contacted us on purpose, Roote. She said she didn’t know who else to trust.”
Solaris nodded and looked over at Rance. “I guessed that. What do you want to do?”
“You’re the resident expert. What do you suggest?”
“I suggest moving forward with your mother’s plans for now. Since we don’t know what the Galaxy Wizards want from her, the best thing to do is not let on that we know they are following us. They may only be doing surveillance. If we expose them, it may prompt them to act.”
“Will they fire on us?”
“I highly doubt it. Killing us won’t help them.”
“We need to tell everyone so they can be prepared for trouble.”
“I agree.” Solaris looked at Rance, taking in her appearance for the first time. “You okay?”
She rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. “Yeah.”
“I know that look,” he said.
Rance removed her hands to look at him. “The grumpy disheveled look?”
“The haunting look after you wake up from a troubling dream. I’ve seen it on my own face in the mirror many times.”
“I was dreaming when you woke me." Rance told him about the dream, which was still surprisingly vivid in her mind. As she described it, Solaris’ frown grew deeper.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever had a dream like that,” she finished. “I figure it’s from hearing you talk about it.”
“But Rance,” he said, “your dream is almost exactly like ones I have been having. With one difference—there is no sword. It is a staff throughout my dream.”
“Why did I have the same dream? And what does a sword have to do with anything?”
Solaris shook his head. “It’s strange.”
“Where do you get your power from, Solaris?” Rance asked quietly.
He gave her an appraising look, his eyes growing warm and intense. “I don’t think it has anything to do with the dreams. But I promised I’d tell you, didn’t I?”
“Don’t you think you’ve kept me in suspense long enough?”
Solaris took a deep breath, and then let it out in a whoosh of air as if he had changed his mind about speaking. He turned back to the screen, his expression becoming unreadable. Disappointed, Rance heard the footsteps on the ladder below. A moment later, Jane’s head appeared. She smiled as she climbed through into the cockpit.
“Did you wake early?” she asked Rance.
Rance nodded to Solaris. “Roote has some bad
news, Mother. The Galaxy Wizards are following us.”
Over the next few minutes, Rance and Solaris explained what they had found and their course of action. When they finished, Jane stood silently beside Solaris’ chair, staring at the screen as if she didn’t see it.
“You were right to contact me, Mother,” Rance said.
“On the contrary,” Jane said. “I’m sorry I have brought you into this.”
“Lady Jane,” Solaris said, “we’ll gladly help you. You did the right thing. What is this artifact, anyway?”
“You’ll see,” Jane said. “I would rather not tell you at the moment. Because if it’s what I think it is, I want you to be able to claim ignorance if something happens before we get to the Imperial Museum.”
Rance thought that if they were captured by Galaxy Wizards before they reached the Museum, no one would be able to claim ignorance. As soon as they found out Solaris was on board, they could all go to prison for a very long time.
The next evening, the entire crew sat in the galley. Jane had eaten their simple food with good grace, smiling at the crew’s jokes. But when no one was looking at her, she sank into a troubled silence.
Rance had told the rest of the crew about the Galaxy Wizards following them. No one liked the idea, but they didn’t let it stop them from enjoying dinner. They were the most resilient people Rance had ever met, and she couldn’t fathom how she had gotten so lucky.
After dinner, Abel washed up while everyone else played cards. Jane proved to be a quick learner.
“What’s your bid, Your Ladyship?” Harper asked. Her dark hair was as spiky as ever, and she’d colored the tips pink. She’d stuck a stylus behind her ear for safekeeping, which made her look every bit like the shrewd cards dealer that she was.
“Please call me Jane. And I don’t have any chores to gamble.”
Rance choked on the water she was sipping. The idea of her mother doing chores was ludicrous. Jane shot her a look.
“You’re our guest,” Tally said smoothly. “We wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Then what should I gamble?” Jane asked. “Rance, what do you play for?”
Recovering, Rance shrugged. “I have chores just like everyone else, Mother.”
“More chores since the last game,” Solaris said off-handedly while he studied his cards.
Rance glared at him. His dirty laundry still sat in the corner of her room.
Jane smiled. “How about baking? I make a decent chocolate cake. Roote, I understand that you like chocolate.”
“I do,” he said, looking up from his cards with interest. “But, er…”
“Don’t look so worried. If I lose, I’ll make a big chocolate cake for everyone to enjoy.”
“I prefer pie,” James said.
Tally nudged the pilot with his pointy elbow.
“What?” James asked him. “Are we gambling or not?”
Jane nodded. “If James wins, I’ll make chocolate pie.”
James sat up like a little boy who had just been told he would get two desserts. He studied his cards with renewed interest.
Rance studied her cards carefully, for reasons other than chocolate cake. As far as Rance knew, Jane had never cooked a day in her life. Rance didn’t want any more laundry to do. And she had the idea to gamble away her new chore before having to do it.
“James,” Jane said. “Your last name is Fletcher, correct?”
“Yes, Your Ladyship.”
“Call me Jane.”
Tally huffed loudly. Clearly, calling the noblewoman by her first name was beyond common decency.
“Yes, Jane,” James said, ignoring Tally’s discomfort. “Why?”
“You remind me of someone. Have you ever been to Xanthes?”
“Of course. Who do I remind you of?”
Jane shook her head. “I can’t think of who right now, but it will come to me.”
“Alright,” Harper said. “These are the rules. We bid until someone folds, then we switch hands.”
They played well into the night. James lost the first round spectacularly. He got up from the bench, muttering something about pie. Having finished with the dishes, Abel took his place at the table.
James picked up Henry and watched while sitting on the counter. Henry trilled loudly when the players got too rowdy.
“Rance,” Solaris said.
Jane glanced at Solaris, noting how he addressed the captain by her first name.
“It’s Captain Rance to you, minion,” Rance corrected. She was winning and had just decided to throw in all the laundry duty for the next month.
“Apologies, Captain Rance,” Solaris said, grinning. “Have you considered that when we switch hands, you will lose this round?”
Rance took a deep breath, concentrating on her cards. “Distracting me won’t work, dastardly sir,” she said, adopting the affected accent of the sea-captains she had seen in archival movies. “I know your evil plan.”
Solaris grinned and tipped his imaginary hat to her. “Aye, Captain. As you wish.”
“Quite right,” Rance muttered.
Jane folded. She had nothing. Everyone groaned—no chocolate cake.
One by one, everyone dropped out except Rance and Solaris.
“Here we are again,” Solaris said. “Do you wish to concede the game? I’ll cut the laundry duty in half if you bow to my wishes.”
“No,” Rance said. “I know what cards you have in your hand. He’s bluffing,” she announced to the rest of the crew.
Jane leaned over to look at Rance’s cards.
Rance pulled away. “No helping the enemy, Mother.”
Jane studied Solaris a moment, then whispered, “He’s the best-looking enemy I’ve ever seen.”
Rance fought the color rising to her cheeks. Really, she needed to stop doing that. What was wrong with her lately? Thankfully, if Solaris heard Jane’s compliment, he gave no indication.
“Call,” Solaris said.
With a flourish, Rance laid down her cards. “Three Queens.”
Solaris frowned, quirked his mouth to the side. “I’m afraid, Lady Captain,” he said as he laid down his cards—three kings, “that you were overconfident in your abilities.”
Rance gasped. “You cheated.”
Solaris mock gasped. “I didn’t.” Then, he rose, bowing to Jane with a flourish, then the rest of the crew. “This is where I leave you. I have more laundry to gather. I suggest the rest of you drop yours off before bed, that way our illustrious captain can get it all done before we leave hyperspace. After that, I’m sure she’ll give you pick up times for the rest of the month.”
“Roote!” Rance said, turning.
Solaris paused at the door, an eyebrow raised.
Rance narrowed her eyes. “I want it all within the next thirty minutes, or it won’t get done.”
“As you wish, Captain,” Solaris said, patting the door on his way out.
“Alright,” Tally said, “you heard the captain. You have half an hour to get her your laundry. If I were the captain, I would just assign you all your own chores and then extra for your cheekiness.”
Rance rose. “But you’re not me, Tally. Mother, it’s your turn to sleep. I’ll be up… doing the laundry.”
One by one, everyone rose to gather clothes. James and Abel snickered gleefully. Rance shot Harper a significant look, and Harper nodded.
“Who is doing the laundry, really?” Jane asked on her way out.
“I am, Mother.”
“Do you know how, Devri?”
“Just as well as you know how to bake a cake.”
Jane looked skeptical. “It seems that we have a lot to learn about each other, daughter.”
Then she left. Harper met Rance in the cramped washroom a few minutes later, carrying her own things. “If I have to show you how to do this, Captain, at least we’ll make sure my clothes are done right.”
Rance threw a shirt at Harper, who ducked and grinned cheekily.
&nbs
p; Chapter Seven
The Imperial Museum on Persephone was the most ancient one in the Empire. Built after the last museums of Old Earth were destroyed, the architecture emulated its forgotten counterparts. Marble and stone columns reached up three stories in the front, and a broad staircase led to massive, wooden front doors. Rance had always wanted to come here but had never taken the opportunity.
The day was bright, crisp, and smelled like rain. They had watched for any sign of the Unity Dark Fighter exiting hyperspace after them, but nothing had appeared. Solaris had said they would have veered away immediately if they weren’t going to attack. That they hadn’t fired upon the Streaker was a good sign, and Rance breathed a sigh of relief as she walked with Jane, Solaris, and Tally.
Still, as they walked to the museum, she had the distinct feeling of being watched. Rather than give herself away, Rance fought the urge to look over her shoulder. She kept her eyes front and focused on their mission.
Tally parted with them at the foot of the staircase, saying he wanted to breathe some fresh air. Since the last three planets they had visited had discriminating laws regarding alien life, Tally was eager to leave the Star Streaker for a while. Both aliens and humans were welcome on Persephone and within the museum.
Rance ascended the marble steps with Jane and Solaris. They had decided to use the front entrance and the protection of the crowds. Jane knew of a staff entrance, but with no one wanted to give the Wizards an opportunity to corner them. When the trio reached the doors, Jane nodded to the ticket-seller and guard. He nodded back and stood aside, holding the gate open.
“Do you think we’re too late?” Rance asked Jane as they walked through the wooden doors without paying. She forgot to listen for an answer when she saw the grand entrance, which was three stories high and resembled a cathedral. “Wow.”
Jane moved through the crowds as if she were unimpressed.
They passed statues, ancient weapons, old-fashioned books made of real paper, and various other small articles showcased in the first great hall. More gigantic wooden doors branched off into different corridors, each housing history from a different portion of the galaxy.
“We could spend days in here,” Rance said.