The Crucible- The Complete Series

by Odette C. Bell

  “That section of hull was not reinforced. There was no shielding, there was nothing in place that could have saved it,” the Captain explained as she sat back. It was the first time I noted the tension in her shoulders.

  “But hold on,” my thoughts struggled to catch up to the situation, “isn’t that,” I leaned forward and stabbed a finger right through the hologram, the light shifting around my hand like smoke, “the only reason the station survived? If… what you’re suggesting is correct, and Ensign Jenks is behind this, and she somehow shielded that section of hull to protect herself, why would she do that? If her plan had always been to knock the Godspeed into the Ra’xon and send it colliding into the station, then she hampered her own mission.”

  “We don’t know. All we know is that small section of hull,” the Commander gestured to the hologram again, “should have been destroyed. Every simulation we ran proved that, but it wasn’t. And because it wasn’t, Ensign Jenks lives.”

  There was now a ringing in my ears. With every passing second it was getting louder and louder.

  Unless the Commander was playing an elaborate game, he wasn’t here to drag me away, was he?

  Nobody knew about my treachery.

  ….

  “You look as if you’re having trouble believing this,” the Commander noted.

  I shifted higher in my chair, trying to hide my true feelings better. “To be honest, I kind of am. I’ll admit to you, I barely know Ensign Jenks, but she doesn’t seem the type to…” I trailed off.

  “According to reports, she has always had a troubling personality. Quiet, disengaged, and clearly distracted. She fits the bill,” the Captain noted.

  In my mind, spies were smoother than that. They hid their true feelings. They did exactly what I was doing – they maintained a friendly helpful disposition even in the face of defeat.

  Ensign Jenks – she was just a woman who was running from something.

  There wasn’t the faintest hint of righteous fervor anywhere in her.

  Something didn’t fit.

  I swallowed uncomfortably. “Do you have an issue with this, Lieutenant Commander?” The Captain leaned even further back in her seat, locking her gaze on me. “You have permission to speak freely.”

  I nodded stiffly. “Okay then. This still doesn’t make any sense. If you’re right, and Ensign Jenks really was the spy who scuttled my ship, then why would she protect that little four meter section of hull? Why would she be there in the first place? Surely she would have been as far away from the explosion as she could get? And surely she wouldn’t have bothered to protect that small section of hull, considering it was the only thing that saved the station and this ship.” I pointed a stiff finger at the floor. “Sorry to be so frank, Captain, but something simply doesn’t add up here.”

  “We cannot guess what her motivations are. And you are correct – we still do not know if she’s culpable. But she seems to be the best place to start. The Commander has requested your help in interrogating her and the other members of the Fargo. I am redeploying you to his command.”

  I blinked. Then I swiveled my head slowly to stare at the Commander.

  He was looking at me… intently. With his arms crossed in front of his chest, his head tilted to the side, and his vibrant eyes locked on mine, it was impossible not to note the quality of his attention.

  I found myself swallowing again.

  “It is imperative that we find the spy before they can do anything to this ship,” the Captain added.

  Suddenly I sat up straight, a memory punching into my mind.

  “What is it?” Concern flashed through the Captain’s gaze.

  “Christ, I…” I had to think fast.

  The Omega weapons. I hadn’t told anyone about the Omega weapons yet. No… worse than that, the only person I told was Ensign goddamn Jenks.

  I planted a sweaty hand over my brow, my fingers jolting over my nose before I let them fall to my lap.

  I had to make a decision. A short sharp decision. And it had better be the right one.

  Should I trust the Captain and the Commander? Should I continue to trust the Alliance?

  Or should I keep my discovery of the Omega weapons to myself?

  There was so much in this situation that didn’t add up.

  Somebody was keeping secrets.

  I just wasn’t sure who.

  The Captain’s brow furrowed. “Lieutenant Commander, what’s the problem?”

  I had to make a decision.

  So I did.

  I looked up into her eyes directly. “I was going to wait till your meeting with the Commander was over – considering he’s not a member of this ship – but you need to know this now,” I said, coming up with a pretty good lie on the run. It wasn’t customary to share intimate security details of your vessel with an officer not attached to it.

  I watched the Captain press two hands into her desk and lean forward. “What is it?”

  “Do I have permission to share critical security information with the Commander?”

  She nodded.

  “I found… when I was checking through the service ducts, I found a store room that wasn’t on the original blueprints and that my scanner couldn’t detect.”

  A deep frown pushed its way across the Captain’s face. “My requisitions officer has complained to me before that our internal scans are not always accurate. Due to the great number of engine cores on this ship, certain service ducts cannot be scanned accurately. As for the original blueprints, we have made modifications to this ship before.”

  I shook my head. Maybe there was something about the move, because the Captain stopped and stared at me.

  “I found weapons inside, Captain. Omega weapons,” I finally pushed the words out.

  The Captain receded back, pulling up to her full considerable height. “What?”

  “It was dark. Whatever was protecting that room turned off my scanner and stopped the computer from responding to my voice. There were crates in the room though, and one of them was open. They were Omega weapons,” my voice dropped down.

  The Captain shook her head.

  “Who else knows about this?” F’val asked. There wasn’t a single note of surprise in his voice. Just a cold efficiency.

  I turned my gaze towards him. Should I tell him the truth?

  Did I have any option?

  I’d made my decision. I was going to continue to trust the Star Forces.

  So I couldn’t give up on them now.

  I swallowed, mouth dry. I didn’t want to do this, but I had to. “Ensign Jenks. When I managed to make my way out of the duct via a service panel, she was standing right there. She’s been doing proximity scans for the last few days. I think she was doing another one. When I saw her there, I told her to guard the panel.”

  The Commander took a step back, turned, and headed for the door. He didn’t say anything to either of us; he just marched off.

  The Captain rose. “Get me a security team.” She tapped a finger to her command PIP.

  I snapped to my feet too. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Captain. I wasn’t sure if I should share security information in front of Commander F’val.”

  The Commander had already left the room.

  The Captain shook her head. “You did the right thing. And you couldn’t have helped that Ensign Jenks was the only crewmember around when you made it out of the service ducts. But right now you need to show me where these weapons are.” She stepped forward and out through the open door. It was a surprise the floor didn’t shake.

  I turned and followed.

  I might have just met Ensign Jenks, but my heart went out to her.

  I hoped she wasn’t guilty. And if she wasn’t guilty, I was determined to find evidence to prove her innocence.

  There was a niggling thought, way back at the edges of my mind that told me that wouldn’t be enough. It reminded me that Max Weatherby, my best friend, had died at the hands of the same people I now
trusted. The Alliance Star Forces.

  Chapter 9

  Ensign Jenks

  I moved quickly through the tunnels.

  I could feel it. The closer I got.

  I could goddamn feel it.

  Lieutenant Commander Shepherd had been right – there were Omega weapons down here.

  I reached a section of tunnel with a panel that had been torn off and was lying discarded on the floor. It had buckled in several places, and it was clear that the Lieutenant Commander had kicked it open.

  I barely glanced at it.

  I locked a hand on the floor and pushed myself forward and into the room.

  It was dark.

  That didn’t matter. I activated the implant in my left elbow, and let the light pick up along my arm. It was strong enough that it illuminated the whole room.

  I saw at least 100 massive metal crates lined up against the walls.

  I shifted towards one in the far corner which was open, its lid propped up against its side.

  When I reached it, I stared down.

  My heart stopped beating, and my breath caught in my throat.

  There they were. Omega weapons.

  Thousands of them.

  I took a step back, gaze sliding across the wall of boxes.

  There had to be thousands of them.

  I’d never seen so many in my life.

  It was enough to outfit a small army.

  Or a resistance, I realized as I frowned.

  Could I have inadvertently stumbled upon a resistance cache?

  I shook my head as I returned my attention to the crate, locking my fingers over the edge as I leaned into it.

  I picked up a few Omega weapons, examining them in turn, expertly removing one of the antimatter chambers from the back and checking its integrity.

  I turned the gun over to check the secondary chamber.

  That’s when I noted it was empty.

  I frowned.

  The gun hadn’t been used. If it had been used, both chambers would have been used at the same time and one would not be empty while the other was full.

  I leaned further into the crate, searching through it as my illuminated arm lit up its contents.

  That’s when I noted an isolation kit.

  I recognized it immediately. It was all the equipment one would need to isolate compound 78 from an Omega gun antimatter chamber.

  There was even a med pack with a used electro-needle.

  I dropped the gun, letting it clatter at my feet as I took a step back.

  What in God’s name was going on here?

  … Could there be another like me?

  Another telekinetic warrior who’d been made dependent on 78? One who’d escaped to forge their own life?

  Suddenly I heard footsteps.

  Voices too.

  Reverberating down the small tunnel that led to this room.

  I reacted, and I reacted quickly.

  I activated both implants, a burst of light surging over my arms as I spread my hands towards the massive crates stacked along the walls.

  I spread my fingers and swept my hands to the side. As I did, that wall of crates shifted. Gracefully. With no sound. Though they were heavy, and should have grated along the floor, they didn’t.

  I picked them up and conducted them through the air with nothing but my mind.

  In a silent dance they rearranged themselves.

  I ran forward, slamming my back up against the wall just as I let my hands descend.

  The boxes drifted down gracefully, forming a wall in front of me.

  It was enough to block me off entirely from the rest of the room.

  I let my hands close, and the light erupting over them stopped.

  Then I brought my palm up and pressed it over my mouth as I stifled my breath.

  The footsteps stopped just before the room. Then there was a gasp, and I heard somebody move inside.

  “What the hell is this place?” a voice asked. I searched my memory, and soon realized it was the Captain.

  “I don’t know. But those are Omega weapons,” another voice said, quicker than the first.

  Lieutenant Commander Nathan Shepherd. He’d clearly alerted the Captain.

  I hadn’t been quick enough.

  Still, all I had to do was wait until they left, and I could sneak out of this room. Or, if the situation called for it, I could punch my way right through the walls.

  I stood there with my back pressed up against the cold metal wall, my hand clamped so hard around my mouth I could have ground my lips to shreds against my teeth.

  I heard the Captain and the Lieutenant Commander walk through the echoing room until they reached something.

  I heard the Captain gasp again. “Good god, you’re right. They are Omega weapons. What the hell is happening here? Why didn’t I know about this room? How could somebody slip Omega weapons in under my nose?” Her voice shook.

  I pressed my hand further and further over my mouth.

  Then I heard another set of footsteps.

  More people were approaching.

  Perhaps it was the Captain’s security team. She was an efficient woman, after all. I expected she wanted these weapons catalogued and locked away in a safe place.

  Which meant it was unlikely I’d find a chance to sneak away. The Captain would have this room under guard until she cleared the weapons.

  … I would have to make a distraction.

  A big one.

  Just as I flicked my fingers forward, readying my power, I heard the footsteps reach the room.

  “Commander F’val,” the Captain said, “Lieutenant Williams, glad you could make it.”

  “Anna— I mean, Lieutenant, what are you doing here?” Nathan asked, tone brimming with surprise.

  Lieutenant Williams wasn’t on a security detachment. He had every right to be surprised. She wasn’t even a proper member of the Ra’xon’s crew.

  No one answered Nathan.

  “Are the weapons untouched?” F’val asked.

  “They appear to be,” the Captain answered.

  “Ah, what’s going on here?” Nathan’s tone had become more and more stressed. “Captain?”

  Silence.

  “Captain, what’s going on here?” Nathan demanded.

  “You want to know what’s going on?” F’val’s voice rose. “You should have talked to Williams when you had the chance.”

  “What?” Nathan snapped.

  “It’s alright, Nathan,” Williams took a stuttering breath, “just trust us.”

  I positioned myself closer to the wall of boxes, finally dropping the hand from around my mouth as my curiosity got the better of me.

  “Just tell me what the hell is going on,” Nathan demanded.

  “Why don’t you tell us, Lieutenant Commander,” F’val suggested. His tone was guarded, and it was hard to guess what he was thinking, especially considering I couldn’t see his face.

  “… What the hell are you talking about?” There was the soft sound of a boot grating over the metal floor as Nathan either took a step towards or away from F’val.

  What I wouldn’t give to see what was going on.

  “Do you know why I’m on this ship?” F’val suddenly asked.

  Silence. A dead cold silence permeated the room.

  Then I heard someone take a stuttering breath. “What’s going on?”

  “What’s going on is you caught the attention of the Enforcement Unit. You lied, Lieutenant Commander,” F’val’s voice maintained a strange neutral calm, “you lied to the great Alliance Star Forces.”

  “C-Christ,” Nathan stuttered. I could hear him struggling for breath. “I-I can explain. I accidentally found out about the Pluto—”

  “None of that matters,” the Captain cut in. “The only thing that matters is what you decide to do next.” Her powerful resonant tone echoed through the room.

  “A decision? What are you talking about? It was all a mistake. I didn’t mean to lie. I
just….”

  I pressed closer and closer to the box until my cheek was flush against the cool metal.

  “Lieutenant Commander Nathan Shepherd, do you trust the Alliance Star Forces?” F’val asked.

  “Of course—”

  “Think carefully before you answer that question,” the Captain warned.

  “I… I’ve devoted my life to the Star Forces.”

  “That’s not what I asked, Lieutenant Commander. I asked if you trust the Alliance. Do you trust they will lead us on a just and worthy path? Do you trust they will do what is best for this galaxy and all its people? Do you trust them?” F’val’s voice boomed out through the room.

  “I….” Nathan trailed off.

  Was that doubt echoing in his voice? The great Nathan Shepherd just couldn’t question the Star Forces, could he? Not a man like him. His kind were the rank and file of the Alliance – men for whom loyalty was the only thing that mattered.

  So why wasn’t he confidently and boldly proclaiming that he trusted the Alliance?

  “It’s okay, Nathan, just tell us what you really believe,” Williams encouraged in a soft voice.

  “I trust… I trust… Christ, I don’t know who I trust anymore,” he answered.

  That floored me. His words might as well have formed a punch and knocked me clean out.

  I simply couldn’t believe that a man like Nathan Shepherd could ever doubt his masters.

  There was an edgy silence in the room. I waited for the Captain to reprimand him or to kick him out of the Star Forces on the spot.

  That’s not what happened.

  Slowly someone began clapping. The sound echoed through the room.

  “What are you doing?” Nathan’s voice shook.

  “You have every right to distrust the Alliance; they were going to throw you away,” F’val responded.

  “Excuse me?”

  “This Alliance has always awarded loyalty with pain. No matter how much you sacrifice, you will never be rewarded with dignity and respect – they will simply use you,” F’val continued.

  “What are you talking about?” Nathan’s words came out as a stutter.

  “The resistance,” F’val finally revealed. “We are part of the resistance.”

  “What?”

  “It’s okay, Nathan. You are amongst friends.”

  “The resistance?”