The Lost Star's Sea

by C. Litka

  07

  I try to be as honest as possible in these accounts of my life. So I must admit that I was rather sulking when I left the bridge. ValDare claimed that he wanted me aboard on account of my wide experiences - or at least the experiences I claimed to have had. Yet now, in something of a crisis, I was left out of the discussions. I'd my pride and my ego, and both were rather bruised.

  Still, I could see my pettiness in that, as well. They may well have been unaware of how the news was being treated by the crew. I'm sure they looked on this as a meeting of the board of directors. Experts, like me, might be called in, but this was essentially a leadership meeting. One that I was no more entitled to be in on than the first mate TeyLin, who, like me, had been on the outside of the Captain's door.

  There was one other possibility. And that was that ValDare might not want to hear my advice. I had, unknowingly, mentioned the black gems in regard to the Dragon-people. I was now all but certain it had been a soul stone set in my Scarlet Guard's collar. And it had seemed to be his source of telepathic power. This power, I would've thought, needed to be taken into account in any proposed actions - even though we'd not experienced any telepathic attacks. Yet. I had a feeling ValDare wouldn't care to have even the possibility of some sort of telepathic mentioned within the hearing of the Captain, who, I was pretty certain, was trying to keep ValDare from once again doing something very foolish.

  All I can say in my defense, was that I trusted Captain KimTara. She had an iron will and the respect of the crew. I was certain she'd not only keep a cool head in any crisis but could, in the end, handle her cousin as well. She'd certainly be able handle the crew. They might be excited by the thought of a fortune beyond their dreams, but they were not the type to cut your throat. I didn't think that even DosKe, would be capable of doing that. Dream of it, yes, but do it, no. So as long as ValDare was able to keep his dragon hunters in line - we'd ride out the initial euphoria and settle on a prudent course of action. I was certain, however, that we'd not leave without a soul stone or two. They'd find some, one way or another. I suspect that DeArjen could be counted on to see to that. And as long as they made arrangements to share the proceeds with the crew - the only prudent thing to do - the crew would be happy. So with these thoughts, I was able to pass my cabin by on my way down to the engine room to make the round's last inspection.

  It was late in the ship's round of watches - we were in the second sleep round, the last watch. Everyone but the watch should've been in their hammocks. But I doubted anyone was. They were all still building castles in the clouds behind the closed doors of their cabins.

  As I reached the narrow platform outside my office, Hissi drifted by with a low bark of a greeting.

  'Hi Hiss.' I said, running my fingers through her feathers as she slowly circled around me. 'I don't know what you're picking up, but I'm thinking things might be a little tense for a while.'

  She hissed dismissively.

  'Yah, well, everyone might be happy and excited now, but that could easily turn nasty if too many dreams are dashed. If there is trouble, I want you to stay out of it.'

  She gave me a dismissive bark this time.

  'I mean it. If things should blow up and slugs start flying, you stay well clear of the action.'

  Another dismissive hiss.

  'Stay out of sight, that's an order.' She was having none of that, giving me yet another dismissive bark and wag of her tail.

  'Yes, I know you're fearless, but I want you to be sneaky instead. Remember my story about how Siss slipped aboard the Temtre ship to free me when I was held captive?'

  She barked her acknowledgment.

  'That's what I need you to be. Be my back-up, my dragon in hand, if trouble erupts. I want you in a position to come to my aid, if I should get in a fix.'

  She snorted as to say "When you get in the fix".

  'Right. So you see why it's important that you stay out of whatever goes down, just in case. I want you sneaky, not bold.'

  She hissed again, yawned, and drifted into the darkness of my tiny office to sleep.

  It must be nice to be a carefree dragon. I wasn't, however, so I stepped around to the ladder and started down, platform by platform, to take my usual walk through the engine room before retiring. An old habit.

  DosKe had the watch now. I found him on station, on the control platform, talking quietly with one of the dragon hunters, FezSer, DeRaze's right hand man. They stopped talking as I climbed down and stared at me.

  'What are you doing here?' I asked, rather crossly. I didn't like the look of this at all.

  DosKe gave me an unpleasant look. Nothing new there.

  FezSer shrugged carelessly, 'We're just talking. Lots to talk about.'

  'It's late. I'd have thought everyone would be in their hammocks dreaming of their palaces.'

  'Too much excitement, I suppose,' said FezSer, adding, 'But I'll be pushing along. It is getting late.' And with a nod to DosKe, he sauntered off.

  DosKe turned his back on me without a word. I debated whether to press him on what FezSer and he were talking about, but decided I'd only be making a fool of myself, so I pressed on and continued down walking around and then down the ladder to platforms around the idle main generator and turbine. We had the small auxiliary boiler/turbine/generator up and running to supply the ship with electricity. Cas, a rather massive stoker, was tending it - by leaning on his shovel and no doubt dreaming of the saloons he'd soon be owning, judging from the smile on his face. He greeted me with a sly smile, 'Hey Chief'.

  I returned his smile and said, 'Don't spend it all in one place or on one girl, Cas.'

  He grinned. 'Ha - girls. Oh, I know how to handle them. I've got plans. Big plans.'

  I nodded and walked slowly on, looking everything over - like I used to do aboard the Starry Shore - though these days my inspection is confined just to the engine room, the limits of my domain.

  I climbed back up, past DosKe on control platform, and on up to the upper platform outside my office. I was just heading for the stairwell up to my cabin when the Captain slipped down the steep steps in front of me.

  'A word with you, Chief. In my office.'

  'Right, Captain,' I replied as she briskly turned and disappeared back up the steps. I followed her to the bridge and into her office just aft of the bridge. She shut the door behind me.

  'You are my friend and a loyal officer,' she said. There didn't seem to be a question mark at the end of that sentence.

  I tried to keep any hint of surprise out of my voice when I replied, 'Yes, of course. Absolutely.'

  'Good. I've had an unpleasant meeting with my cousin, DeArjen, DeRaze and PinTin. It didn't end on a good note. There's going to be trouble.' She stepped around her desk and unlocked a steel cabinet.

  'Can't agree on acquiring the soul stones?'

  'Oh, we agreed. Not that I gave them any choice,' she replied, stepping around to the back of her desk. 'DeRaze wasn't happy. He seemed to keep forgetting that he's not in charge. I am. It looks like I have to pull Dare's arse out of the fire again. If I can.'

  'What's the plan?

  'I agreed to drift over to the far side of the island and send off a few rockets. Just at some rock formation or another. Just to let'em know what they're dealing with. Hopefully that will give them something to think about.

  'PinTin thinks that we may be able to trade for a few gems on the sly. There's always dissidents, malcontents and criminals in every society. And with as many soul stones as we saw on display - there were dozens in every headpiece and dozens of headpieces - there seems to be no shortage of soul stones, so he'd be very much surprised if there were not a few of them in private hands as well. He thinks that if we keep the trade goods out, some of them might slip on over and have a look. DeArjen backs him up on this, and he thinks he can work a trade or two. So we shift over, let them know we're not to be trifled with, and then head back here and see if anyone shows up.'

  'And they're happy wit
h that?'

  'No one is. But they'll settle for it. For now. But I don't trust DeRaze. The gems have gone to his head. Clouded his judgment. He went on and on about just taking them even if we had to kill them all. Couldn't be made to see things sensibly. He shut up when it became clear that I wasn't about to take the Lora Lakes over the village and reduce it to rubble unless they turned over the headpieces.

  'I don't know what he and his crew might do if left on their own, since they are armed. We're going to have to deal with him straight away. You and I,' she added as she swung the heavy cabinet door open. 'I'm not worried about the crew. They may be drunk on an imaginary fortune at the moment, but if we respond decisively, they can be cured of that quickly enough. Rough they may be, but they're neither cold-blooded murderers nor armed. We are. Armed that is. Take this.' She pulled out a holstered spring gun.

  'Thanks, but I have my own. And I know how to use them.'

  'That's against company policy.'

  I shrugged. 'They're not springers. They're weapons from my former life. They fire a tiny electrically charged dart that can knock people out for more than four hours with a hit anywhere. The fact that it's nonlethal means that I can use them freely, and more effectively as well.'

  'Are you armed now?'

  'Ah, no. I was just planning on stepping around to my cabin to get them when you arrived. Is the situation that desperate?'

  'Could be. I'm not going to take the chance. I intend to disarm DeRaze's crew and confine them to their quarters in the hold until... Well, until tempers cool.'

  'If we can. FezSer was just out and about only a short while ago.'

  She frowned. 'Who of the crew can we count on?'

  'Of my crew, I'd not trust DosKe. We don't get along. BayLi can be trusted, but she's very young and very inexperienced to deal with this type of an affair. The oiler and stokers will probably blow in the wind. A show of strength should keep them in line.'

  'Right. I'm sure I can count on my mates and some of the senior deckhands. Then there's Dare and his crew. I doubt they'd be much help, but we could arm them, if only to keep the crew in line... Just like old times, hey, Chief?'

  'What do you mean?'

  'Haven't you seen this all before - pirates, bandits, assassins.'

  She may've been largely sarcastic, but there was an edge of hope in there, too.

  'I must admit that I've had the misfortune to cross courses with the likes of DeRaze and his crew under various conditions. I can't claim to be any Brilliant Pax... that is to say, a hero. But my weapons are an order of magnitude better than springers. They fire fast, true, silent and you can use them with a bit of abandon since they still have a hundred darts or more in their magazine. As long as we can dodge their slugs, we'll have the upper hand. Two with darters against six ain't bad odds...'

  'We'll need them. Still, it's best to have some bargaining power as well. I may destroy the gyroscope tape. I don't need it to get us back. I wouldn't trust the mates... and all the soul stones in those headdresses won't buy you a cup of tey if they can't get them home.'

  'I'd not bother, Captain - as long as they have DeArjen, they won't be needing you or the gyro-tapes.'

  She looked grim - or rather, grimmer. 'There is that...' She may have thought of a curse or two, but said. 'Right. Get your weapon. Meet me on the afterdeck. We'll tackle them in their quarters.

  'Right. See you in a couple of minutes.'

  'Do you want to take this springer along for BayLi?'

  'No. You and I can deal with them ourselves. I'll show you how to operate a darter and between the two of us, we'll put them to sleep before they know what's happening.'

  She nodded. 'I'll arm DisRay and brief him on our plans and then be down directly.' With that, she unlocked the weapons safe and collected two slug pouches and grabbed the springers. We stepped out into the dim companionway. I turned for the stairs down to my cabin. She for the door to the bridge.

  Don't move, you two!'

  I looked back to see DeRaze, a long barreled spring gun in hand, swinging up the opposite stairwell. Another of his crew followed him.

  'Drop the springer, DeRaze,' barked the Captain, her springer in hands as well.

  Neither of them hesitated. He swung up his springer and snapped off a shot at the Captain even as she fired hers, while diving back into her cabin. I heard both slugs bang off the companionway bulkheads, and being unarmed, I didn't linger. I dived down the steep stairwell. DeRaze had not wasted any time, so events were now moving at escape velocity. Still, with a darter in hand, and a bit of luck, I might be able to put a quick end to it.

  I was certain that KimTara could hold them off until I had my darters in hand. The interior doors of the Lora Lakes were only thin aluminum, but you don't go busting them down with a springer or two aimed at you from the far side.

  There were six in DeRaze's crew. Two were accounted for. I found two more when I rounded the corner to my cabin. They were pounding on my cabin and didn't see me.

  I could now hear a pounding from above as well, likely on the captain's cabin. The two at my door gave up pounding and were now trying to kick it open. I could hear some shouting now as well. DeRaze had, indeed, acted decisively. I continued down the stairwell and carefully stepped into the dark vault of the engine room. I'd collect Hissi and then perhaps we could hide out and wait for a chance to get to my cabin for the darters. Darters in hand, I'd be a force to be reckoned with, even if I just layed in ambush... But the darters weren't in hand.

  I slipped down the ladder leading to the black cake bunkers, and the boiler head. I'd need to let things play out a bit before acting. So I stepped into the stoke hole between the bunkers and boiler to hide out, when DosKe, with a long knife in his hand, and two stokers, DenToy an MasTe, armed with iron bars, stepped around the boiler.

  'Found him,' yelled DosKe, and turned to me with a grin. 'I though I saw you sneaking about! We was looking for you, Chief.'

  I heard a reply from above. Hiding out no longer seemed an option.

  I glanced around and snatching up a two-meter pole with a hook at the end that was used to open and close boiler doors and maneuver the conveyer, faced the trio. 'Well, you've found me. Put down the knife and bars, gentlemen. It won't go well for you if you get caught up in the dragon hunter's mutiny. Dead men won't get a share of the gems.'

  'It's not going to go well for you, Chief. We've some issues to discuss,' he added, advancing behind his knife. DenToy and MasTe held back a bit. They weren't the brightest, but perhaps just smart enough to know that this might not turn out well for them if things did not go exactly their way, especially since everything was still up in the air.

  I hadn't time to talk. And while I only occasionally practiced my martial arts since leaving Magistrate Pi's entourage, I was confident that I remembered enough of the staff lessons Py had taught me to be able to handle an engineer with a long knife and two rather reluctant hands with short iron bars. At any rate, I didn't stop to think about it, but lunged, my pole little more than a swish of air until it struck DosKe's hand, sending the knife clattering against the boiler. I didn't stop, but swirled it around again and landed a blow alongside his upper arm and shoulder. I put my heart into that one. My St Bleyth ancestors may've been slumbering for many 'a round now, but they had opened an eye and grimly approved of the blow. We weren't giving quarters this time around.

  My blow lifted DosKe off the deck with a 'Ugg -' and slammed him into the boiler. He bounced off, as limp and silent as a rag doll. I brushed him aside and charged the two stokers, who had turned and were retreating before me. I landed a blow or two on their backs to keep them moving before a slug pinged off turbine casting next to me. Looking up, I saw two of DeRaze's hunters on the upper platform. One was cocking his gun, the other taking aim. I dodged closer to the turbine and kept running, seeking cover behind the generator and transformers.

  With the engines idle, it was dark in the engine room, and of course, cluttered with machi
nery and pipes, but it was also a dead end. Py may've felt comfortable facing two spring guns, able to dodge their slugs a fraction of a second before they were fired, but I wasn't. I'd have to keep running. Running in a crouch, I scurried across to the center of the room at the after end of the compartment and found the hatch to the service tunnel that ran along the ship's keel. It held all the power and control cables that connected the generator to the various motors and steering vanes aft. I carefully pried it up, and slipped down into the blackness, pulling it closed behind me, trying not to make a sound.

  The tunnel was a little over a meter square with the top half filled with cable, but you could pull your way through it, even in pitch blackness. Which is what I did, as fast as I could, ignoring the scrapes on my knees and shoulders as I shot through the darkness beneath #3 hold towards the faint light that marked the hatch grill in the small after compartment. As I reached it, a faint light shot from the shaft behind me.

  'There he is!' someone exclaimed, but I was out of the way when the slug pinged against the hull.

  If I wanted to keep my freedom, there seemed no alternative but to abandon ship. The small compartment was lit by skylights set in the deck above, so I could see the two access hatches, one each for the port and starboard wings for access to the main propellers. I stumbled over to the starboard access hatch, and bracing myself, pushed the heavy handle down to release it. But then, before I pulled it open - I experienced a flash of clarity. I stopped, pushed it shut again without latching it and scurried back across the compartment to open the port side access hatch instead. I pulled it open as the overhead hatch swung open, sending more light knifing down into the compartment, and the excited announcement, 'There, get him!'

  I dived out onto the wing as another slug pinged against the hull next to me. Planting my magnetic boots on the wing, I scurried alongside the hull to the edge of the wing and swung around and under it to put it between me and any more slugs from the deck. I considered leaping for the trees below, but decided it might just be a tad too far. I'd not want to be hung up in mid-air, so I scrambled around to where the anchor line angled out to the ground below. I jumped for it and snagging it, raced, hand over hand, down the cable towards the rocks and the spindly trees below. A slug went whizzing by, just as I reached the trees.

  I pulled myself deeper into its thin branches and swung around its trunk to get out of sight of the deck. Once I was deep enough in the branches, I didn't linger, but, putting the rocky point between me and the ship, sailed, branch to branch, tree to tree until I'd put the better part of half of a kilometer between me and the Lora Lakes. Where I stopped and collected my breath.

  I was out of the frying pan and half a kilometer deep in the fire. But I was alive and free. All I needed to do was to catch my breath and come up with a plan of action. The first part was a lot easier than the latter. I hadn't made much progress on the second part before Hissi glided up though the dim lit branches, barking with laughter.

  I greeted her with a hug, ignoring her amusement at my plight. Things were looking a little brighter.

  'You didn't happen to bring along something to eat, did you?' I asked as she swirled around me.

  She barked another laugh. I was only half kidding.

  Chapter 29 In the Hall of the Dragon Throne