They’d have to fire up the engines at full soon and make a run for Electra. And hope that the repairs held and that their pursuers gave them a head’s start. Sherin shivered harder and sent up hopeful thoughts to anything that might be listening. She wondered when TiCara was going to tell Vahn that she had ignored his wishes and freed
his former employee. She wondered whether or not Zig was actually following them, instead of waiting for word back on Kyrin.
But most of all, she wondered what the future held for her and TiCara. That thought was enough to block out all her other worries, at least for the moment. Sherin watched the pilot and the screens and wondered whether or not hope was completely illogical.
Chapter 22
Vahn woke from a sound sleep and found himself alone in his quarters. Annoyance filled him as he realized that Sammo wasn’t on his cot in the corner or sitting in the chair. He wasn’t paying the man to go wander the corridors of the ship, leaving him unprotected. He sat up cautiously, sorting through his various aches and pains, checking for anything new, anything worse.
It wasn’t just for protection that he wanted Sammo by his side at all times. He was going to need another shot soon and he couldn’t give them to himself. It was something that he thought of as a personal failing. But it was one he had to live with until his condition was cured. Vahn reached out for his handheld and sent an alert to Sammo’s, holding down the button just long enough to make it unpleasantly prolonged on the receiver’s end.
He regretted it the moment that he did it. He had always prided himself on being above such petty tyrannies, yet here he was, behaving like a spoiled child. For an instant, he wondered if it had influenced his treatment of Sherin, this mixture of pain and frustration and anger at his loss of control. But he dismissed the idea almost as soon as it crossed his mind. Betrayal was one thing, overreaction to perceived neglect another.
The door slid open, interrupting his thoughts. Sammo walked in carrying a small tray that he set down on the portable stand next to Vahn’s bed. My apologies, Ser. I went to go learn more about the repairs and the state of the crew, as well as to verify the status of your former rep. He tilted his head up from a slight bow to gauge Vahn’s mood, then reached for the med kit on the shelf.
Vahn nodded reluctantly. Much as he wanted to hear Sammo’s tell, it needed to wait until after he had received his medicine. And truthfully, it would need to wait until he had broken his fast too. He was too fragile to skip meals now.
Vahn bit back a curse at his body’s failures, its incipient breakdown. When he was healthy once more and his corp profitable again, he would commission the technicians on Electra to create an alternative to Eternayouth, one he would be able to use. Clinging to that goal enabled him to ignore the pain from his shot and drove him to devour his food like a beast.
When he was done, he set the containers aside. Give me your tell. He eased himself off the bed and walked carefully toward the shower as Sammo told him what he discovered.
Your former rep is no longer in her quarters but, when last I saw her, was on the Bridge with the Pilot-Captain. Vahn gave a small hiss of fury. How dare TiCara ignore his wishes? He was paying her well for her services, and that should be enough to ensure that she was not countermanding his decisions.
But then, he realized a moment later, he had not told the Pilot-Captain what he intended to do with Sherin or why. His former employee might easily have convinced her that it was all a mistake. Another slipup on his part. He grimaced, then nodded at Sammo to continue.
The Pilot-Captain has imprisoned her Second in his quarters. I do not know why. But the repairs have progressed and the ship should be nearly back to full functionality. The crew has also disguised the ship as an asteroid, but we are almost out of the belt so that will cease to be useful soon. Sammo averted his eyes as his employer emerged from the shower, Vahn noted approvingly. He didn’t want anyone to see his twisted and decrepit body, if it could be avoided.
His thoughts turned in a new direction as he got dressed. It was a pity that Sammo didn’t have the skills to serve as his rep, since he would need one again and soon. Sherin was to have negotiated with the techs on Electra on his behalf. He gave a discrete cough to let Sammo know that he could look up again. I think we must learn why her Second required imprisonment and why my former employee required freedom. I am ready to go and seek those answers.
Sammo handed him the cane that he had hoped to leave behind and, after a moment of hesitation, he accepted it with an ill grace. Then he trailed after his bondarmin, limping, as his body processed the aftereffects of his shot. It was taking longer to take effect than it had when they had first begun the regimen. The realization lent thrusters to his aching feet. His time was running out.
He also had one last card to play: the final coordinates for the asteroid, the ones that he had failed to give to TiCara, twice now, wanting to wait until he was sure of her, sure of Electra. Now, he thought he knew just the right pilot to receive that information. You have a lazer with you? He asked Sammo, keeping his voice soft and hard to pick up on any nearby audio receivers.
The bondarmin’s eyebrows twitched in surprise, but he nodded. Vahn could see him give the cane an appraising glance and could almost read the man’s thoughts. He was wondering how long his employer could continue to move around the ship, to command others, without additional assistance. And whether or not they would get to Electra before his condition could no longer be corrected.
Well, he would soon learn how foolish his doubts were, as would they all. Vahn promised himself as much, one more time out of many. He sighed impatiently before speaking. I think we must go and speak to the Pilot-Captain’s former Second, to begin with. Does she put the ship on auto-pilot between shifts?
Yes, I think so. Sammo responded with a quick uncertain frown and Vahn gestured his understanding that his bondarmin had no good way of confirming this. It was another question that they could ask the prisoner.
They arrived outside his room with that thought and Sammo went to work on the door lock. It was just secur-locked, not like the quick hack job he had done on the door to Sherin’s quarters, so once he understood the coding mechanism, it was only a few moments before the door slid open. The bright light of the corridor shone into the dimly lit room, revealing the crewman stirring slowly awake on the floor. The light and the sound drove Erol to sit up and raise his uninjured arm over his face to block it out.
His other arm was burned by a lazer, then hastily bandaged, Vahn noted an instant later. Interesting. He had more minor injuries as well and there was blood on his suit. The question was whether or not he had been wounded deliberately by another crewmember or through an accident. The tru answer to that would tell Vahn much.
Sammo had his lazer out and pointed at Erol the instant he moved. Vahn was careful not to block his line of sight as he entered the room and sat on the end of the bed. How do you come to be here, Second? When last I saw you, you occupied a position of trust in the Pilot-Captain’s estimation.
Erol gave him a sly glance and Vahn raised a hand to forestall whatever false answer he was going to give. Perhaps our friend requires some encouragement to find truth? Sammo reached for something at his belt, a small gray container, his face full of implicit threats. Erol’s face collapsed without even knowing what he was being threatened with.
Vahn realized that he thought that the bondarmin might carry TruTell or one of the other drugs that compelled some degree of accurate information. But using those chemicals would make him an unreliable pilot and that was not the outcome that Vahn desired. Then again, there was no reason to tell him that. He tapped his fingers impatiently on his cane to indicate that he was still waiting for a response.
Erol looked down at his hands. TiCara...the Pilot-Captain believes that I am working for her enemies. She is wrong, he looked up at Vahn and his voice rose in indignation. I would not betray her.
Vahn raised an eyebrow. And what of my interests, Second? Woul
d you betray me?
Erol looked back down at his hands, that gesture all the answer that Vahn needed. Perhaps here was the backup plan that his enemies had placed their faith in, the one that his former rep had insisted was on board. Did you send a message with the asteroid coordinates back to Kyrin?
He could see the other man weigh his answer before he spoke. Maybe it would be better to give him something to compel his truth after all. Something in his expression must have warned Erol what he was thinking since what he said next did not sound like a lie. No, Erol said at last. They locked me in here before I could finish the transmission of the false coordinates. Something in his face went blank and cold and Vahn wondered how he had been driven to betray his captain. Whatever it was, he looked like a man who thought it was too late to care.
How unfortunate. But perhaps freedom would be incentive enough to gain his trust and cooperation. If that failed, there was always Sammo and his lazer. Indeed. Was my former rep in the Pilot-Captain’s company when she left you? At Erol’s head jerk of acknowledgment, Vahn nodded, noting that the other man’s face was now a mask of misery. Vahn decided not to ask why he had been replaced. Then I will require you to perform a task that I am no longer sure that the Pilot-Captain can do. Can you pilot with your injury?
Erol’s eyes widened. Whatever he had expected when they entered the room, this request wasn’t it. Why would you trust me to do that, Ser? And what would I receive in return? He drew himself up and stood with an effort.
Vahn hid a grin. Whatever the other lacked, it wasn’t courage. Your life, to begin with, Second. But if you do this well and we arrive safely, I might see my way to paying you the bonus in credits I had intended to pay to my rep and the Pilot-Captain. Would that be enough to earn your loyalty for the immediate future?
Erol puffed out his cheeks as he exhaled and looked at a photo vid on his shelf. His expression turned bleak
and lost before he looked back at Vahn. It’s too late. But I’m not ready to be put out the airlock yet and I can still make those…responsible pay for what they’ve done. I gladly accept your offer, Ser. A feral gleam rose in his dark eyes and Vahn found himself releasing the catch on his cane, the one that would turn his walking stick into a weapon even a decrepit old man could use.
But other man didn’t move, didn’t lunge forward the way it looked like he might be contemplating. Instead, he made a questioning gesture toward the door and Vahn used his cane for its originally intended purpose, leaning heavily on it to maintain his balance. He checked the computer’s time on his handheld; by his estimation, the shift change had already occurred. The ship should be moving at full speed while its Pilot-Captain rested.
Sammo made Erol lead the way and together, they all went down the corridor and up the two levels to the Bridge. As Vahn expected, it was empty and the ship was on autopilot. Disable the alerts that might rouse the Pilot-Captain, Second. Sammo gestured at the board and they both watched as Erol made some changes.
Now enter these coordinates. Vahn handed Erol a chip and watched him plug it into the nav computer. A sharp intake of breath disturbed the quiet as Erol noted the difference in degrees between the current coordinates and the ones he had now. Vahn smiled; whatever information Erol or Sherin had sent to the Ears, it wouldn’t get them to Electra.
You have seen the previous coordinates for a decoy asteroid which orbits a nearby planet. The technicians on Electra have a number of safeguards created to guard their location; this is but one. Now, please reset the autopilot when you are done, Second. I do know what that looks like so please do not try to trick me.
Vahn seated himself in the co-pilot’s chair with a grimace of distaste at the hookups for medusa implants. It had always seemed to him a disgusting thing that humans would link themselves so closely to machines. Though even he had to admit that they had their uses. He shrugged the thought away and hung over Erol’s shoulder until the autopilot was set once again.
Now please reset the alarms for the Pilot-Captain. I would not want her to miss any genuine crises that may arise. Erol did as he was told, shooting him a questioning look as he did it. Once that is done, you will monitor the computer and together, we will watch the screens and see if your erstwhile friends are still following us.
Erol’s lips thinned into a fine line and Vahn wondered if he planned a suicide mission if the corporate ship reappeared. Nothing he had seen of him so far suggested such a course of action but it was wise to be prepared for everything. Would you not rather live to rejoice in your enemy’s downfall? He asked the question softly so as not to startle Erol, but the man’s small flinch was noticeable, close as he was and hard as he was watching.
After a long moment, TiCara’s former Second nodded and reached out slowly toward one of the displays. He hesitated before touching it, his eyes flickering from Sammo’s unwavering lazer to Vahn’s face, clearly asking for permission. There was a moment of silence, of all three men studying each other, weighing the consequences, before Vahn signaled his assent. Erol modified the control and all the display screens showed a panoramic view of the Gathwaite System.
As Vahn had suspected, they were well outside the asteroid belt now and moving along at a good speed. There were distant moving lights that suggested that they were drawing near some interplanetary trade routes that connected the planets and any outlying stations. None of them looked close enough to become a problem, with the exception of one moving point of light behind the Astra.
All of their attention was soon fixed on that point, which grew brighter as they watched it. Does this tub have weapons, Second? Vahn’s voice had taken on a note of barely suppressed fury.
"Yes, Ser. But not many, only one pulse cannon, nothing big enough to take on a full-size ship. Especially not if that’s a corp ship or pirates. Once we fired a few shots, the Astra would be dead in space and out of fuel." Erol was looking at him warily, as though he feared that an old man was losing his sanity.
As, indeed, perhaps he was. Ready the cannon to fire. You will put up the best fight that this tub of bolts is capable of before running. Do you understand, Second?
Ser, it’s suicide. They would have to get very close to be within range. By then, they would be close enough to capture us in a beam or to blow us up. And we would be out of fuel. It would be better to run now. Erol was pleading, all attempts at artifice gone.
And can this ship outrun a corp ship?
Yes, Ser. For some distance. We can’t carry enough fuel to outrun a big ship forever, of course.
What about that one? Sammo’s voice startled both of them. Can you outrun it? The ship was definitely
coming closer, entering hailing distance. Or cannon range. But no signal or call came from it; a merchant, mining or security ship would have hailed them by now.
Let me call the Pilot-Captain, Ser. I’m not wired, I can’t fly this ship as well as she can for battle or escape. She’s our only real chance. Erol’s hand hovered above the alarm, a bead of sweat making his forehead glow under the Bridge lights.
I think that your skills are sufficient, Second. Fire on them with one cannon pulse and if two shots are too much, then run. Vahn settled back into the chair, fastening the safety harness around him. It was a risk, of course. Erol might be right about TiCara’s skills but Vahn wasn’t ready to trust her again, not when she was so close to his former rep. He looked at the forward display; they were not so far from the coordinates he had Erol enter. It would be enough. It had to be.
Erol bit his lip, clearly unhappy. He reached for the board with both hands and the ship shook from a cannon blast as the sharp ping of an alarm sounded through the Bridge’s audio system. His fingers blurred as he reloaded the cannon and fired again, coming closer to their pursuer this time, but still not hitting the bigger ship.
The pursuing ship pulled in closer and a bright glow under the other ship’s nose filled the rear screen. Erol tilted the controls hard to one side, trying to avoid the hit. He was an instant too late
and the Astra shuddered hard. The ship rolled over, anything loose shooting upward to clang against what had been the ceiling and was now the floor.
Then the empty starfield in front of the Astra exploded with lights and energy bolts. It was so sudden that there was barely time for Erol’s shrieked curse, for the tell tale scramble of feet and shouts in the corridors below that told of the crew trying to take control of the ship again. The Astra and its pursuer were plunging down into...something he couldn’t see.
Vahn stared out at the thickening cloud that was now filling the forward screens. This was Electra: they had found it and were about to meet it head on. This, then, was his death, the one that he had tried so hard to avoid. He pulled himself up in the chair, closed his eyes and waited.
Chapter 23
Zig had watched the rock that his ship’s sensors said was the Astra drift out of the asteroid belt, wondering if he was wrong about what he thought he had seen. Yva had to point out the heat signature to him when it accelerated slowly, her tone laden with mockery. It had not endeared her to him. In fact, he wasted valuable seconds imagining the consequences of killing her immediately.
She must have seen something in his face though, and he found himself looking at the blaster in her very steady hand. No one will miss you, little Zig. Cease to be of use and I’ll fry you. Understand? Yva grinned at him, showing her pointed incisors, reminding him of how much she now outranked him in the Ear hierarchy.
He’d wanted those for himself, once. They were a reminder of all that she’d done, all that he feared to do. All that he had feared to do, until now. But he was ready and everything was going to change. Just as soon as she no longer held him at the point of a blaster that would fry him before he hit the floor. He hit the controls that would send their ship after the Astra and turned away from Yva as if she didn’t pose a threat.
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