Revolution: The Ship Series // Book Two (4 page)

CHAPTER SIX

Why
the apple?

Imair
dutifully followed Zax in silence as he led her through a series of tunnels and
eventually back through the main passageway until they reached compartment
51-F. She watched over his shoulder as he removed an access panel and got to
work.

The relay which Zax suspected was misfiring displayed
the same aura the small vehicle had during his Plug training. He focused on the
device and was excited to be presented with a series of options including one
that allowed him to see the inside of it as if it was transparent. After a few
mins of poking around he announced his findings.

“Well—this time I did actually use my Plug and confirmed
we’ve got a misfiring relay here. I think I’ve got it successfully
recalibrated, so let’s have your team reset the system and see what happens.”

Imair walked across the room, lifted a communicator off
the bulkhead, and passed along Zax’s instructions. She put the communicator
back down after a moment of listening to the response.

“I’m sorry, sir, but the reset cycle on that circuit
takes 321 secs. Would you mind waiting with me to see whether it’s really
fixed?”

“Not a problem. I’ve got a short piece of reading to do,
so I’m going to focus on my Plug while we wait.”

Zax had been reading for 148 secs when Imair’s voice
drew his attention. He was so taken aback by a civilian having the temerity to
interrupt him that he didn’t initially comprehend what she said and was forced
to ask that she repeat herself.

“Why the apple?”

He was momentarily stumped but deciphered she must be
asking about his gift to Nolly. “Why not?”

“I’m sorry, sir, we just don’t typically experience acts
of kindness from members of the Crew. Most of you treat us like interchangeable
cogs. In fact, I would be shocked if Lieutenant Salmea even knows my name.”

Zax thought for a few moments before replying. “We had
been talking a few days earlier, and Nolly mentioned he had never eaten a piece
of fruit. I was reminded of it when I walked by a pile of apples in the Crew
mess earlier, so I grabbed one for him to try.”

Imair stared at him for a few uncomfortably long beats
before she answered. “All the same, sir, I would respectfully request that you
not do anything like that again. He’s so young and I don’t want him to get any
wrong ideas—about food availability or about what kind of behavior he should
expect from Crew he interacts with.”

“What’s the big deal about one apple, Imair?”

“Sir, do you know how long it’s been since there has
been
any
fruit available in the civilian mess? I wasn’t that much older
than you are now the last time I ate an apple.”

Zax was stumped for a reply. Imair had no reason to
concoct a story like this, but her words made no sense. He couldn’t begin to
count the number of times he had thrown away some random piece of fruit he had
decided he didn’t actually want after taking one bite. How could there not be
enough fruit to go around if there was enough for the Crew to waste? He was
trying to figure out a coherent response when Imair laughed and spoke again.

“Look at your gears grinding, sir. It appears you may
have a misfiring relay of your own. You folks in the Crew really don’t have the
slightest clue what our lives are like, do you, sir?”

“How could we, Imair?” Zax was exasperated and felt no
compunction to hide it. “Most of us don’t ever get a chance to interact with
civilians directly. I’ve been able to over the past year only because I’ve been
stuck working here, but even then I can’t get anyone to actually talk with me
about anything. It’s clear you civilians don’t like the Crew very much, but no
one will give me the slightest hint as to why. Any questions I ask generally
end the conversation.”

Imair stared at him thoughtfully for a while before
finally speaking. “Honestly addressing questions about sensitive topics is a
great way for a civilian to find herself on the short list to being Culled,
sir. The fact you can’t comprehend that is just further evidence of how huge
the divide really is. You seem like you’re genuinely interested, though, and I
hope we have an opportunity at some point soon for you to gain the
understanding you seek.”

The communicator buzzed and Imair strode back to where
it was mounted on the bulkhead. She answered and then listened for a few
moments before thanking the person on the other end and placing the
communicator back down. “I’m sorry, sir, but the fault is still present after
the reset.”

Zax wanted to forget about the relay and keep talking
about the fruit and other areas of civilian life, but Imair’s tone of voice had
shifted back to pure business. He filed away their conversation for further
investigation later and closed his eyes to check something via his Plug. “I
guess we’ll just have to replace that relay altogether, but I can’t find a new
one in stock anywhere nearby. Let me reach out to Major Westerick and see if he
knows where to find one.”

Zax turned away from Imair to focus on his Plug, and
after a moment the Major responded to Zax’s ping.

“
What?”

“I’m sorry to bother you, sir, but I’m in compartment
51-F and we have diagnosed a faulty relay. I’ve checked the stocks, and I can’t
find a replacement for it anywhere. Do you have any suggestions for where I
might be able to track down another one?”

“Wait.”
After a few moments of silence the Major
continued.
“I’ve accessed the inventory records and found one in a different
section. I’ve sent you the location and a one-time pass for security.”

Westerick cut their connection. No pleasantries, no
small talk, no chit chat. It was the first time Zax had bothered the Major in
months, and yet the conversation over their Plugs was markedly less pleasant
and cheerful than speaking with a Replicator.

Zax checked the location of the storage locker which
Westerick had identified and raised an eyebrow at the realization it was deep
in Engineering—a region of the Ship that was adjacent to Waste Systems yet
might as well be worlds away. He had studied its schematics in his spare time
and knew Engineering was a warren of compartments, some small, some massive,
but he had never actually seen any of them firsthand since access was forbidden
without the proper security clearance. Clearance he now possessed—at least for
this single visit. He grinned at the thought of a trip away from Waste Systems
as he turned to face Imair.

“The Major located a replacement for me, but it’s in a
high security area of the Ship where civilians aren’t allowed. Should I meet
you back here when I return?”

“I’m actually off duty in a few mins, sir. We can deal
with this later. Thank you.”

She turned and walked out of the compartment. Zax
worried for a moment about the pregnant pause before she had replied. He figured
it must still be about the stupid apple so he pushed the thought aside as he
walked to the nearest Tube junction and made his way to Engineering.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Hello,
Zax.

The
Tube came to a stop and Zax exited into the very non-welcoming gaze of six
fully armed Marines. Well, it was actually more like the gaze of one Marine
since the other five were engrossed in an argument among themselves and paid
him zero attention.

“Well, well, well. Look who we have here.”

The voice and its sarcastic tone triggered recognition
before Zax’s brain could fully recover from the shock of encountering the stern
Marine with his pale skin and close-cropped white hair. Zax hadn’t seen
Sergeant Bailee since the man told him about the outcome of the final training
evaluation for him and Kalare—the eval which cleared Zax for the fateful
planetary expedition with the Marines. It seemed like the man still nursed a
grudge about Zax bumping into him and spilling his coffee during their first
encounter, so Zax was on guard for the beating he was sure would eventually
come.

“Huh…hello, Sergeant Bailee. I’ve been cleared by Major
Westerick in Waste Systems to access a storage locker in Engineering and
retrieve a spare part.”

The Marine closed his eyes for a moment and nodded as he
validated Zax’s security clearance via his Plug. “I see that. Well, I guess
you’re in for a special surprise then.”

Zax fretted about what the icy glimmer in the Marine’s
eyes meant as he followed him through the hatch into Engineering Control. The
shock of encountering Sergeant Bailee was exceeded ten-fold when Zax discovered
Aleron standing across the compartment and gawping at him. Encountering the
cadet who had bullied him interminably was certainly unexpected in this
particular compartment, but Zax wasn’t convinced that would be anything Bailee
would qualify as a “special surprise.”

“Hello, Zax.”

It had been a year since he last heard it, but Zax
recognized when his name was being voiced through teeth clenched around an
unlit cigar. His blood went cold. He hadn’t reconnoitered the compartment as he
entered and had missed the Flight Boss standing just inside the hatch. The
Omega leaned casually against the bulkhead, slate in hand, square head covered
as always by his backwards-facing workcap.

“Ummm…huh…huh…hello, s-s-s-sir.”

Zax’s legs had turned to jelly. It took every ounce of
willpower to prevent himself from collapsing to the floor. Another familiar
voice called out.

“Zax! What are the chances of seeing you here!”

Kalare bounded across the compartment. She grabbed Zax
by the arm and addressed the Boss.

“Sir—may I please borrow Zax for a few mins?”

The Flight Boss went back to looking at his slate by way
of silent dismissal, and Kalare dragged Zax to an area devoid of workstations
at the far side of the compartment. So many overwhelming emotions flooded Zax
that his mind might have shut down and attempted to float away out of
self-preservation if it wasn’t for the anchoring grasp of Kalare’s hand
clenched around his arm.

As Zax attempted to collect his wits, Aleron watched the
whole drama unfold from across the compartment with his mouth twisted into a
spiteful grin. It finally registered that his long-time tormentor was wearing a
red Engineering uniform, and Zax recalled hearing about the boy’s recent
reassignment into this section.

“Zax! You’ve got to get it together!” Kalare was close
enough that the spittle punctuating her vehement whispers stung his face. “It’s
crazy obvious how you’re barely keeping your head straight right now—snap out
of it!”

Zax took a few deep breaths. The entire compartment
gradually came into sharp focus as he established situational awareness.
Numerous Crew were present and appeared to be hard at work, but a few faces
stood out. The Chief Engineer was recognizable from her many appearances on
newsvids. She finished conversing with a subordinate and walked towards the
Flight Boss. Aleron had turned back to his work, but every few moments would
look back over his shoulder to check in on what was going on. Bailee stood by
the hatch and observed Zax and Kalare with a stony expression.

Zax took one final deep breath. “Thanks, Kalare. I
clearly wasn’t prepared to run into this particular mix of people.”

Kalare smiled. “I know. It’s definitely your all-time
favorite Crew! What are you doing here?”

“I’ve got to pick up a spare part from an equipment
locker in the next compartment.” Zax grimaced. “Of course, it’s through the
hatch next to Aleron’s workstation.”

Kalare appraised Aleron and her smile widened a little
further. “Don’t worry about him, Zax. That one is definitely not worth getting
worked up about.”

“Easy for you to say. Let me go find what I need before
I forget the whole reason why I’m here. Then maybe we can chat for a min on my
way back out.”

Zax was torn between quizzing Kalare on what she was
doing in Engineering and getting as far away from the Boss and Sergeant Bailee
as fast as he could. Escape ultimately proved most attractive and Zax hustled
towards the next compartment to find the equipment locker. He was so intent on
completing his errand that he missed Aleron’s leg shooting into his path and
went sprawling into a stack of equipment piled next to the hatch. The clanging
racket drew the attention of everyone in the compartment, and the Boss and
Chief Engineer laughed out loud at his pratfall.

Humiliation wafted off Zax as thick as the stench of
excrement back in Waste Systems. What made it even more unbearable was how
Aleron immediately turned and extended a hand to assist him up off the deck.
Having successfully doled out his abuse in plain sight, the bully was now
trying to look pleasant and helpful in front of the officers.

Zax wanted to slug Aleron but knew immediate retribution
would earn him nothing but a heap of demerits with the Boss present to be
witness and dole out punishment. He forced himself to instead be satisfied with
slapping away the boy’s outstretched hand. Zax rose and was dusting himself off
while everyone gawked at him when the hatch from the main passageway opened.
Something odd about the Marine guard’s expression as he entered caught Zax’s
attention.

The unmistakable
crack
of a blaster echoed within
the compartment. The Marine’s bewildered countenance shifted to one of intense
pain as his stomach blossomed into the gory, red mess of an exit wound. Before
he could even consider how to react, a haze of light blue gas filled the space
and Zax felt his consciousness wane as he slumped back to the deck. His last
thoughts were dominated by utter confusion. How the hell could the
compartment’s entryway possibly be filled with a group of civilians who carried
blasters and wore supplemental breathers?