by TJ Berry
“I have no idea,” she replied.
“Then we’ll have to risk it,” said Gary.
“Oh gods, I hate this part,” she said.
“It’s either me or my father, and I doubt he would be as accommodating as I am,” grinned Gary.
Jenny put her arms around his neck. He lifted her legs and hoisted her up like a child at a county fair. He wobbled, and then righted himself.
“You all right?” she asked.
“It’s nothing,” Gary replied. “I just dissolved my legs yesterday.” She laughed out loud.
“I would’ve loved to see that,” she said.
“I’m sure you would have,” said Gary.
“That is humiliating,” said Findae, walking by both of them and curling his upper lip.
“Speak for yourself,” said Gary. “I don’t mind helping my friends.”
“That’s nice, you called me your friend,” said Jenny.
“I just meant friends in general, not you specifically,” Gary amended. She held on a little more tightly, but it definitely wasn’t a hug.
Ricky staggered along behind them, holding Bào.
In the hallways of the Kilonova, people ran for the elevators and access stairwells. This was bad discipline, having this many people who panicked in the face of disaster. In Jenny’s day, an evacuation was orderly, if not sedate. She’d drilled into her crew that more people got out that way than running around like rabid redworms.
They headed for an elevator bank. Ricky and held her thumb to the touchscreen. Noting that she was medical personnel in an emergency, the algorithm sent a car for her immediately.
The doors opened and a few of the crew looked up at their group standing there with a doctor, a unicorn, an unconscious necromancer, and a part-unicorn giving a piggy-back ride to a battle-worn woman.
“Out,” Ricky commanded. The crew hesitated. “These are valuable Bala who need to be evacuated,” she added. They scooted into the hallway.
Everyone crowded into the elevator, which seemed to be a ritual with this group in times of crisis. Jenny found herself backed against the wall with her side pressed against Gary’s father.
“Shameful,” sneered Findae at the two of them. Jenny pretended to sneeze on his flank just to spite him. He shuddered and pressed himself against the far wall.
“Stop teasing,” Gary chided her.
“You’re no fun,” she whispered in his ear. She had to admit, she’d missed this. Gary had every reason to hate her, but he always gave her another chance.
You should tell him how grateful you are, said Kamis. Damn, she’d forgotten about him for five whole minutes.
“Shhh,” she said.
The elevator opened to a crush of people trying to get into the cargo hold. Alarms blared as the decks above them decompressed. People shoved their way to the escape pods lining the outer wall. The rest of the hold was stuffed with a motley collection of impounded ships. People were climbing into those as well. Jenny pointed over Gary’s shoulder.
“There. The big yellow one,” she said.
“Charming,” said Findae. “Painted up like a circus tent.”
“I was kind of in a rush when ship shopping after the Pymmie started the apocalypse,” said Jenny. “It’s not like I had time to browse the aisles at Ships-R-Us.”
“Also, I can hear you,” called the Stagecoach Mary across the room.
“Ooh, a ship with AI,” said Ricky, heaving a sagging Bào up into a better position.
“You just wait,” said Jenny.
A metal projectile pinged off the hull of a nearby ship and ricocheted into the evacuating crowd. A Reason grunt cried out as it hit them in the arm. They paused for a moment, then kept on running. None of these quags were planning to stay and fight. The Reason wasn’t loyal to you, so you weren’t loyal to it.
“Stop right there,” said a gravelly voice. Jenny’s skin prickled. Gary turned to face Cowboy Jim, his ridiculous six-shooter pointed at them. That thing was full of metal bullets that could seriously damage the hull of the Kilonova, not the Reason-issued plastic ones that were designed to shatter when they struck metal. Jim was the same as ever, angry and ready to strike.
“Bloody hell, why did no one tell me that Jim was on this ship? I would have torn it in half when I had the chance,” said Jenny.
“Nice to see you’re still consorting with Bala scum,” said Jim.
“Nice to see that you’re still risking depressurization by carrying around that stupid bullet gun,” said Jenny.
“I thought they took that away from you, Cowboy Jim,” said Ricky.
“Well I got it back,” said Jim. Jenny thought she could see blood spatters on his uniform shirt. Someone up on that bridge was having a day as bad as hers.
Jim waved his ridiculous gun to indicate Gary and Findae.
“Those two are staying with me,” he said. “I’ve wasted a heap of time finding the Bala and I’m going to bring back as many as I can to Jaisalmer. The Reason, or someone, will pay whatever I want for Bala bodies.”
“You are vile, James Bryant,” said Ricky.
Jim swung the gun toward her and made a big show of cocking it. Gary stepped between the two of them, not thinking at all about the very mortal human that was at that moment hanging off his back. Jenny kicked his side to remind him.
“You are not getting your hands on a single Bala,” said Gary, his shoulders tense under Jenny’s hands and his rage barely contained. “We rebelled and you crushed us into slavery. We served humans and they stripped our bodies bare. Now you chase us across the universe, using a piece of horn that you stole from me – yes, I found out that you snuck back into the Jaggery after the Summit and took a piece of horn – all this just to sell us to the highest bidder. On my life, I will not allow that to happen again.”
The corner of Jim’s mouth went up in a nasty smile. He reached his other hand into his pocket and before anyone could see what the small rectangular object in his hand was, he’d pointed it at Gary and pressed the trigger. Unlike a bullet, which would have hurt but not incapacitated Gary, the taser seized up all of Gary’s muscles at once with 50,000 volts of electricity. Some of the the charge made it through to Jenny too, rattling her teeth and making parts of her body hurt that she didn’t even know had feeling any more.
Gary hit the deck, dropping Jenny onto the floor. Findae reared up above both of them as Jim kept delivering shocks to Gary on the ground. From the floor, Jenny saw Findae’s hooves come down on Jim’s shoulder, knocking him off his feet. His gun went off. Ricky screamed.
“He hit Kevin,” she cried, backing away as a trail of red snaked down Bào’s dangling arm. Ricky sunk to the floor, cursing Cowboy Jim and pressing her uniform jacket into the wound.
Jenny ducked, only looking up when she heard Findae’s hooves trotting toward her. Jim raised his gun again and aimed up at Findae. The gun went off with a bang that echoed through the hold.
Do something, screamed Kamis in her head. Stop him. He will keep killing.
Barely thinking and full of panic, Jenny dipped into the null, scooped up a big ball of energy, and slammed it down on top of Cowboy Jim.
Jim crumpled to the deck like a smashed beer can. He grunted as blood welled out of his nose and mouth. His legs were a tangle of unnatural angles.
Gary sat up as Jim’s hand let go of the taser trigger. He pulled the hooks out of his shirt.
Finish this, for the safety of all Bala, said Kamis.
Jenny wrapped a tendril of energy around Jim’s torso and under his arms. She lifted him off the ground. He looked down at her like an injured puppy. She was glad to see that he was still conscious so he would feel what she was about to do to him.
“Jenny,” said Gary with a warning tone.
“I’m sorry, did you want a go at him?” she asked innocently.
“Put him down,” said Gary.
“That man would kill you in an instant. Don’t you dare spare his life,” said Findae.
<
br /> “You are not that person any more, Jenny,” said Gary. “We can bring him to justice another way.”
Kill him, said Kamis.
In her lifetime, Jenny had learned that when a little voice in your head told you to kill people, it was usually wrong. When it told you to punch people, it was usually right. Plus, she only needed one conscience giving her life advice. And it wasn’t the brain parasite. She dropped Jim to the floor with a wet thud. Another crewmember would find him soon and drag him to the medbay.
“I hate when you’re right,” said Jenny to Gary.
This is a mistake, said Kamis. He will pursue you to the ends of the universe.
“I’ll be waiting for him,” said Jenny.
Gary picked up the sharp barb at the end of the taser wire and went over to Bào. Ricky’s jacket was already soaked and Bào had lost all his color. Gary drew the barb down his palm and smeared silver blood onto Bào’s bullet wound. Bào flinched, but after a moment his breathing eased and his cheeks began to pink up. After a moment, a misshapen bullet pinged onto the deck.
“How’s the patient, Doctor Tang?” asked Gary.
“Seems to be stable,” said Ricky, helping Bào to sit up.
“Gary Cobalt, you are always there for me,” said Bào. “I am grateful.”
Gary wrapped his arms around Bào. They had been friends since long before Jenny had captured Gary.
See? That’s how you do it, said Kamis. She rolled her eyes so that only Kamis could see.
Gary turned to her. “Ready to leave this godsforsaken ship?” he asked.
“So ready,” she said.
Gary hoisted her up and turned his head so that only she could hear him. “I’m very proud of you,” he said.
She was about to shush him, when she decided to try something. “Thank you for all of the second chances you’ve given me,” she said into his ear. It was agonizing to get those words out, but when he grabbed her hand and squeezed, it was worth it.
“Let’s get that invader out of your brain and get you back to your wife. She misses you,” he said. Jenny’s heart leaped at the thought of seeing Kaila again. If they could be together, all of this would be worth it.
Jim’s body shuddered in a crumpled pile on the deck. Ricky leaned down and said something to him. Findae kicked Jim in the head as he passed by.
Several of the impounded ships had already taken off, leaving room for the Stagecoach Mary to fully open her loading ramp. They climbed inside and Mary buttoned up the hatch, leaving Jim behind.
“The cockpit is up one level and to the right,” shouted Jenny to those in front. Gary carried her up the stairs and set her down in the captain’s chair. There was barely enough room for all of them in the room.
Mary queued up for the ship-sized airlock at the top of the hold. Other ships tried to cut in line in front of her, but, with the crew-risk profile set at maximum, she jockeyed for position and let no one in.
“I can probably shoot a hole in the hull so we can escape faster,” Mary offered.
“Your ship is quite violent,” said Findae. “I prefer that you don’t land it on our planet.”
When it was their turn, Mary wedged them into the airlock, which was meant for ships far smaller than she was.
“It’s not big enough,” said Bào, pinking up considerably with the addition of unicorn blood.
“We got in here. We’ll get out,” said Jenny.
The outer door opened and Mary launched them into openspace. Findae was the only one standing and his hooves slid across the metal floor.
“Where are we landing, Jenny?” asked Mary.
“I don’t know. Anyone want to give me a landing site?” asked Jenny.
“If we head toward the eastern–” Gary began.
A projectile streaked past the viewscreen. Mary rolled hard right, sending Findae careening into the wall.
“That was close,” said Mary. “Sir unicorn, are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” said Findae, shaking out his mane.
“They’re shooting at the survivors,” said Gary. “Open a channel.”
The comm crackled open and Gary spoke in his most authoritative voice.
“Kilonova, this is Gary Cobalt. Stand down. There are survivors in the line of fire. Stand down immediately.”
Boges voice came back from the comm channel, measured and sad. “I know this makes no sense to you, but it would if you knew what was coming. This the only way we get there. I know you have an invader on board.”
“You are not obligated to obey either the Sisters or the Pymmie. You can choose for yourself,” said Gary.
“You cannot let that parasite land on the planet,” said Boges.
“Trust me. Please.”
Findae trotted up to the viewscreen. “Such hubris from a little dwarf. You have served our family for centuries. Don’t you defer to our rule?” he demanded.
“Not today, I’m sorry. Only a few of the humans will be allowed to land,” said Boges.
“Which ones?” asked Gary.
“We have a list,” said Boges.
“That makes me very uncomfortable,” said Gary. “Who is doing the choosing?”
“The Pymmie. We can’t let the infected reach the surface,” said Boges.
“And everyone else?” asked Jenny, keenly aware that she was putting them all in danger.
“They cannot be allowed to land on the planet. We’re offering instructions for reaching the third moon, where they can stay, but none of them are allowed to land on the planet,” said Boges.
“I don’t like it,” said Ricky.
“I hope all of this is worth it to you, Boges,” said Gary.
“I hope so too,” she replied before the channel went dead.
The Kilonova fired six shots in rapid succession, three toward a little family cruiser and the other three toward the surface. The cruiser caught a shot in the tail and spun away from the planet, venting breathable air in a stream behind it.
“Can we grab them?” called Jenny.
“Not before they suffocate,” said Mary. “But I can get that one.” Her viewscreen focused on a little two-person skimmer that had just escaped the Kilonova’s airspace.
“That’s Priya and Rhian,” said Bào. “Friends.”
Mary spun up close to it and hooked her docking clamps to the craft. They couldn’t land like this, but Jenny turned her ship so the Kilonova would have to shoot through Mary to get to the skimmer.
An escape pod shattered on their left.
“We can’t hide all of them,” said Ricky. “Can we bring people on board?”
“Sure, anyone who feels like putting on an EVA suit and walking across openspace is welcome to join us,” said Jenny. “But Mary doesn’t have a hold big enough for even one of these small cruisers.”
“It’s pointless to rescue people who want to enslave you,” announced Findae. Everyone ignored him. Most of the beings in this cockpit had been in space long enough to know that you went back for survivors, no matter what side they were on.
“That one,” said Gary, pointing to an escape pod that was leaking crystallized ropes of frozen fluid. If they attempted reentry, the fuel would ignite and blow them to bits.
Jenny tapped her teeth with her fingernail. She knew what had to be done, but it chafed her ass to do it. She was always the one who had to take charge and do the terrible jobs.
“Kilonova, stand down or you will be disabled,” she said with a curt, professional tone that she hoped indicated to Boges that she meant it.
“What are you doing?” asked Gary, holding his finger on the console to mute the channel. He’d figured out this damned ship faster than she had.
“I’m saving lives,” she said.
“But Boges–” he began.
“Boges made her choice. And I’ll even give her another chance to stop,” said Jenny. “But you know that what she’s doing isn’t right.”
Gary took his hand away from the console. “Boge
s, you need to stop or we’ll take action,” he said.
“I can’t stop,” said Boges, “I’m not going to.” She sounded scared. A deep ache spread across Jenny’s chest that had nothing to do with her injuries.
“Give the order to stop firing. It’s that simple. Make the Pymmie come here themselves and do their own dirty work,” said Jenny.
“I’m sorry, Captain Jenny. I can’t.” The fear in ancient Boges’ voice chilled Jenny to the bone.
“I have to stop you,” said Jenny.
“I know. You’re supposed so. It’s all right,” replied the dwarf. Another escape pod imploded in the darkness.
“Boges, please,” said Gary.
The comm channel closed. Gary looked toward the ceiling. Jenny waited for him as a courtesy.
“Do it,” he said.
“Do you want help?” asked Bào.
“I’ve got it,” said Jenny.
This is your destiny, said Kamis.
“Do you have any booze?” asked Ricky. Bào shushed her.
“What are we doing?” asked Mary.
Jenny rested her elbow on the arm of the captain’s chair and put her cheek in her hand, like she was thinking on a difficult topic. Which wasn’t too far from the truth.
She dipped back into the null. Boges’ bright form was visible in the center of the Kilonova’s bridge. Next to her, the surviving necromancer cast concentric purple rings around the ship. Jenny was initially glad to see that she hadn’t killed her, then realized she was probably about to do just that. She made her own energy tendrils and tried to extend her reach through the sphere of energy, but even when she expended maximum effort, she still could not get through.
“She’s protecting the ship from magical attacks,” Gary said, by her side. “If you want to get through, you can–”
I can show you how to– said Kamis.
“Both of you stop. I’ve got this,” said Jenny.
She opened a general channel, which anyone would be able to hear. The Kilonova shot down two more pods, sending one careening into the atmosphere like a perverse wishing star.
“All Kilonova personnel, abandon ship. Escape pods, clear the area,” Jenny yelled across the open channel.
Now Jenny was back on familiar ground. She good at nonmagical attacks. They’d gotten her through basic training and her early days on the Reason Space Force. Not to mention all those years after she was in the chair and she’d needed to prove to her crews that she was still a force to be reckoned with.
