Wanderer 3: Tainted Universe (3 page)

She should have had a confusing meeting with someone who looked like her lost love.  Any pain would soon have faded.  Instead, thanks to Dash’s manipulation, she had been forced to confront the brutal truth.

As if all that wasn’t enough, he was undecided about his own future.  If his fears proved unfounded then at Desolation he’d be able to pick up a powerful ship and a loyal crew.  He could return to heading up the organisation.  Don the mantle of power once again and hunt down those Hackett had worked for.  After two decades it was the obvious choice, the reflexive choice.  Yet it felt cold.  Sour.

Spending time with Jess and the others had reawakened something deep inside Dash.  They’d told him of their plan to cross the Quarantine Zone, somehow, and head for the
Wanderer
’s home.  The thought of just dropping everything and joining them sent excitement through Dash’s veins.  The chance to see something completely new.  The chance to travel without being crushed by responsibility.  And the chance to do some good, real good, along the way.  To make a difference to the lives of others.

In his heart Dash already knew what his choice would be.  The question now was whether Jess and the others would accept him on the journey.  He wouldn’t blame them if they refused.

Chapter Three

Greenseed Station

“
Incoming freighter sir,” called out the watch officer.

Marsh tensed immediately, as did everyone else in the control room.

“Who is it?” Marsh asked, focusing on keeping the worry from his voice.  He needed to project calm confidence, even if he didn’t feel it.

“
One moment sir…”

Everyone in the room seemed to be holding their breath.  Marsh could see the watch officer sweating under the pressure.  He was young.  Maybe seventeen.  Much too young to be holding down such an important role.  But these were far from ideal conditions.

“Take your time,” Marsh said gently.

“
Yes sir.”  The officer threw him a grateful smile.

Marsh smiled back, hiding the urge he felt to push the youngster aside and run the scan himself.  These were the times he really missed captaining a warship.

But those days were gone.  At sixty-seven his days of military command were behind him.  The Empire had moved Marsh aside, giving him a simpler job running Greenseed station.  A safe position.  One where he could while away time until he retired, never having to face danger again.  He almost laughed at that.  How wrong they’d been.

Finally the watch officer managed to pull up the identification.

“It’s the
Silver Tramp
,” he said, relief in his voice.  “She’s about ten minutes out.”

Marsh felt much of the tension drain out of his body.  They knew the
Silver Tramp
.  She’d visited several times in the past few weeks, picking up the food which was Greenseed’s main export and taking it where it was needed.  She was a friendly.

“
All right everyone,” Marsh boomed out.  “You heard the man.  We know this ship.  She’s a friendly.  You know what to do.”

The room instantly transformed.  The Battle Stations alert blared out.  Weapons were activated, as were the huge defence platforms floating nearby in space.

Marsh oversaw it all, not needing to take any action.  His people knew what they were doing.  They’d done it enough times, and he made certain the most critical functions were overseen by his experienced officers.  Youngsters got assigned to roles like the watch officer.  While the information the watch officer provided was critical.  If necessary someone else could always take over well before any ship neared the station.

With everyone on high alert and the massive amount of firepower focused on where the freighter would arrive there was nothing more to do.  Marsh sat back to wait, trying not to let his own tension show.

*****

As the
Silver Tramp
eased to a stop at the agreed location Marsh allowed himself a deep breath.  Most of the room followed suit.  The freighter had been friendly the last time it visited, but that was no guarantee of anything.  Its behaviour so far was encouraging but Marsh wasn’t about to let his guard down.  He’d done that once before.  He was determined not to lose anyone else.

“
Incoming transmission,” the comms officer called out.

“
Put it through,” Marsh replied.

A large screen flared to life in front of him, showing a middle-aged man with dark skin and fuzzy hair.  Marsh had never seen him before.

“Where’s the captain?” he snapped out.

The atmosphere in the control room changed in an instant, going from merely focused to razor-sharp.  Hands hovered over fire controls.  The man on the screen paled.

“He’s… he’s in sickbay.  A container shifted unexpectedly.  Mashed his leg up badly.  He’s sedated at the moment.  I’m his first officer.”

Marsh stared silently for a few moments, letting the tension build before he spoke.

“Well Mr First Officer, you have a lot of people with very shaky hands holding them just above firing buttons.  I suggest you and your ship don’t give us any reason to feel worried.”

“
Of course!  Of course commander.  I promise you have nothing to worry about.  We’re just here to pick up a shipment of food.”

“
The usual amount?”

The question seemed to throw the first officer for a few moments.  He’d been expecting more of a grilling.  Marsh knew there was no point.  Either things were on the level or they weren’t.  If they were then great.  If not there would only be one outcome - the complete destruction of the
Silver Tramp
.  Finally the officer managed to nod.

“
Very well.  Hold your position.  The cargo will be delivered into your cargo bay.  Once it's completed we’ll inform you.  Until then you don’t shift a centimetre.  Got it?”

“
Yes.  Yes commander.  And thank…”

Marsh cut him off partway through, killing the connection.

“I don’t like this,” he told the officers around him.  “At the slightest hint of trouble wipe that ship out.  No second chances.”

Those in control of weapons acknowledged his orders.

“Get the delivery under way,” Marsh said.  “The sooner it's on board the sooner we can get that ship well away from here.”

Not that the
Silver Tramp
was that close.  Even at full burn it would take a good five minutes to cross the distance to the station, but that was far closer than Marsh liked.  He knew that two members of his team were doing nothing but scanning the
Silver Tramp
, watching for any sign it had dropped anything, or launched something towards the station.

The delivery got under way.  It would take nearly thirty minutes to complete.  Thirty minutes of tension and nervous trigger fingers.  Marsh smiled tightly to himself.

Easy duty my arse,
he thought.

*****

Marsh watched as the last of the cargo containers was launched from Greenseed.  A set of automated cargo handlers grabbed each in turn and boosted it out towards the
Silver Tramp
.  More automated handlers waited out by the freighter, slowing the containers then loading them aboard.

Those handlers, the ones that made contact with visiting freighters, would remain in position waiting for the next arrival.  None would be allowed to return to Greenseed.  No one was going to risk that.

Finally the last container was loaded.  The automated handlers pulled away.

“
Open a channel,” Marsh told the comms officer.  Moments later he was staring at the
Silver Tramp
’s first officer again.  The man looked slightly less nervous than before, but not much.

“
Loading is complete,” Marsh said.  “Use the flightpath we supplied.  Any deviation will lead to your destruction.”

“
Thank you commander.  Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.  The food you’ve supplied will save thousands from starving.”

“
And turn you a tidy profit, no doubt.”

“
We… that is… yes…”  The man was completely thrown.  “But only from half of the shipment.  The other half goes to those most in need.  As you always specify.  Do you want payment?  The captain said you always refuse his offers.”

“
No.  We aren’t doing this for money.  And I was unfair. You are taking far more risks than we are, you and those with you.  You deserve to make a profit.  If you didn’t then who would deliver the food to those who really need it?  Anyway, you should be going.  I hope the captain recovers soon.”

“
So do I!”

The first officer said it with such conviction that Marsh smiled a little.  The man seemed on the level, and his nervousness was certainly understandable.  He knew full well how much firepower was pointing at the
Silver Tramp
.  How small a movement it would take to see him and the rest of the crew killed.

“
Safe journey,” Marsh said.

“
Thank you Commander.  Stay safe.”

“
I certainly intend to,” Marsh replied, then killed the link.

The
Silver Tramp
slowly started to move away, sticking to the flight plan exactly.  Marsh allowed himself to relax a little as it built up speed, but was still tense until it finally reached safe distance and disappeared into jump space.

The relief in the room was palpable.  People joked, smiled and in a couple of cases blinked away tears.  Marsh didn’t blame them.  Even with all their precautions letting ships so close was terribly dangerous.

The alternative was worse though.  Stockpiling the huge supplies of food grown on Greenseed, maybe even destroying food eventually, while hundreds of thousands starved elsewhere in the system and at neighbouring stars.  Marsh knew he’d never take that option.  No matter the risks, Greenseed would continue to supply the food to prevent at least some of those people from dying.  From starvation at least.

Chapter Four

Jess stared at the others sitting around the living area.  He found himself missing Elizabeth once again, both for her sense of humour and her cutting insight.  So much of his life had changed since he gained his freedom, and kept changing, that the few friends he’d gathered had become vital to him.

The pain of losing first Matt and then Elizabeth cut deep.  Though at least Elizabeth was leaving on good terms, and deep down he wished her well.  Matt… Matt had been different.  Even now, several weeks later, the pain of that betrayal refused to heal.  He found himself suspecting those around him, watching them for signs of betrayal.

At the moment that suspicion was focused squarely on Dash.  Jess found himself liking Dash but that just increased his worries.  Dash had already shown himself to be an exceptionally shrewd operator, and to be manipulative too.  Jess was certain the betrayal by Hackett and Dash’s other men had been for real, but that wasn’t a guarantee that Dash could be trusted.

Ali sat near to Jess, seemingly relaxed.  Jess wasn’t fooled.  He caught the slight tension in her body and the nervous glances she threw at Dash from time to time.  He was certain Dash did too.

Sal sat away from the others, shoulders slumped.  Jess wanted to go to her, to offer words of support and a hug, but he couldn’t bring himself to.  He just couldn’t think of the right words to say.  Another reason to miss Elizabeth he thought.  Since joining the ship she’d been there whenever Sal was struggling.

To his surprise Teeko was in the room too.  Jess had grown used to the alien hiding away in its room, sunk in gloom over the lack of progress finding others of its kind.  Now, though, it stood in the living area with Ben, the young boy who had been one of the prisoners Jess and the others had freed.

Somehow, and Jess still hadn’t worked out how, Teeko had managed to get through solid walls to reach Ben.  Investigating that was yet another thing Jess needed to get around to doing.  Since then the boy and the alien had been inseparable.  Standing on all his legs, as he was now, Teeko resembled a brown furred table with four legs to a side.  Ben sat on Teeko’s back, arms wrapped around its flexible neck.  Teeko steadied the youngster with one arm.  Ben seemed unconcerned by the sucker tipped appendages Teeko had instead of hands.

Despite the mystery of how Teeko had retrieved Ben, Jess was pleased it had happened.  Having the youngster around was doing the alien good.  Ben seemed happier too.  He’d been separated from his mother just before being loaded onto the prisoner transports.  Jess had searched for her as soon as he heard Ben’s story, but she wasn’t aboard the
Wanderer
.

It was possible that she was on one of the other three ships.  They’d know for certain once they reached Desolation and unloaded all the transports.  Jess knew it was unlikely though.  The Empire seemed to take a perverse pleasure in breaking up groups of prisoners, splitting up friends and family members.

Telling Ben that his mother wasn’t aboard had been doubly painful for Jess.  He’d seen the pain in the young boy’s face of course, but it had been matched by a deep wound of his own.  One that would never heal fully.  Jess had been split from his own mother in similar circumstances when even younger than Ben.  He knew just how much pain Ben was in, and how isolated he’d be feeling amongst the group of adults.  Ben was coping though, thriving even, with the help of Teeko.

And finally there was Dash.  He seemed calm, despite the sense of urgency that gripped the others.  In only a few minutes the
Wanderer
would drop out of jump space almost on top of Desolation.  That was possible because there were no planets in the system, and Desolation had only a tiny mass when compared to a natural body. 

Dash had explained that it was important not to appear too far out for two reasons.  First it would make them seem a threat, as anyone with good reason to visit knew better.  Second, the area was heavily mined.  Any attempt to approach from further out would lead to the
Wanderer
being crippled or destroyed.

The explanation made sense to Jess but it still felt like an awful risk.  Not so much for the
Wanderer
, she could jump away again immediately if needed, but for the other three ships.

“
Do you have the codes ready to transmit?” Dash asked, interrupting Jess’s thoughts.

“
Yes,” Jess replied.  “All ready to send.  How sure are you that they’ll keep us safe?”

“
The codes are good.  We won’t have any trouble.”

Jess studied Dash carefully.  He seemed calm, but was that just an act?  Jess reached out to the
Wanderer
, accelerating his thoughts and making use of the ship’s internal sensors.

“
How can you be sure?” Ali asked aggressively.  “Your men already betrayed you once.”

“
That was a mistake on my part,” Dash said.  “I was distracted when Hackett put the team together.  Desolation is completely different.  The people there were chosen by me.  They’ll have stayed loyal, no matter what else is happening.”

All smoothly delivered and believable, Jess thought.  He’d even have believed it… if he hadn’t caught the twitch on Dash’s face at the mention of the betrayal.  It had been the briefest of expressions, gone in a heartbeat, but to Jess’s accelerated mind it shone out.

There were no tell tale reactions during the rest of Dash’s statement though.  He really seemed to believe those he’d chosen would stay loyal.  Or that was the impression he gave off.

“
What if they’re gone?”  Ali kept pushing.  “What if they’ve been replaced by the same group that turned on you before?”

Once again Jess caught a brief flicker of something on Dash’s face.  This time it looked as if he’d taken a bite of something unpleasant.  Then it was gone again, wiped away from one moment to the next.

“Anyone who tried that would regret it,” Dash said, voice still calm.  “Believe me.”

Jess thought for a moment.  What should he do?  Should he push Dash or let it go?  He made his mind up.

“But you don’t believe it,” Jess said calmly.  “I could tell.  You’re worried about the chance we’ll get a hostile reception, and Hackett’s betrayal still stings you.”

This time several emotions flew across Dash’s face.  Surprise, worry, irritation and anger.  By the time he spoke they’d all gone.

“Really? And what makes you say that?”

Dash’s voice was gentle but there was no mistaking the steel underneath.  His eyes locked on Jess’s, glaring a challenge.  Jess felt almost physically rocked back and started to look away, feeling cowed.  Then anger flared to life in his chest.  No!  He would not back down.  This was his ship.  These were his friends.  Dash was a guest, and one with much suspicion hanging over him at that.  Jess forced himself to meet Dash’s gaze.

“This…” Jess said.

He gestured towards a wall where a screen flashed into life.  It showed Dash in slow motion, the reactions clear on his face for all to see.

Dash and the others watched the screen.  Jess watched Dash.  Watched him and checked the
Wanderer
’s defences were ready for action.  He didn’t particularly want to hurt Dash, he definitely didn’t want to kill the older man, but Jess wasn’t going to take any chances.

For a moment Jess thought he’d need to use the defences.  Anger twisted Dash’s face as he watched the slow motion display of his earlier reactions.  His body vibrated slightly, as if straining to lash out.  Jess waited, ready to fire the weapons the moment Dash moved.

Then Dash took a deep breath, followed by another.  The anger seemed to drain out of his body.  Jess relaxed slightly as the danger seemed to recede, but left the weapons armed and targeted.  He wasn’t convinced this wasn’t another ploy.  Dash smiled tightly at Jess.

“
I just keep on underestimating you Jess, don’t I?  You’re right.  Hackett’s betrayal cut me deeply.  I lost someone recently.  Dozer.  My best friend and a great second officer.  Hackett’s betrayal, following so close on Dozer’s death, made me realise how many of those close to me I’d lost down the years.  And how few of those now around me I could truly trust.

“
Am I sure those I left running Desolation will be friendly?  Yes.  Am I sure they haven’t been replaced and possibly killed?  No.  And there’s no way of telling without going there.  In fact I’ll probably have to go into the base personally to be sure.”

“
Why lie?” Sal asked coldly.  “Other than the obvious reason, you seem incapable of telling the truth.”

Jess didn’t need his mind sped up to see the hurt on Dash’s face at her words.  It must have been clear to the others, though Jess wasn’t sure Sal would let herself see it.

Dash composed himself and gestured around the room.

“
I’m not exactly trusted.  I don’t blame you.  I led you into great danger, then brought troops aboard the ship who tried to kill you.  And yet you’re having to trust me.  You’re having to trust that the base is what I say it is, and that you’ll be safe there.  I didn’t think adding my own worries would be particularly constructive.”

“
So you lied,” Sal said.  “Again.”

“
No… well, yes… but…”

Jess stared at Dash in surprise.  Sal’s attack seemed to have stripped Dash of all his confidence and certainty, leaving him tongue-tied.  And Jess was pretty sure this was for real.  He almost felt sorry for Dash.  Ali had left him in the same state many times.

“… it wasn’t really a lie,” Dash finally managed to say.  “The people I left in charge of Desolation really would make anyone attacking them pay a heavy price.  They aren’t invincible though.  I have no idea how big the movement to overthrow me is.  It’s certainly possible it was big enough to take Desolation.”

“
You must be keen to get back in charge then,” Ali said in a voice that could only be described as warm if it was compared to Sal’s.

Dash sat for a moment, weighing up his answer, before speaking in a soft voice.

“No.  Not at all.  It was never what I intended.  One thing just led to another, and then I had too many responsibilities to stop.”

“
And now you don’t?” Jess asked.

“
I used to think so but… no.  There are other ways I can help people, I can make things better.  You’ve reminded me of that.  All of you.  I don’t know what I’ll do yet, but it will be a clean break.”

“
Won’t they come after you?” Jess asked.  He was intrigued now, despite himself.

“
Yeah.  I’ll always be looking over my shoulder.  Unless you let me travel with you, at least until you make it through the Quarantine Zone.  I’ll be safe then.  Unknown.  I can start over.”

That completely threw Jess.  He’d assumed Dash would leave them first chance he got.  That he’d pick up where he’d left off, running the powerful pirate organisation.  Sal and Ali looked surprised too.

“I don’t know…” Ali started to say.

“
Oh shit!” Jess shouted as a warning chimed in his mind.  “We’re only thirty seconds out from Desolation!”

Dealing with Dash had distracted Jess.  The others looked shocked, even Dash.  Well, the other humans.  Sometimes Jess could read some of Teeko’s body language, but mostly the alien was a closed book — as it was now.

“At least we won’t be wondering about our reception much longer,” Sal said darkly.

Jess just grunted as he forced his mind to its maximum acceleration.  Only seventeen seconds remained, but that was far more time than he needed with his mind accelerated by his implants.  He quickly brought the
Wanderer
to battle ready status, then reviewed the pattern for dropping out of jump space.

The
Wanderer
would drop out slightly after the other ships, putting her closer to the base.  She was far tougher than the three freighters.  If the reception was hostile then Jess hoped to buy enough time for the other three ships to escape before the
Wanderer
had to jump out.

Ideally he would have been on the flight deck as they arrived, but there was no time now.  It made no difference to his ability to control the
Wanderer
.  Everything was done through the implanted interface that meshed with his brain.  But the flight deck had chairs better suited to violent changes of direction.  Jess mentally shrugged.  There was nothing he could do about it now.

Then he settled down to wait.  With only a few seconds to go he felt the familiar presence of Ali as she activated her own implants.  Sal followed soon after.  Neither spoke.  Nor did Jess, but he drew comfort from having them near, and knowing they would offer advice if he needed it.

They couldn’t keep up with the speed of his thoughts though.  The implants they carried in their heads were nowhere near as extensive as Jess’s own.  His implants made him an essential part of the ship.  A terrifying prospect when it first happened, yet something he happily accepted now.  In fact he found it hard to imagine life without the
Wanderer
’s presence.  Wherever he went the connection remained.