The Last Praetorian (11 page)

*****

Miranda froze when she heard the scream of the
threat-warning panel announce the launch of a missile from the shuttle… 

Impossible,
she thought.
Why would he have waited
so long if his ship were armed?
 

Even more strange was that her targeting computer was
reporting the missile racing
away
from her ship on the same heading as
the shuttle and her fighter, in close pursuit.  Glancing back up at her target
she was just in time to notice the shuttle drop into a deep dive when the
explosion of the missile temporarily blinded her.  Trying to blink away the
stars that had appeared in her sight from the explosion she desperately tried
to determine what he had hit.  It was only a few seconds later when her sight
finally cleared enough that she realised the horrifying truth and made a
desperate grab for the emergency ejector.

*****

Pulling up from the steep dive and ensuring that the engines
were at full thrust, Jon watched the ensuing spectacle on the aft scanners with
a degree of regret; although he recognised that, in the end, he had no choice…

The missile had hit exactly on target, one of the larger
asteroids in the field and caused the asteroid to disintegrate into thousands
of fist sized chunks spreading out in all directions at hundreds of kilometres
per hour.  The effect was similar to a dozen shotgun blasts in multiple
directions.  With the
Eternal Light
and her heavy armour travelling away
from the explosion the effects were minimal, with a few of the smaller, faster
fragments impacting on the hull.  For the much smaller, lightly armoured
fighter, still travelling into the explosion the effect was much the same as
being hit by multiple shotgun blasts at point blank range.  Catastrophic. 

Jon watched quietly as the aft sensor reported the fighter
disintegrating in the hail of rocks before disappearing completely from the
sensors.  With a deep sigh, and after determining that the
‘Light
was at
a safe enough distance from the destroyed asteroid, Jon brought the ship to a
halt to catch his breath and wait for the field to stabilise before he could
safely leave the belt.   

Jon had no desire to cause additional deaths.  He had seen
enough killing and death to last a person a lifetime during the war.  His issue
had not been with that ship or its pilot but those who had sent them to kill
him.  He was sure that the fighter and pilot had been sent by the Syndicate to
kill him so they could take over the last independent company in the system
without a fight.  It made him even more determined to put an end to this group
and their killing spree before it cost any more lives.

Finally deciding that the field was stable enough to attempt
to exit, he was preparing to power up the engines when the sensors reported
that it had detected a faint energy signature within the field.  Deciding to
check out the signal first, Jon tentatively navigated the
‘Light
among
the still unstable asteroids until he came to the source of the signal - the
escape pod of the enemy fighter seemed to have survived the explosion.  The
ship’s sensors were designed to detect energy signatures not life signs, so he
had no idea if the pilot was still alive or, if so, how badly injured he might
be.  Based on the weak energy signature it was obviously not going to be
detected by any other ships passing this remote portion of the system.  Jon was
no murderer and had already regretted the necessary destruction of the other
ship, hence, opening the starboard cargo hold, he gently navigated the
Eternal
Light
to capture the escape pod before setting a course back to
Transcendence
;
he was late for his appointment.  The pod could wait until he got back to
Terra
Nova
where the medics could open the pod in case the pilot required medical
attention.  Engaging the main engines, the battered but proud
Eternal Light
pulled away from the asteroid belt, bow pointing once again towards
Transcendence
. 

Let’s hope that this trip goes better than the one last
time,
Jon thought to himself recollecting those memories he had buried
years before…

Five Years Previously

Transcendence Station, Zeta Aquilae System

With the jump into FTL the silence in the cockpit of the
Eternal
Light
was deafening, both occupants lost among their own thoughts.  The
insistent beeping from the flight computer roused Jon from his contemplation of
their fate.  The ships self-diagnostic system was reporting a minor power
fluctuation in the ship’s port energy distribution grid.  While the fluctuation
was still within the ship’s tolerances it was continuing to grow and would soon
overload the power-grid, dumping them out of FTL in the middle of nowhere…  It
was obvious that they were not going to be travelling directly to Eden Prime.

Bringing up the star-charts of the adjoining star systems,
Jon reviewed their options.  Frowning he reviewed the short list for a second
time.  While there was a number of Imperial bases, outposts and repair and
resupply stations dotted across the near star systems, how many were safe?  How
many had joined Harkov in his insurrection?  They could have escaped one trap,
only to fly directly into another!  No.  Jon eliminated all the Imperial
military facilities and instead focused on the purely civilian operations. 
This far out on the rim, their options were severely limited, most were of
dubious origin where an Imperial ship was more likely to encounter a hail of
weapons fire than open arms.  Finally Jon was forced to settle for one of the
larger civilian stations.  According to the flight computer, it was a large
port with hundreds of docking births, a major trade hub in this sector; it was
called
Transcendence
.  Hoping that he was not taking them out of the
frying pan and into the fire Jon uploaded the new destination into the
navigation computer.   

*****

The abrupt change from FTL, an empty endless grey void, back
into “real” space awoke Sofia from her stupor.  “Have we arrived?” she asked
disorientated.

“No, we took some damage to our power-systems during the
escape; we need to stop here to make repairs.”

“Where is… here?” Sofia inquired curiously, looking at the
fast approaching station.

“According to the navigational computer, a civilian station
called
Transcendence
, a regional hub for the Zeta Aquilae System.”

“Have you been here before?”

“No,” Jon replied.  “I was posted to an Imperial outpost in
this system when I was a young Lieutenant, but never visited this station.” 

Sofia tried to imagine a younger Jon Radec, only having
recently joined the fleet, having just received his wings.  Eventually she gave
up.  She was only able to picture Jon with his stormy grey eyes, in his white
navy uniform with his sword at his side.  “Why here and not one of my father’s
military facilities.”  As soon as she uttered the words she fell still, having
for a brief moment forgotten about her father.

“It’s too risky,” Jon insisted.  “I have no idea how far
ranging this plot of Harkov’s is.  Better to disappear here among the crowd.” 
Letting his eyes linger on Sofia he briefly wondered how they would disappear
in the crowd with her at his side, she stood out like a beacon of light in a
thunderstorm. Her complexion was still too pale, but that was understandable,
considering what she had just been through. He also recognised the signs of
shock slowly starting to wear off.  He needed to find somewhere to let her rest
while he saw to the repairs of the
‘Light
.

After what seemed an inordinate amount of time, but in
reality was probably only a few minutes they got authorisation from docking
control to go-ahead and dock at one of the outer-docking rings.  Having ensured
that all the docking clamps were securely attached, Jon powered down the
‘Light
before glancing once again with a concerned expression at Sofia who had once
again ‘spaced-out’

“Sofia,” Jon said softly giving her a gentle shake on the
arm.  He realised that he was getting far too comfortable using her name, but
what was the alternative? He could hardly walk around the station continually
referring to her as ‘Princess.’  Once he noticed that her eyes had focused on
him again, he suggested “Lets find somewhere for you to rest while I oversee
the repairs to the
‘Light
.”  Noticing that she still seemed a little
unsteady on her feet, he gently slipped his arm under hers and the two of them
exited the ship. 

Having requested a remote docking bay Jon was relieved to
see few people during their journey through the station, and those that they
did cross, paid the couple little attention, obviously used to seeing fleet
officers with opulently dressed escorts hanging off their arms.  Jon had
thought it probably best not to inform Sofia how most of the stations occupants
viewed her.  Lust showing from the male admirers, jealously from their female
companions.  Arriving at one of the guest quarters that he had chosen at random
from the station computer he faced their first challenge as the clerk looked up
at their arrival, his eyes lingering on Sofia for a few moments longer than
necessary.

An abrupt cough from Jon brought his eyes away from Sofia
and he focused on Jon.  “You have a reservation for Captain Smyth… and
companion,” Jon put just the right amount of arrogance and leer into his voice
to distract the clerk from asking any more questions.  Jon knew for a fact that
there was no reservation, seeing that he had just invented the name and only
chosen this location a few minutes earlier.  Hence as the minutes dragged on
and the clerk’s tapping on his computer became more frantic, Jon started an
insistent tapping on the desk, to which he quickly added a sharp tapping with
his foot. 

Trying to time the exact moment, Jon finally interjected.
“Blast it man! Find the damn booking in your own time, I have more important
things… to be getting on with.”  He directed a lascivious look at Sofia, who in
turn was giving Jon an inquiring look back, which he just knew was going to
demand an explanation at a later date.

“Yes sir, sorry sir,” the poor clerk mumbled frantically
tapping on his computer. 

Deciding to give the man a final push, Jon responded in his
best command voice.  “Captain. You address a fleet officer by his rank.  The
key.  Now,” he demanded.  The clerk gave the Commander an excellent impression
of a fish out of water, when he nodded and quickly handed over an entry-card. 
Jon simply shot the man a disgusted glare and spun around in the direction of
the rooms with Sofia still on his arm.

Finally entering their assigned room, Jon slumped into the
nearest chair in relief.  While it had been less than a day from their
departure from the
Imperial Star;
Jon felt like it had been a lifetime. 
Recognising the inquisitive look from Sofia regarding his strange actions in
front of the clerk and having no energy to come-up with a telling lie, he
interjected before she could ask.  “Why don’t you go and freshen up?  You can
then stay here and rest while I oversee the repairs to the
‘Light
.” 

Sofia seemed disappointed at the clear dismissal but nodded
her head and disappeared into the adjoining washroom. 

Jon was dead-tired and wanted to just let his eyes close and
rest, right up until he heard the sound of running water for the shower.  At which
point his imagination went into overdrive with vivid impressions of a naked Princess
in the shower, separated from him only by a thin wall.  With a groan of anguish
he let his head fall back against the chair. 

Some time later, after the shower had shut-off, the door to
the washroom re-opened and Sofia glided out.  Jon noticed that the colour had
returned slightly to her cheeks; it looked like the shower had gone some way to
restoring her natural beauty.  Giving the large bed a quick glance she moved
across the room and sat next to Jon in the large, well, let’s be honest, ‘love-seat’. 
Letting her head rest lightly against Jon’s shoulder, she let out a gentle
yawn, before she buried herself in his arm to make herself more comfortable. 

Jon inhaled a whiff of what he assumed was her shampoo or
soap, some fruity citrus favour that seemed to set-off all his synapses firing
at the same time.

“So what was all that about in-front of the clerk?” she
asked sleepily.

”Hmmm…” Jon responded, distracted by her fruity scent.

“Me strong warrior… you weak female,” Sofia replied with a
giggle.

“Oh that,” Jon replied desperately trying to engage his
brain to come-up with a suitable response.  Suddenly in inspiration he replied,
“I wanted to distract him from who you were, so I implied that you were my
consort.”

Sofia seemed to mull that one over for a few moments before
replying.  “You mean in the same way that Senator Rione’s son asked me to
accompany him for lunch last week.” 

This was the first that Jon had heard about the incident and
suddenly just breaking the boy’s nose did not seem good enough.  He knew he
should have followed his first instinct and run the boy through with his
sword. 

However, instead he simply replied, “Something like that.”

“Thank God,” Sofia replied, almost asleep. “For a moment
there I thought you were trying to prostitute the daughter of the Emperor.” 

Jon just shook his head slightly in amusement. He knew that
he needed to move and get repairs started on the
Eternal Light
.

A few more minutes will not hurt
, he thought to
himself letting his eyes drift closed.  

*****

When Sofia opened her eyes sometime later, it was dark. 
Blinking repeatedly she tried to focus, but could only make out some vague,
indistinct shapes.