Majesty's Offspring (Books 1 & 2)

by AJ Vega

  Chapter 33: Judgement

  “When we invented the prototype nanobot, we knew it was capable of so many wonderful things. We knew that we could help mankind, clean up pollution, the food shortages, the energy crisis—we could save mankind with this technology.

  “Unfortunately, there was no way we could control them [the nanobots] with the limited computing power of the time. So we had to make another great leap in technology to make it happen, and that is when the A.I. was born.”

  Excerpt of holovision interview with Lewis Edwards I, co-founder of Omega Research Corporation, January 2071

  Julius had visited Murdock in Engineering, after he had checked himself out of the infirmary. Apparently he was doing fine, limping around on his bad leg and scolding Jessen for missing some steps on the reactor startup. On his way out of Engineering, Julius grabbed some folding crates to take with him to his quarters.

  Along the way, he sent a message for Reece to meet him for a discussion; there was an important last mission he needed him for, along with another confidential matter.

  As he walked the corridors, he absorbed into his memory the sounds, smells, and images of the antiquated vessel. The captain and his ship shared a history together—but he, unlike it, would live on and on and on. But the Sea Wolf had been dying of old age for a long time and soon it would be sent to its grave.

  He entered his quarters and laid the crates on the ground by the doorway. Around him, his homestead remained in the uncharacteristic mess he’d left it. With the knowledge that it would be turned into scrap metal with the rest of the ship, the desire to keep it tidy had abandoned him.

  Nothing is permanent, Julius thought to himself. This was always temporary.

  He pushed the feelings out of his mind. This was just another chapter in his life and he would enter the next chapter with a new life—a new chance to do it right. The ship was just a ship, the room just a room—his life was more than this.

  Julius took a crate off the ground and unfolded it to begin the job of packing his valuables.

  One by one, he grabbed his possessions and unceremoniously stuffed them into the crate. As he went through the motions, he began to realize how none of it had any real value—handcrafted models of ships, nautical decor, a pirate flag, even his treasured weapons display on the wall. None of it held any real meaning to him anymore. He lifted the crate and dumped it all onto the ground.

  “Let it burn with the rest of the ship,” he said aloud to himself.

  Julius walked over to his old desk and opened the drawer. Inside, he pulled out the digital frame that contained pictures of his pre-pirate days—pictures at CSOW, the UEP Navy, a couple of his parents and pictures of he and Daryl together. The other stuff could burn, but this he would keep.

  A chime came at the door. He put the digital frame into the crate, then answered the door. It was Reece. He walked in a few steps then stopped, glancing around at the mess.

  “Captain?” he said.

  Julius looked for a place for them to sit—but nothing presented itself. Reece noticed the folding crates, grabbed one and erected a makeshift seat for himself. Julius preferred to stay on his feet. Without saying a word, he pulled out the explosive detonator remote from his vest. As he handed it to Reece, he noticed with some amusement the tarnished metal and worn-out switch mechanism—it paralleled the condition of the ship.

  Reece took it and inspected the device.

  Julius explained how it would trigger a set of explosives in Laina’s quarters.

  “If something should happen to me,” Julius said, “and the situation requires it, I need to know that you will do what needs to be done.”

  Reece looked uncomfortable. “How will I know when the ‘situation requires it’?”

  Julius shrugged. “I don’t know—perhaps you will. Keep it safe and with you at all times. Just make sure Laina is not there if you blow it up—there’s a ten-second timer on it.”

  Reece looked around the room. “Need any help packing?” he offered.

  “No,” Julius said. “Reece—I need to know you’ll do what’s needed. I’m counting on you.”

  Reece put the detonator in his pocket. “I’m not comfortable with it, Captain,” he said. “But if you order me to blow Chorus up, I’ll do it.”

  “No,” Julius said. “You need to tell yourself to do it. I’m not relying on you to be a good soldier and just follow my orders—I’m relying on your judgment in this. If I’m not around or able to give the order, you may have to take this upon yourself. I’m trusting you.”

  “All right. I got it, Julius,” Reece said. “But I don’t think this is going to be needed. I think she’s—”

  “A machine,” Julius interrupted. “She—it… is a machine. Do not ever forget that.”

  “I know what she is. But I also believe her,” Reece said. “I think she really wants to help us—humanity, I mean.”

  “Perhaps she does,” Julius said. “But we need to be prepared if we are wrong.”

  “I understand, Captain,” Reece said, then gestured around the room. “Laina told me we’re going to surrender the ship and disband it.”

  “Yes,” Julius said. “That is the deal we have brokered with the Confed.”

  “The plunder,” Reece said. “It’s going to be divided, right?”

  “The cargo we currently have is being sold in the deal. But the secret accounts will be divided. They don’t know about those.”

  “What about Tash’s share?” Reece said. “He wanted it divided among the pilots. I want to make sure that happens.”

  Julius thought about it for a moment before speaking.

  “It was his last wish,” Reece said.

  “That’s not normally how it works,” Julius said. “But I’ll grant an exception in this case.”

  “Thank you, Captain,” Reece said, then pursed his lips as if he wanted to say more but stopped himself.

  “Something else?” Julius asked.

  “Yes,” he said. “I understand Chorus is going to surrender herself to the Confed—that we’re going to take the ship somewhere to let her off.”

  “That’s correct. Does that bother you?”

  “Well, what if the UEP or the Vens try to take her?”

  Julius looked away for a moment—for some reason he felt impatient.

  “I’m sure it’s possible, but it’s not our problem. We made a deal with the Confed and that deal is going to buy us freedom and—”

  Reece stood up. “How do we know the Confed isn’t just luring us into a trap? What if after we turn Chorus over, then they dishonor the deal and hunt us instead?”

  “I’m not going to stand here and argue over the many ‘what ifs.’ We brokered a deal with the Confed. I believe Xanthus is an honorable man and they will keep to their end of it.”

  “Captain, you can’t possibly be that naive! He’s just another corrupt government suit—”

  “Enough!” Julius barked. “We’re done here.”

  An uncomfortable silence hung in the air for a moment.

  “Fine, sir,” Reece said. “May I make one last request of the captain?”

  Julius gave him a hard look. “What is it?”

  “It sounds like we are going to be idle for a while. Permission to take Wolf Squadron out for some practice runs?”

  Julius looked him over. He just now realized Reece was wearing his flight uniform. Having the squadron warmed up and ready in case there was trouble was a good idea …

  Was he being naive about the deal?

  They had worked so hard to get to this point, but what if Reece was right?

  “Okay, Reece,” he said. “May as well enjoy those Z-40s while we have them. How is Eddie doing?”

  “He’s fine. It looks like that doctor of yours patched him up… literally.”

  “Lankey may be crazy,” Julius said, “but he’s good at what he does.”

  Reece turned the crate ove
r and gave Julius a salute.

  “I just want you to know,” Reece said, “it’s been a fun ride on this pirate ship of yours, Captain.”

  Julius returned the salute. “Glad to have had you and your lot as passengers. Take your pilots out and enjoy yourselves—it might be one of the last times you launch. Dismissed.”