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 who would be endangered by such a move. I won’t risk damaging a station that can supply my fleet with food, but 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. He 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 at 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 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 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. 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 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 which should be dealing with the situation? And did their absence mean the Empire had already fallen?
Chapter 12
Jess walked into Teeko’s room. Ben, the young prisoner 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 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 his mother was on board one of the other ships. That hope had now been dashed. What made it worse was knowing 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 at all. 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 aboard, and 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 still be on board the Wanderer. He’d decided against it on the grounds 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.
“The last shuttle is being loaded,” 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 Elizabe
th 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 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 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 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 Jess first, then at 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 risk it.”
“Then I’m going with him.”
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 sight 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, 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 had shocked him, but it created a warm feeling inside. Balanced against it was his worry for her. 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 who 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.
Chapter 13
Tears flooded down Sal’s cheeks as soon as the door to her room closed behind her. Anger, sadness and betrayal mixed into a concoction that left her light-headed. She collapsed to the floor, slamming her fist down several times.
She felt betrayed by Jess and Ali. They’d been willing to see her go, to see her leave, rather than give Roberto a chance. How could they? After everything the three of them had been through, how could they just turn their backs on her?
And Roberto. She’d thought he cared, then he’d refused to let her go with him. Sure, he made it sound as if he was caring for her, but she didn’t believe that for a minute.
For a few moments she’d considered following Roberto, or somehow stealing onto the shuttle. Anger at his dismissal soon ended those thoughts, not that she’d worked out a way to get past Ali and Jess unseen anyway.
A thought crystallised in Sal’s mind. She had to leave the Wanderer. There was no option. Where could she go though? Of course. Elizabeth! She could travel on the Steady Light.
She’d have to move fast. The Steady Light could alr
eady be preparing to enter jump space. Sal pushed herself up and ran to the door. Or tried to. She made it two steps, then her foot sank to the ankle. Her foot went in easily, but it didn’t come out.
With her foot now locked solid Sal fell forwards, crashing into the floor. Except she didn’t. The floor was soft. Not soft enough to sink into, but soft enough that it didn’t hurt.
Before she could try to get up or pull her leg free the floor to each side flowed over her back, pinning her in place. Sal panicked, trying to struggle her way free. It didn’t work. She was stuck fast.
Without warning the ship lurched sideways. Sal felt the material holding her in place absorb much of the force, but even so the breath was nearly driven from her lungs.
Sal, hold on!
The brief message from Jess almost made her laugh. How could she do anything else?
Jess, she sent back through her implants, What the hell is going on?
* * *
Jess threw the Wanderer to the side once more, narrowly avoiding the devastating force unleashed by one of the attackers. He ignored Sal’s question. Even with his mind massively accelerated everything was happening too fast for him to cope with.
Sal was safe. So were Ali and he, both secured to the floor in the same way as Sal. Teeko too, with Ben in his arms. The boy looked terrified but his alien protector was soothing him.
Dash was as safe as Jess could manage. He couldn’t control the shuttle’s form in the same way he could the Wanderer’s. Dash was buckled into the pilot’s seat and should survive, even if he earned a few bruises. If any of them survived.
Jess threw the Wanderer into a spiral, feeling his stomach lurch in response. Weapons fire lashed out and destroyed two enemy fighters. It hardly seemed worthwhile, it was like spitting into the wind.
Wanderer's Odyssey - Books 1 to 3: The Epic Space Opera Series Begins Page 57
