Tempest Rising

by Eric Warren

  8

  “Feel like anything to eat?” Evie asked as they made their way down the hallway.

  Cas had intended to go back to his quarters on the station, but food sounded pretty good. Apart from a couple deciliters of alcohol, he hadn’t had anything since the meeting with the admiral. “You buying?” he asked.

  “Ha,” she said, unamused. “Very funny. You look a little pale. I think you need something in your stomach before you head back.”

  “It’s this whole damn thing,” Cas said. “I’m still trying to get used to the idea of heading off on a suicide mission.”

  “Hopefully,” she offered as they turned the corner. “With you along it won’t be a suicide mission. I know we don’t know much about the Sil, but I can’t believe they would be willing to allow a threat like this go unchallenged. If nothing else, we’ve been peaceful neighbors to them.” Cas shot her a look. “For the most part.”

  “I’m not sure. All we know is they are very defensive about their territory, ever since we first tried to capture that ship. It won’t take long to get their attention,” Cas said. His stomach rumbled as if Evie’s mention of food had ignited his senses. He glanced over to see her slip the small item Greene had given her into her pocket.

  “What’s that?” he asked.

  “Hmm? Oh, nothing big,” she replied. But he could tell there was some excitement in her voice.

  “C’mon, you know you want to show me.” She retrieved it from her pocket and placed it in his hand. “Commander stripes? You got promoted?”

  “Yeah, I guess I did. For consistent, exceptional behavior becoming of an officer.”

  “That’s amazing! We have to celebrate now. Why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t the captain make an announcement?” He turned the small bars over in his hand. It was a symbolic piece, her uniform would be modified later to reflect the change.

  “He will, eventually. But he wanted to congratulate me in private. I’m not big on blowing my own horn.” She looked downright embarrassed if anything.

  “Hey, you deserve this,” Cas said. “Which I guess it means I’m buying.” He handed the bars back to her.

  She chuckled. “If you insist.”

  They entered into one of the two mess halls on the ship and made their way over to the food dispensers, each taking a tray.

  “Tacos,” Cas remarked, staring at Evie’s tray. “You’re having a taco to celebrate your promotion.” He put his own tray back and took one from the other dispenser, matching what she had. “I haven’t had a taco in years.”

  “Tacos are just about the most amazing thing in existence. What, they don’t have tortilla shells in the Sargan Commonwealth?” she asked as they took their trays to one of the long tables in the room.

  “Things out there are more…eclectic,” he said. “There’s a lot of variety. Most of the time I had to scan something before I put it in my mouth, half the stuff there will kill a human if he eats it.” She made to take a bite but he held up his taco. She stopped, smiled, and held hers up as well, tapping the shells together. “Congratulations, full Commander Diazal.”

  “Thanks,” she said, taking a bite. “It’s going to be weird for a while.” They chewed in silence for a moment. “You know, it was like that on Sissk too. We never knew what we were going to eat the next day, it was up to the local populations. And Sissk has more indigenous intelligent species than any other planet I’ve ever seen.”

  Cas furrowed his brow as he chewed his own taco. “That’s out near Epsilon Lyre, right? Near the border?”

  She nodded. “Sort of. I spent most of my childhood out there, on the fringes. The Coalition didn’t have the biggest presence so when a ship came by it was a big deal.”

  “Is that what made you want to join the Coalition?” he asked.

  “Partially. But I was tired of living on the fringes. I wanted to be in the middle of the action. Be part of the solution. Sissk was…well it wasn’t the safest of places. That many species all co-mingling, half of them in the Coalition, the other half not loyal to anyone. It made for some interesting years.” She took another bite.

  “Is your family still there? Or did they follow you inward?”

  She paused for the briefest of moments and then shook her head. “What about you?” she asked, mouth full of taco. “Where is your family?”

  Cas took a deep breath and swallowed. The taco was delicious. He hadn’t realized how famished he was. “Oh, it’s a riveting tale. Full of heartbreak and deception. Something truly worthy of its own net drama.”

  She laughed. “Does Box know?”

  “It was the first thing he asked me about when he first became self-aware. I think my own family’s drama may have inadvertently influenced him to seek out those damn things he watches on TV all the time.”

  “So…” she tempted after waiting for him to continue. “Spill it. You can’t give me a hook like that and not follow up.”

  Cas took a deep breath and cracked his knuckles. “It’s not as interesting as I probably make it sound. I was born on Earth, but my mother died when I was six. She was in the Coalition, serving on the Charybdis when it was destroyed out near Archellia. Solar storm, there was nothing anyone could do. And it drove a wedge between me and my father. If you go back and look at my sealed records, you’ll see I was a hellion in those early years. But when he forced me to join the Coalition—something I had adamantly refused—I finally straightened up. Got out of his sphere of hatred and realized there were good people in the universe. Kind people. And even though I hated him for it, it was a good thing he did for me. Even he knew he was a bad influence on me all the time.”

  “How did he get you to join?” Evie hadn’t touched anymore of her food.

  “It was either join or jail. Which, is kind of ironic if you think about it.” He watched her horrified face a minute before bursting out laughing. “It’s okay. Honestly, I’ve always felt like the universe had it in for me in one way or another. It turns out I was going to prison no matter what I did.”

  She smiled, but it was full of pity. He didn’t want that, he didn’t want her to feel sorry for him. This was why he never told anyone anything. “So anyway. Like I said, not that riveting.”

  “Have you talked to him lately?” Evie asked.

  “Not since the day I was arrested. He stopped by to let me know how disappointed in me he was. Though I would have loved to have seen his face when he learned I had escaped my parole. That would have been a memory worth keeping.”

  “He doesn’t know you’re back? That your warrant has been lifted?”

  “I doubt it. He’s a civilian now. He used to work for the science division but hasn’t for a long time. And since the details of my…release…aren’t technically public yet, he probably assumes I’m still hiding out with the Sargans.”

  “You’re not going to call him to let him know? Don’t you think he’d like to know his son isn’t a criminal anymore?” He caught the hint of some fire in her voice.

  “I doubt he’d care. Or even if he did, he wouldn’t show it.” He sat back, pushing his tray away. “If Coalition Central decides to make it public then he’ll know. But by then it won’t matter.” He stared out the windows that lined the side of the mess hall out into space. His thoughts drifted to the threat. They were out there, and they were coming. “So,” he said, shaking himself from the thoughts. “What about you? You didn’t say much about your parents, so I figured—”

  “Excuse me, Lt. Commander Diazal.” Cas glanced over to see Ensign Yamashita standing over his left shoulder. She had been on the mission to D’jattan when Cas had found the shipment of human slaves the Sargans were transporting. That had also been the moment Cas had almost left Tempest and run. It hadn’t been his finest hour.

  “Ensign?” Evie said, sitting up straight. “Is there a problem?” It didn’t escape Cas’s notice she didn’t correct Yamashita as to the status of her new rank. Maybe she didn’t want to embarrass the young ensign.
/>
  “They said I was supposed to talk to you about all personnel transfers? We’ve got a few more crew members coming over from Eight and they need your authorization.” He also couldn’t help but notice Yamashita’s wide smile and the gleam in her eye as she spoke, something Cas would almost call amorous, but he couldn’t be sure. She hadn’t even bothered to acknowledge Cas.

  Evie sighed and grabbed her tray. “Duty calls, I suppose. Get some rest. You look like you need it.”

  “I can take that,” Yamashita said, taking the tray from Evie who seemed stunned at the sudden onslaught of attention.

  “T-thank you,” she said as Yamashita deposited the tray in the recycler. She then followed the younger officer out of the mess hall but turned at the last second and offered Cas a wave. He didn’t have time to wave back before she disappeared through the doors.

  ***

  “Caspian!”

  Cas turned as he was about to enter the dock launch back to the station. Approaching was a navy velvet robe, appearing to hover as it grew closer, obscuring all but the face and hands of its wearer. Of course, they weren’t actual hands or a face at all; it was nothing more than a hard-light projection used by the Untuburu to make themselves appear more humanoid. Some chose the forms of humans, others of Erustiaans, and some even made up their own designs. Cas had never seen the apparatus underneath their robes before—they were the only Coalition officers who could appear out of uniform due to their religious beliefs. He’d heard it was a mechanical suit, holding the small, crab-like Untuburu inside, protected. The suit then had projectors built inside the hands and face to display whatever kind of exterior the Untuburu wanted. Cas had long wanted to get a better look at their suits, but it was very bad manners to ask an Untuburu to remove his cloak.

  “Zaal,” Cas said. “I missed you on the bridge earlier.”

  “I’d heard you stopped by,” he said. “Are the rumors true, will you be joining us on another mission?”

  Cas had to adjust his expectations. He’d forgotten the Untuburu spoke in very harsh, hushed voices, so that their words came across like death on the wind. It was a by-product of the types of translators they used. Despite their threatening voices, most Untuburu were very friendly. Though he had to admit a shiver often ran down his back when he listened to them pray. “Where did you hear that?” he asked.

  “It is all over the ship. People have very strong opinions about you joining us again. Currently your support is fifteen percent. Opposition seventy-five percent. Only ten percent remain undecided.”

  “Are you taking a poll?” Cas asked in an uncertain tone.

  “I am the operations officer. People trust me with information.”

  Cas ran his hand down his face. “You might as well know. I have been asked to accompany you.”

  “Excellent,” Zaal said, though it came across like a threat. Had a human said it in that way Cas would have feared for his life. “I was so disappointed we didn’t get to know each other more during our previous time together. I find you a fascinating specimen of the human race, and look forward to speaking with you further. May I ask, do you have any food allergies I should be aware of?”

  “Umm…” Cas stumbled. “Nothing…out of the ordinary.”

  “Very good,” Zaal whispered. “I would like to invite you for a meal once we are underway. Look for my communique.” His artificial face produced a smile and Zaal floated back the way he came.

  Cas shivered anyway. He’d never been to Untu and had no intention to. From all reports it was a hellish world, constantly under the cover of darkness or storms and most of its population lived underground. The surface was said to be like an asteroid, sharp peaks of ice and rock, constantly changing and eroding as the planet spun on its axis three times as fast as most inhabitable planets. And if that was their homeworld, what would Zaal’s quarters look like? Cas figured he’d find out. At least there were a few people on board who didn’t mind him coming along. And based on his observations on the last mission, his popularity seemed to be increasing.

  Cas made his way back through the launch and into the station, taking his time getting back to his quarters. The food had provided some much-needed nourishment and he felt like he could sleep for a couple hours. His mind produced the idea of a nightcap but he pushed the image away, not wanting to make a bad situation worse.

  Being the point-man to broker any kind of alliance with a dangerous and deadly species hadn’t been his idea of a career, but here he was. Sure, if he failed all it meant was the probable destruction of the entire Coalition. No big deal, right? Even if he did manage to make some kind of deal with them, what then? Were the Sil going to give Tempest the plans to build weapons which the Coalition could one day use to combat the Sil? Doubtful. The only thing that had kept the peace this long was the Coalition’s total inability to match the Sil militarily, combined with the Sil’s total disinterest in the Coalition as a whole. If the power balance were to change in some way, there would be no telling what it would do to all of known space. And he was highly doubtful the Sil would hand over that sort of technology.

  The other option, then, would be that the Sil would send their own ships to fight off the advancing threat. Either by invading the Coalition, or by waiting for the Coalition to be destroyed before taking any action. Either way it was a lose-lose. Cas understood why the admirals wanted to take the risk, but he could see no good way in which this played out. They were stuck between a rock and an even bigger rock with nowhere to go. The Sargans could sit back and watch, though they would be as outmatched against the Sil or any other threat, especially due to the disorganization within the Commonwealth. They were more likely to tear each other apart than wait for some outside influence to do it. Cas had often dreamed of the Sargan hierarchy collapsing in on itself, leaving all its employees—including him and Box—to their own devices. Had that happened Cas could have found parts for his ship and they could have taken off into the deep black ocean of stars, getting far away from any impending doom facing the Coalition.

  He stared at the door to his quarters for a few minutes before going in. When he finally entered Box looked up from the screen he’d projected against the far wall, pausing the unit. “Have a nice lunch?”

  “Were you monitoring me?” Cas asked, pushing past him to the bed.

  “I was given direct instructions not to let you near the bar again. So yes, I was monitoring you.”

  Cas flopped down, face first into the mattress. “Thanks.”

  “I’m happy to babysit anytime,” Box replied, resuming his show.

  “Could you turn that down some? I need to get some sleep.”

  Box paused the show again. “That’s right, walk right in here like you own the place—”

  “Box.”

  “—no consideration for anybody. Just strutting around.” His voice raised two octaves. “Look at me, I’m a human. My needs are more important than anyone else’s.”

  “Box!”

  The machine fell silent.

  Cas turned on his side and sat up. “Is rejoining the crew on their mission really what you want to do? Because no one ordered you. You could stay here if you wanted to, do what you want.”

  “Oh, so now you’re interested in the mission?” Box crossed his metal arms.

  “No. But I don’t see much of a choice. It’s either try to make this work, or don’t and wait for the inevitable. What I’m saying is where I don’t have a choice, you do.”

  He uncrossed his arms. “You’d let me choose?”

  “Look, I’m sorry if I’ve come across as someone who thinks of you as their property. I don’t. We’ve been together so long I thought—what I’m saying is you should choose. I won’t make you do one or the other. But keep in mind if you come on the ship you’re going to have to put up with a lot of bullshit. They already don’t like me over there.”

  “Good thing I’m not you then.” His eyes blinked rapidly. “Maybe I could convince the captain to give me a p
osition on the bridge. Do you think Lieutenant Commander Diazal would put in a good word for me?” He paused. “Technically I don’t have any rights.”

  “You’re a sentient being. You have as many rights as anyone else. We’ll just have to remind people of that.” Cas paused. “Oh and by the way, Evie got promoted. Make sure you congratulate her next time you see her.”

  “Uh oh. That means she’s ranked higher than you now,” Box replied.

  “I don’t have a rank. And I don’t ever plan to, so it really doesn’t matter.”

  “Whatever you say boss.” Box turned his head by an almost imperceptible amount.

  “What do you want to do on the ship? Surely not watch net dramas all day.”

  Box’s eyes remained steady. “Autonomous robot liaison. I could do the first contact thing if we come upon a planet of robots. Or I could be the entertainment officer. Host movie nights. I doubt they need a pilot.”

  Cas laughed. “That’s a shame because you’re such a good one.” That seemed to put him in a better mood. “Wake me in six hours.”

  “If I haven’t already moved into my new quarters by then you mean?” His voice was more animated than normal.

  “Sure, whatever.”

  “Thanks, boss!” Box said, resuming his program.

  Cas sighed, grabbed a pillow and shoved it over his head.

  9

  “Home, sweet home,” Box said as they traversed the long docking ramp back into Tempest. He carried most of the cargo, whereas Cas had one measly bag and a small container. Who cared if he could carry three times his own body weight? Did that mean he was resigned to always carry everything around here?

  “Why are you so chipper?” Cas rubbed his temple and winced. He’d woken up from his “nap” in an even worse mood than when he went down. Served him right for getting into a rumble in the station’s bar.

  “New day, new me.” Box hauled the cargo crates over the threshold.

  “You! Hold!”

  Box peered around the boxes, staring at the person who’d shouted at them. He searched his databanks. Crewman Wallace. A junior junior officer. Not worth Box’s time. He proceeded to march right past the human, paying him no attention.