Wanderer's Escape (19 page)

Running through the alerts he identified priority areas for repair, shifted shields to reinforce the worst damaged areas.  He took offline those systems that weren't currently needed, reducing the strain on the engines which had taken a severe beating and badly needed to be overhauled.  The powering down allowed rolling maintenance on the engines, starting with the most heavily damaged.

After reviewing and prioritising thousands of alerts he checked the time again.  Twenty eight seconds since jump.  Satisfied nothing needed his immediate attention he let his mind revert to normal speed and slumped down in his seat with a deep sigh. 

Twenty eight seconds,
he thought. 
Felt more like twenty-eight days.

“
Are we clear?” asked Ali quietly.

“
Yes.  Just.  That was closer than we planned for.”

“
Well done.  I got a bit worried there during the rough patch but luckily it was over so quickly I couldn't really get scared.  Thank the stars it didn't last very long.”

Jess snorted at that then started to laugh hysterically.  Turning and seeing her frowning at him in confusion just made it worse.  All the worry, the fear and the excitement of recent events came flowing out.  It was some time before he gained control of himself again.  Ali was clearly not impressed.  Even when he explained how long the ordeal had seemed for him she didn't see the funny side.

The Wanderer was headed for a planet called Washington.  To avoid straining the damaged ship they were coasting along at the speed all normal ships managed in jump space, which meant a journey time of three and a half days.

They'd chosen Washington for its distance from Stone Snake and the details they could find on it.  The planet had numerous large stations orbiting it, most of them active trade hubs.  They hoped to pick up news and gossip on local events.  Possibly some supplies.

Near the end of the first day Jess walked into the living area to find Ali sitting alone staring at a screen.  As he moved closer he saw it was a map showing the orbital farm those kidnapped with her had been sold to.  A location they were currently heading away from.

“I'm sorry,” he said softly.  “I wish we could go rescue them right now, but Stone Snake showed that wouldn't work.  This ship is powerful but it's not a fleet on its own.”

Ali blinked a few times before answering, tears visible in her eyes.

“I know.  It's hard though.  Knowing where they are and not being able to do anything about it.  More than that though.  It's happening everywhere isn't it?  You and Sal were slaves.  We know the kidnappers had carried out a lot of raids and sold to many places.  That means those places needed slaves and probably got them from many suppliers.  Even the great and glorious empire uses slaves.  It's not right!”

“
No it's not, but we can't fix everything. We can try to save a few people, but that's all we can do.  Even doing that is so tricky.  We can't march into those places.  Hell, we can't even march into any station without risk.  Wherever we go we're in danger.  I wish there was some way of getting things done without us having to physically go in.”

“
Robots!” Ali said excitedly.

“
What?”

“
Robots.  We had a couple on the station.  Pretty beat up.  They were used for any jobs too dangerous to send a human on.  You must have seen them used?”

“
No.  There wasn't a job in existence they thought was too dangerous to send a slave on,” he replied drily.

“
Oh... oh my god... that's terrible!”

Jess shrugged his shoulders.

“We were used to it.  It's how life was for us.  But your idea is a good one.  Let me check with the ship – see if we can make some.”

His eyes glazed for a moment.  When his focus returned to Ali he wore a troubled frown.

“No,” he said.  “The ship won't manufacture robots.  Not can't – won't.  It made it clear that's a hard block, that it's written throughout its systems.  Not something we could get around.”

“
Did it tell you why?”

“
Kind of.  More an image and a feeling.  An image of a large area covered in robots, each marching in step, with the ship sitting behind them.  Controlling them.  And a feeling to go with it.  A feeling of total horror at the situation.  I think it means the ship could make near endless amounts of robots, and that would be terrible.”

“
An immense number of robots all under one person's control? One person safely protected in the most advanced space ship I've ever heard of?”  Ali shivered.  “Yeah... I can see its point.”

“
It's not all bad though.  If we could get a few robots somehow the ship would be happy to change them.  Upgrade them and link itself directly to them so they can be controlled.  It will limit how many but the number is quite vague, I think it depends on what sort of robots we get and how powerful they are once upgraded.”

“
It's not all bad news then.  With some robots we have a chance at least.  Maybe we could use them as bodyguards too if we're off the ship.  I hope so.  The thought of spending my life on this ship without ever leaving... it's too much.  The station I grew up on was small but there were places to go, greenery to see, other people to talk to.  We should get some entertainment when we reach Washington too.  Some vids or books.”

Jess agreed enthusiastically.  Books had been rare as he grew up.  Tolerated and even supplied by their guards as slaves who could read orders or instructions were more useful.  Prisoners who'd had a life before becoming slaves often talked about how limited the selection of books was, of far more interesting and thought provoking books they'd read.  Now Jess was keen to explore that world.  He'd never seen a vid but those same prisoners spoke of them in hushed tones.  To those born into slavery vids were nearly mythical.  The thought of actually getting some filled Jess with excitement.

“Damn!” Ali suddenly cursed.  “We can't do it.  We've no money.  We might be able to scrape together enough for a vid and a few books but robots are expensive.  Really expensive.  Even ones that are ready for the scrap heap.”

“
That won't be a problem.  In all the excitement of getting away I didn't tell you or Sal.  We vaporised a fortune in precious metals during the attack and at times we were almost flying through the blast zone afterwards.  I had the ship use its fields to grab some of the particles.  We've got a few hundred kilos of gold and smaller amounts of some of the other metals.  We're kinda rich right now.”

“
Really?”  Ali's eyes lit up.  “You mean it's possible?  We might be able to get the robots?”

“
Possible yes.  We need to find out how much what we have is worth and how expensive robots are.  And we need to find someone who will take some of our stockpile no questions asked.”

“
Still... it's a chance.  A way to move forwards.  At least it means there's a chance to rescue my friends.”

Jess smiled at Ali, glad to see her looking happier.  She was right.  It was a chance
– however small.

Jess slept poorly that night.  Seemingly endless dreams of Sal and Ali being kidnapped, hurt or killed when visiting stations and planets filled his mind.  In some he was too far away to help, while in the others he was close but unable to help, often being kidnapped or killed himself.  Waking with a start from a particularly gruesome nightmare he brought the rooms lights up with a thought and sat thinking.

They couldn't stay locked up in the ship forever.  Leaving the ship was inevitable, no matter how much they tried to minimise the need.  Once off the ship they were vulnerable.  If both Sal and Ali left the ship together one kidnapping would leave him completely alone again.  Just one or the other leaving would equally be a terrible idea
– they might as well tie a target on her back.  Jess wanted to be able to leave the ship too.  While it was comfortable, and through its sensors he could experience the wonders that space held, he still felt the strong need to get out and explore the places they would be visiting.

Frustrated he turned to the ship and to the echoes of past captains.  After some digging he came across several variations on an idea that had definite promise.  He lay down again and dimmed the lights before slipping into a much more restful sleep.

When he woke the next morning he quickly washed up and dressed, keen to pass on his ideas.  As his bedroom door opened it let in a wonderful smell.  He hurried down the stairs to find out what was for breakfast.

Sal and Ali were already seated and tucking into their breakfast.

“
Smells great!” said Jess.  “What is it?”

“
Sausage, bacon, fried eggs, fried tomatoes, beans and toast,” replied Ali.

“
It's wonderful!” said Sal, swallowing a mouthful.  “No wonder the prisoners not born to it always complained about prison food.”

Jess sat down and piled food onto his plate.  Sal had been right, it was wonderful.  Something else to add to his growing list of favourite foods.

After a couple of minutes of eating in silence Jess looked at both women.  While enjoying the food he could tell they were still worried.  He hoped his ideas would help.

“
I was thinking last night,” he began.  “Thinking about the problems we face when we leave the ship.”

Ali pulled a face.  Sal just sat still for a moment.

“Go on,” said Sal.

“
I had a trawl through the ship's information and found something useful.  The implant in my head can generate a low level force field.  Nothing major but enough to protect me from a knife or the first few shots from a reasonably powerful gun.  The best bit is it can be automatic.  The implant will detect anything getting close and will generate the barrier.  It's smart enough so I can still eat and drink with it activated, can still touch things and people.  It will only activate if something is moving too fast towards me.  It won't make me bulletproof, but it will give me a good chance to survive an attack and get away.”

Sal studied him for a moment.

“Sounds good,” she said.  “At least you'll be safe then, and you are the most likely target for any snatch.  Will it affect your breathing?  Will it be noticeable?”

“
Well I've had it active since I came down this morning and neither of you has noticed, though nothing has caused it to turn the shields on obviously.  Breathing would get tricky a minute or so after it went on – it's only designed for short term situations. ”

Without warning Ali threw a piece of sausage at Jess's head.  It almost reached his head then, with a very slight sparkle of light, it was deflected past him.

“Hey!” protested Jess.

“
Yep, it's working,” said Ali grinning at him.

Sal smiled at them both, then launched a spoonful of beans at Jess which were deflected around him by a series of flashes. Laughing heavily Sal and Ali started grabbing and throwing handfuls of food at Jess.  He shouted indignantly for a few seconds then saw the funny side himself.  Laughing he reached out to the ship and shaped a field in front of him to catch the food.  Sal and Ali stopped throwing as they noticed.

“No fair.” shouted Ali.  “That's cheating.”

Jess just grinned and shifted the field, splitting the captured food into two and moving the two new piles to hover over Sal and Ali's heads. 

“Oh no!” Ali tried to look stern but it was spoiled by a laugh.  “You do
not
want to do that.”

“
Jess,” added Sal.  “If you ever want to be able to sleep safely again don't even think about it.”

Jess grinned for a moment then released the fields.  The food dropped onto the two women who shrieked and tried to move, much too late.  Both hunched up against the shower of food but it didn't reach them.  Jess had placed another field just over their heads which caught the food.  He laughed so hard at their outraged faces that he could hardly breathe, and didn't see what happened next.  Suddenly the world lurched as Sal and Ali dragged him off the chair and onto the floor.  Laying on his back he was pinned down by Ali on his chest and Sal who sat on his arms.  Then they started to tickle him mercilessly as he tried to wriggle free, without success.  They didn't let up until his muscles hurt from laughing too much.  Finally Sal released his arms and stood up.

“Clearly the shield doesn't keep you safe from being tickled!  Anyway, I'm going for a shower.  I know the food didn't hit us but it still feels like it did.”

She quickly climbed the staircase towards their rooms.  Jess was suddenly very aware of Ali laying on his chest, of her body pressed against his.  She was staring into his eyes.  His heart pounded as he stared back, almost panicking.  He had no idea what to do or say but desperately wanted the moment to continue.  Ali smiled at him, her face only centimetres from his.

“So,” she said gently.  “Now that I have you in my power what should I do with you?”

Jess nearly swallowed his tongue.  He didn't trust himself to speak, didn't think he'd manage more than a stammer if he could make any sound at all.  Not getting an answer Ali lowered her face to his, gently kissing him.  Self consciously Jess wrapped his arms around her back, responding to her kiss.  The rest of the world faded away.  All he was aware of was the warmth of her body, the scent of her skin, her lips against his.