Wanderer 3: Tainted Universe (7 page)

Chapter Eleven

Greenseed Station

“Incoming ships!”

Marsh jerked awake at the watch officer’s cry.  It felt like he’d only just closed his eyes.  A glance at the time showed that wasn’t far from the truth.  He’d been asleep for just over an hour.  With everything that had happened he’d expected to find sleep difficult, but once Novek and his ships left Marsh had found himself unable to keep his eyes open.  The strain of the day’s events had left him exhausted.  And now there was another convoy to deal with.

“For god’s sake,” Marsh muttered.  “Hasn’t enough happened already today?”

“
Word’s getting around,” Alisha replied, sounding tired herself.  “And things are getting worse out there.”

“
Yeah, I guess so,” he replied quietly.  “This is going to become a problem though.  The strain is already showing.”

“
It doesn’t help that the commander insists on being in command twenty-four by seven,” she replied pointedly.  “That sets a bad example.  Even when people are ordered to rest they hang around in case they’re needed.”

“
Fair point,” he conceded.

Not that he was going to stop.  He glanced over at the watch officer — the youngster was back.

“What sort of ships?” Marsh called out.

“
I… I’m not sure,” the young officer replied.

“
That isn’t a lot of use,” Marsh barked, unable to contain his frustration.

“
No sir… but I can’t tell yet.  They aren’t transmitting any identification and they are at extreme range for the sensors.  There seems to be a large force though, and some of the ships are big.  Maybe frigate sized.”

Marsh swallowed hard.  This was it.

“Focus on the large ships,” he said, more gently.  “They should be easier to pick out.  How many of that size?”

“
At least three I think.  Probably five or six, but I can’t be sure yet.”

Marsh sank back in his chair.  Three frigates sized ships would probably be more than the station could hold off.  Five or six and they wouldn’t stand a chance, and that was without taking the smaller ships into account.  The station’s weaponry could hurt a single frigate badly, though the station would probably still come off worse in that fight.  With several ships of that class any attackers could destroy the station’s defences and take it over.  Or they could just blow it out of space.

Marsh met Alisha’s eyes.  She’d clearly reached the same conclusion.

“
Can we get anyone off,” she asked quietly.

“
No point,” Marsh replied, shaking his head.  “Where would they go?  And they wouldn’t be able to outrun the interceptors that a force that size will have.”

“
So we just give up?  Just let them walk in here, bringing the stars knows what with them?  After everything we’ve gone through to keep the station safe?”

“
What else can we do?  Fight to a glorious death?  Go down in flames?”

“
That might be better,” Alisha said darkly.

“
Maybe.  But we don’t know that they’ll be tainted.  From what we know there’s a good chance they aren’t.”

“
Does it matter?  Our people will be in danger as soon as anyone new steps foot on the station.  Sooner or later someone tainted will arrive.”

“
Sir… it’s seven.  There are seven frigate sized ships.  There’s a lot of smaller ships supporting them too.  I can’t get accurate numbers yet but there’s at least twenty to thirty corvettes then many smaller ships.”

“
Good work,” Marsh said.  He meant it too.  Picking out those details at extreme range was tough.  The lad might just have the makings of a decent watch officer after all.  If he survived.  If any of them survived.  He addressed the room, forcing confidence into his voice.

“
Arm all weapons.  We don’t know who or what we are dealing with.  They might seem to have overwhelming force, but appearances can be deceiving.”

His words got a mixed reception.  Everyone did as he had ordered, but while some seemed confident others were clearly scared.  Marsh didn’t blame them.  He was fighting paralysing fear himself.

The incoming fleet wasn’t in any hurry.  It approached slowly, allowing its size and firepower to fully dawn on everyone watching.  Several minutes passed in silence, with no chatter in the room and no communications from the approaching fleet.

Finally a signal came in.  Marsh sat up straighter as an image appeared.  He had to fight not to laugh.  The image that confronted him couldn’t have shouted pirate leader any more unless the man had a parrot sitting on his shoulder.  He had everything from the heavily scarred face to the piercings.  He had the garish clothes and even a black pirates hat perched on his head.

A quick glance at the tactical display killed the urge to laugh dead.  The man might look ridiculous, but he was in command of a massive amount of firepower.

Silence stretched out as the man said nothing.  Marsh considered seeing how long that particular game could last, then decided against it.  Each passing moment brought the fleet closer to Greenseed.  He needed to resolve the problem now.  Somehow.

“Greetings,” Marsh said in as pleasant a voice as he could manage.  “How can we help you?”

“
Food!”  The man’s voice was gravelly, but to Marsh it sounded forced.  Another affectation.

“
Food?” Marsh asked, wondering if he’d heard clearly.

“
Yes.  Food.  You have it, we need it.  You’re going to give it to us.”

Marsh was caught out.  He’d expected the man to follow up with threats, with references to the immense force at his disposal, with warnings of what refusal would lead to.  Instead the captain had left it all unspoken.  Marsh quickly changed his opinion of the man.  He was far more dangerous than his appearance suggested.  Maybe dressing that way was a deliberate move to make people underestimate him.

“How much?” Marsh asked finally.

The reply was short and to the point.  It was a lot, roughly thirty times as much as Novek and his fleet had left with, but they could manage.

“And what do we get in return?” Marsh asked.

“
Commander, I think we both know the answer to that.”  The captain smiled gently, though it didn’t reach his eyes.  “You won’t accept any payment from those who are taking the food for noble reasons, or claim to at least.  Would you really accept anything from me?”

Marsh felt like kicking himself.  The captain had him off balance and he was making stupid mistakes.  He took a deep breath, using the moment to focus.

“No.  You’re right.  So what happens once we have delivered the food to you?”

“
You carry on as you have been,” replied the captain.  “And at some point in the future we return for more food, assuming you’re still here and the station is in one piece.  There aren’t many safe places to get food these days.  I certainly don’t want to damage one of the best.”

“
Unless we refuse to supply you of course.”

All hint of friendliness dropped from the captain’s face.  His voice lost some of the gravel, but it was replaced by steel.  Marsh was sure he was seeing the captain’s true personality now.

“That would be a very foolish choice Commander.  Many people depend on the food you are supplying, not to mention all those on the station that would be endangered by such a move.  I won’t risk damaging a station that can supply my fleet with food.  I won’t hesitate to destroy a station that refuses to.  Do I make myself clear?”

“
Crystal.”

“
Good.  How long will it take?”

Relief fought anger within Marsh.  They could spare the food but giving in to the pirate went against everything Marsh believed in.  He had no choice though.  Too many lives were at stake, both on the station and relying on future food deliveries.  Marsh managed to answer, though the strain was evident in his voice.

“Two to three hours if you can cope with it.  Longer if you need us to send the food up more slowly.”

“
We can cope.  Here are the details.  Don’t even think of trying anything.”

The transmission abruptly cut off.

“They ended the call,” the comms officer confirmed.  “We’re receiving a delivery plan.”

Marsh pulled it up.  The pirates had learnt much about Greenseed.  The plan almost exactly mirrored their usual operations, right down to the speed at which deliveries could be sent out.

Marsh found the level of detail strangely comforting.  He hadn’t been bullied into making a mistake.  The pirates knew what they were doing, and knew they had enough firepower to overwhelm Greenseed.  The comfort evaporated as he wondered who else was studying the station in the same level of detail, and when they would arrive.

Had it been a mistake to supply food to those who needed it?  Did it draw more attention than was safe?  He didn’t think so.  Plenty of people had known of Greenseed and far more could have found the records relating to it.  At the start of the crisis most of the ships arriving had come to buy, beg or steal food.  Marsh’s offer to supply them had avoided conflict.  In return he asked that they distribute some of the food to those most in need.

No, it had been the right decision.  Refusing to supply food would have led to far worse conflict.  Now, though, he had to deal with the consequences of those decisions.  In the beginning, when the crisis finally reached Greenseed, he’d been certain the Empire would quickly prevail.

As first weeks and then months went by that certainty faded.  Visiting ships brought dark news.  Horrific stories of starvation and conflict, of fear and brutality.  Now Marsh kept going because there was no other option.  It couldn’t last though, he knew that.  Initially ships had only arrived every few days but they’d been turning up more and more frequently.  Every visit was fraught with danger.  Marsh knew that his team couldn’t take such high levels of stress forever.  Nor could he for that matter.

Around Marsh his team organised delivery of the supplies.  Marsh found himself sitting in silence, brooding over the situation.  He kept returning to two almost unthinkable questions.  Where were the Imperial forces that should be dealing with the situation?  And did their absence mean the Empire had already fallen?

Chapter Twelve

Jess walked into Teeko’s room.  Ben, the young prisoner that Teeko had taken under his wing, gave Jess a hopeful look that nearly broke his heart.  Ben was sitting on Teeko’s back, hugging the strange alien’s neck.

Jess tried to speak but choked on the words.  Tears pricked his eyes but he refused to let them show.  He tried to speak again and managed to grind out his words.

“Ben… I’m sorry.  We’ve freed all the prisoners now.  Your mother wasn’t on any of the ships.”

The hope on Ben’s face crumpled into despair.  He turned his face into Teeko’s dark fur and started to cry in a way that was both quiet and full of anguish.  The sound cut through Jess who had to hang his own head.  He felt like it was his fault, even while knowing it wasn’t in any way.  He hadn’t had any say in which prisoners went where either before or after the
Wanderer
arrived.

Dark memories of his own bubbled up.  Of the time he’d been ripped away from his own mother.  For months he’d held onto the hope that they might be reunited one day.  A baseless hope that had slowly died.

For Ben it had been different.  There had been a reasonable chance that his mother was on board one of the other ships.  That hope had now been dashed.  What made it worse was knowing that the
Wanderer
would be heading off in a direction that made any reunion impossible.

Looking at the crying child, Jess couldn’t find the right words to say.  Couldn’t find any words. 
I’m sorry
just wouldn’t cut it. 
I know how you feel
would be no comfort.  That just left something even harder.  Asking Ben whether he wanted to stay or leave with the other prisoners.

Teeko spoke before Jess could ask the question, its deep voice rumbling out.

“Ben friend stay will.  Ben friend Teeko needs.  Ben friend here safe.”

“
Is that what you want?” Jess asked Ben.  “You want to stay with us rather than go with the other prisoners?  You realise we probably won’t be able to return to this section of space.”

The boy nodded emphatically, and Jess heard a quiet yes.  He just nodded then turned and fled the cabin, fleeing the pain in Ben’s face and the phantoms from his own past.

*****

Jess fought down anger as Dash once again spoke with his friend on the base.  It was difficult.  The hardest part was that he’d expected to have Dash off the
Wanderer
some time before.

Every prisoner on the other three ships had been freed and, with a few exceptions, transferred to the ships loyal to Dash.  Those exceptions were staying aboard the
Steady Light
with Elizabeth.  Some as part of her crew, some travelling with her to find safety.  Almost everyone aboard the
Wanderer
had gone too.  The last shuttle was about to lift off.  Dash would be its only passenger.

He should have been long gone, transferred aboard an earlier flight.  Whoever was in charge at the base had stopped that.  This was the third call.  Each had been on a flimsy pretext but had been used to ensure Dash was still aboard, and was still planning to visit the base soon.

Jess had considered faking the images, sending Dash on a shuttle and modifying the image so he appeared to be on board the
Wanderer
still.  He’d decided against it on the grounds that it was too risky.  Until the three freighters that had accompanied them were safely clear, along with those ships carrying freed prisoners, he couldn’t risk tipping off those who had snatched control of the base.

So here he sat, fuming quietly while Dash chatted to his friend.

“That’s the last shuttle,” Dash was saying.  “I just need to collect my things together and say my farewells then I’ll be on my way over.  Make sure those beers are being chilled.”

“
Of course,” chuckled the other man, though to Jess it was clearly a forced sound.  “See you soon.”

As soon as the transmission ended Jess contacted the three freighters.

“Time to go,” he said.  “Good luck.”

Two of the captains returned his good wishes and disappeared from the screen.  Jess was left facing Elizabeth.  She smiled at him but it didn’t disguise her worry.

“Damn, this is difficult,” she said.  “Feels like I’m abandoning you all.  You need to be damn careful.  This universe doesn’t often give second chances.”

Jess smiled back through the tightness in his chest.  He had so few people he could rely on that losing Elizabeth hurt more than he’d expected.  Soon he’d only have Ali, Sal and Teeko.

“You be careful too,” Jess replied.  “I don’t think the Empire is going to take losing those stealth ships well.”

“
Don’t worry about that.  We’ll be heading a damn long way and we’ll stop off at the system Dash told us about on the way.  The disruption that star gives off means no one will be able to follow us through jump space.”

“
You’d better get going.  Pretty soon whoever hijacked the base is going to realise that Dash isn’t actually going over there.  Then all hell will break loose.”

Elizabeth nodded.  “All right.  Stay safe Jess, and keep the others safe too.  And don’t trust… don’t trust everyone you meet.”

“Stay safe,” Jess echoed.

“
Sal, Ali… look after yourselves.  And Jess.”

Both women promised they would and said their own farewells.  Then the call ended and Elizabeth was gone.  She was still out there on the
Steady Light
but it already seemed that she had left his life.  Jess swallowed down the tears that threatened to fall, forcing himself to focus on her last warning.  He was certain she’d been about to tell him not to trust Dash then had realised Dash might be listening in.  No matter.  Jess knew what she’d meant.

“
Well Dash,” Jess said, forcing as much civility as he could into his voice.  “Decision time.  Which ship do you want to travel to?  We’ll send you over on a shuttle at the same time as sending an empty shuttle to the base.  You’ll have to get all your ships to leave the moment you’re on board.”

Dash took a deep breath, then nodded.  “No point asking to stay on the
Wanderer
then?”  He glanced at first Jess and then Ali.  “No, I guess not.  The
Massive Force
then.  Not the most subtle ship but it’s strong and fast.”

“
Jess, please give Roberto a chance,” Sal said.

“
I can’t,” Jess replied firmly.  “I can’t take the chance.”

“
Then I’m going with Roberto.”

Sal looked almost as shocked by her words as Jess felt, but determination quickly replaced surprise.  Jess felt as if the floor had been yanked out from under him.  The thought of Sal leaving made him panic.

“Sal… you can’t,” Dash said.  “It’s too dangerous.”

“
More dangerous than being on the
Wanderer
?” Sal asked with a short laugh.  “I’ve been held hostage, nearly been kidnapped and been in several battles that we’ve only just survived.  Going with you will be a damn site safer.”

Dash smiled a little.  “Well, maybe not that much more dangerous.  If you’re sure…”

“No,” Jess managed to snap out.  “You can’t go!  I need you.  We need you.”  He realised there was desperation in his tone, but he couldn’t do anything about it.

“
No Jess,” Sal replied firmly.  “If Dash goes, I go.  If you want me to stay then he gets a chance to prove himself.  Your choice.”

Jess caught a slight shake of the head from Ali.  She still didn’t trust Dash at all, didn’t want him around.  The desire to do as Ali asked, to get rid of Dash, was strong.  But so was the fear of losing Sal, of losing the last person who understood the world Jess had grown up in.  Jess stood trapped as the two conflicting desires seemed to rip his insides out.

*****

Dash stared at Jess, not daring to speak.  Sal’s ultimatum to Jess had shocked him, but it created a warm feeling inside.  Balanced against it was his worry for Sal.  Coming with him could be a terrible life for her.

The question was, would Jess change his mind?  He seemed to be struggling to respond which could be a good sign.  Dash didn’t dare say anything for fear of shoving Jess the wrong way.

Long seconds passed.  Jess’s eyes kept swinging between Sal and Dash.  Finally he shook his head.

“No Sal.  I’m sorry.  Really, really sorry.  But I just don’t trust him.”

Dash felt crushed.  Not by Jess’s words, by what they meant.  He’d been standing at a fork in the road.  One fork led back to his old life.  Back to the scheming and fighting to keep his position.  Back to knowing that the deeds he was ultimately responsible for were getting darker by the day.

The other fork led to a brighter future.  To a new future.  To a new beginning on the other side of the Quarantine Zone.  Or it had.  That fork was gone now, and with it that future.  His heart ached at the loss, making him realise just how much he’d wanted the new start.

Would having Sal with him make things more bearable?  Undoubtedly.  Yet he hadn’t lied to her, it would be dangerous.  He still didn’t know whether to run, and keep running, or to try wresting back control of the organisation.  He didn’t really want to take control again, but was a life on the run really fair on Sal?

“Sal, you can’t come,” he said sadly.  “I can’t have that on my conscience.”

Sal still looked shocked at Jess’s decision.  Now she turned towards Dash, her expression hurt.

“But I want to.  There’s nothing for me here now.”

Jess flinched visibly at that, and Ali looked even more unhappy.

“I mean it.  I need to do this on my own.”

“
But
why
?  I thought you cared for me.”

“
I said no!” Dash barked out, using anger to mask his pain.  He turned to Jess.  “How soon can I be gone?”

“
The shuttle’s ready,” Jess replied.  “You can go as soon as you want.”

“
I’ll go now then.”

Sal stared at him a moment longer, then stamped off towards her room without saying a word.

Dash watched her go, a mixture of feelings churning through his stomach.  He knew what he’d just done was the right thing, but at the same time it felt like a colossal mistake.

Jess and Ali walked him to the shuttle where they both gave a frosty goodbye.  It was clear they both wanted rid of him as soon as possible.  Dash couldn’t even feel angry at them for it.  He’d manipulated them, then led people aboard their ship that had tried to kill them.  He’d feel the same in their position.

Dash climbed into the shuttle’s cockpit.  Jess and Ali were already leaving.  Dash forgot about them, focusing instead on what he’d do once he reached the
Massive Force
.  Did he have the energy to fight those who sought to overthrow him, or was it time to just slip away?

“
What the hell?” Dash shouted as the shuttle lurched to the side.  If he hadn’t strapped himself in already he’d be looking at broken bones.  Was this Jess’s way of saying goodbye?

No, it couldn’t be.  The shuttle hadn’t moved yet.  That meant the
Wanderer
must have made the sudden movement.  Without warning Dash was thrown against his straps again, the force making his teeth crash together.  Fighting the urge to gasp down air Dash clenched his teeth.  The last thing he needed was to bite his tongue or cheek.

The ship lurched again. 
Just what the hell is going on
, Dash thought.  Had those on the base started to attack already?  Why?  But if it wasn’t an attack, what else could it be?  Dash was thrown against his restraints again, then pinned into his seat.  Whatever was happening he wasn’t going anywhere.