New Season: Sparrow's Quest (New Sky Book 2)

by Jason Kent

  Sparrow knocked again. She was glad the pilot had finally decided to start using the room offered to her. Dagger claimed it was because she could save Blade's power by switching everything off. Sparrow thought it might have more to do with being able to open a window.

  "Door's unlocked," Dagger's muffled voice called a moment later.

  Sparrow twisted the knob and stepped inside. When she looked up, she found herself staring down the dark bore of the pilot's favorite handgun.

  "You alone?" Dagger asked. Her green eyes darted to the hall beyond Sparrow.

  "Yes." Sparrow made a show of checking the hallway then shut the door. She could not help but smile. If anyone would have told her she'd get used to having people point guns at her, Sparrow would have laughed and told them they were crazy.

  "My apologies. Were you expecting someone else?" Sparrow asked and gestured at the door. "Because if you're waiting for a gunfight, I'd be happy to come back later."

  Dagger's lip twitched up in half a smile. She set the big gun on the counter next to a line of empty liquor bottles. "More of a reflex than anything," Dagger explained with a shrug. She took the pot out of the coffee machine and gestured with it toward Sparrow. "Jack-heads drink coffee, right?"

  "More than is healthy, I'm afraid."

  Dagger snagged a second cup from a cabinet. Sparrow glanced around the woman's apartment. Unlike the others, the pilot had chosen not to personalize the room in any way. Her closet contained a single spare outfit plus her flight jacket. Besides these few articles of clothing and a few personal items in the bathroom, everything else appeared as it was when they'd first arrived; bare walls, essential basics in the kitchenette, drab colored sheets and matching comforter on the bed.

  Sparrow did a double take of the bed. Something about the disheveled nature of the bedding made Sparrow think Dagger might be sharing it with someone. Her eyes landed on a leather flight jacket laying over the back of one of the chairs around the small table. Sparrow's eyes slid from the jacket hanging in the closet to the coat on the chair. This time she noticed the stitching across the nametape. Garrett had been by for a visit.

  Dagger held out a steaming cup to Sparrow and took a long sip of her coffee before asking, "To what do I owe the honor? Did you guys figure out which piece we're going after first?"

  "Not exactly," Sparrow replied. "I was hoping to force a decision this morning. I wanted you to help me."

  Dagger raised her eyebrows. "Really?"

  "Really." Sparrow took a sip and made a face. The coffee was black and strong. She looked around for creamer and sweetener but saw no sign of either.

  "Sorry," Dagger laughed after seeing Sparrow's reaction. "If I'm having coffee, I have it straight up. Besides, when the beans have to come all the way from Arubica, it's almost a crime to add anything else."

  "Well then, you know what they say," Sparrow replied. "Any cup of coffee is a good cup of coffee." She had to admit, Dagger's brew exhibited more flavor than what the archivists served in the dining room.

  Dagger snorted. "You haven't been to the same dives I've been in."

  Sparrow took another sip and stepped over to the French doors leading out onto a small balcony. She pushed through the billowing sheer curtains. Dagger joined her, setting her gun within easy reach. The coffee mug she kept in her hand.

  "What do you think the big tree is thinking about this morning?" Dagger asked, gesturing at Nemus standing on his hill within view of the dormitories.

  Sparrow shook her head and smiled. "I'm not sure. I'll be sure to ask Kate if she's talked to him yet when I see her. She says it's a lot to take in first thing in the morning."

  "If you say so," Dagger said with a grunt. She stared at Nemus in silence for a minute then turned to face Sparrow. Dagger leaned on an elbow and pointed her mug at the Link Sprite. "You know, I'm a little jealous of you."

  "It's the implants, right?" Sparrow asked with the hint of a smile. "I've noted many men are attracted by the tattoo-like effect. You know, something to do with them thinking I'm a bad girl. Perhaps you should try a basic package..."

  "Nah, I'm good with what I have," Dagger replied. "I mean, you have a purpose here." She took a drink and left the 'unlike some of us' unsaid.

  Sparrow's expression softened. She set her mug down and laid a hand on the other woman's arm. "I'm so sorry you feel that way, Dagger. You're as much a part of what's going on here as Kate, the marines, or me!"

  "Just when you guys need a lift," Dagger retorted. She threw up her arms, nearly spilling her coffee. "I mean, sometimes I feel like a freaking taxi driver!"

  Sparrow opened her mouth then closed it. She knew Dagger was feeling left out. Part of the reason for her visit this morning was to try and bring the pilot into the decision-making process. Sparrow was more comfortable dealing with data than people and found herself suddenly at a loss for what to say. She decided to go with her tried and true method of dealing with any situation she faced. She gave Dagger the honest truth.

  "Amanda," Sparrow said softly, "you're a good friend. In fact, you're one of the most loyal people I know. I like you and want you to be here. Plus, you've saved my life so many times I've lost count. I'm glad we met back on Transom Station. I can't imagine going on any of these adventures without you...and I know the others feel the same."

  "You guys are easy to please," Dagger replied with a snort. She stared down into her coffee then asked softly, "What if Andrea is right? What if I just keep sticking my nose in other people's business where I don't belong? Maybe she would have been happy back on Transom. I feel like I've stolen her entire life!" She faced Sparrow. "And look at me, I feel like I'm mooching off a bunch of peace-loving librarians! For what? So I can hang out and give free rides aboard my ship?!"

  "You know Andrea is better off with us...with you," Sparrow soothed. "We all can see that. Andrea will see it too...in time." Andrea was Dagger's sister. In exchange for helping Sparrow and the others search for Knowl, Dagger insisted they rescue her from a Tallinn Councilman who had kept her as a companion at his country estate. Andrea was not at all happy her big sister had torn her away from her posh lifestyle even if it was really a gilded cage.

  "How much time?" Dagger said with a mirthless laugh. "How long will she hate me?"

  Sparrow stared at Dagger with her silver eyes and finally said, "That is a question only Andrea can answer."

  "Maybe I need to get away," Dagger said. "Run a few jobs. See if I still fit in my old life."

  Sparrow shook her head and laughed out loud.

  "What?" Dagger asked, frowning. "What'd I say?"

  Sparrow covered her mouth and said, "Sorry! It's just...well..."

  "Arrgh!" Dagger growled and stalked inside.

  "Dagger, wait!" Sparrow called after her friend. She caught up with Dagger as she was refilling her mug from the coffee pot. Dagger plucked a bottle of amber liquor from the counter and added a liberal amount to her drink. "I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing at this whole, absurd situation we've landed in the middle of...I mean, look at us!"

  Dagger did not meet Sparrow's gaze. Sullenly she asked, "Yeah, I'm looking. So what?"

  "As far as I see it, none of us fit in our old lives any longer," Sparrow said and gestured at her silvery eyes. "We work for a big, talking tree. If I told anyone, they would think my implants had finally driven me crazy!"

  Dagger's eyes met Sparrow's. Comprehension flickered briefly across the pilot's face.

  Sparrow looked on expectantly, hoping she'd gotten through.

  "So, this is my life now..." Dagger said, her expression unreadable once more. Her eyes looked sideways through the open doors toward Nemus. She looked back at Sparrow, scowling. "Tral!"

  Exasperated, Sparrow crossed her arms on the counter and laid her head down on them. Her voice was muffled when she answered, "Amanda, I don't know how else to tell you we all love you and like having you around!"

  The sound of Dagger taking a long sip of coffee made Sparrow lift
her head.

  Dagger had taken the chair at the table. She smiled a toothy grin at Sparrow and tipped her mug at her friend. "Gotcha."

  Sparrow wiped an unexpected tear from the corner of her eye. "So you're not going to fly away and leave?"

  "Nah," Dagger said. Now that her mind was made up, no one could make her leave. She ran a hand over the smooth leather of Garrett's jacket. "Besides, maybe I just needed to be reminded there are more reasons to stay than to go." She looked at Sparrow. "Thanks, jack-head."

  "You're welcome," Sparrow replied honestly.

  "Has anyone ever told you," Dagger said and took a drink from her mug, "that you suck at pep talks?"

  Chapter 9

  Course of Action

  Dagger and Sparrow stepped into the Library. The room had become the team's favorite place to gather no matter the occasion. Tall bookshelves lined the curved walls and were filled with leather bound volumes from dozens of worlds. A tall window looked out over the grounds to the south of the Archives. There, Nemus was framed with his branches spreading over the wild flowers growing on the slopes of his hillock.

  Overstuffed seats and couches were arranged around a low table heaped with print-outs, open books, maps, and rolled-up blueprints. None of the furniture matched, having been dragged from all over the Archives as each person discovered their favorite style. The archivists had initially complained about the impromptu reorganization until they realized they liked the new and improved library.

  A spiral staircase provided access to the upper level which encompassed the entire room. The balcony was open to the space below and featured marble pillars and hand-carved wooden railings. Sparrow and Kate had taken over the upper room and set up any electronic equipment they could find. It was a mish-mash of gear donated from Blade and collected during the team's off-world forays. The set-up wasn't much to look at, but the women hoped to eventually tie their systems into the data stacks. Then, they would have a digital means of copying and accessing the massive amounts of information stored in the Archives.

  Tarun and Tivon were pouring over curling printouts at the central table. The corners were held down with odd mechanical parts from the analytical engines: sprockets, switches, and giant transistor tubes. Merrick and Kate had their heads together on a love seat. Garrett and Ross were ensconced in their couches. Garrett appeared to be napping and Ross was nursing a tall glass of iced tea. It was the strongest drink readily available since the Archivists believed consuming alcohol dulled their ability to commune with Nemus. Ross and Garrett were trying to convince them all things were good in moderation. They had even planted a few rows of grape vines in the hopes some homemade wine would prove their point.

  Dagger claimed a big leather chair and dropped into it, one leg draped over the arm.

  Ross stood up from his couch and motioned for Sparrow to join him. Sparrow settled into the deep cushions. A glint from above caught her attention.

  Hanging from the ceiling was perhaps the most impressive feature of the Library; a model of the galaxy made completely of clockwork components. Gears and screws clicked while flywheels spun, providing the momentum needed to keep the massive model in constant motion. The stars were made of glittering gems which caught the lights from the big window during the day and the reading lights at night. Below the galactic model, larger orbs representing the Aurora system hung. The planets and other minor bodies were set up to make one complete revolution of the room each day. It was a beautiful, gleaming testament to the abilities of the tinkerers and engineers who'd built the Archives' analytical engines and designed the storage system used throughout the stacks.

  Sparrow eyes drifted from the overhead work of art to the circular stairs coming down from the balcony. She was proud of the set-up she and Kate had completed so far. Still there was much to do; like connecting the Archives' pneumatic tube system to the big table she'd taken from the dining room. She still needed to connect the tubes which terminated in brass receptacles atop the table. Beside the wire baskets, sat the playback and a display console she'd managed to acquire.

  Garrett opened his eyes and noted everyone was present. He cleared his throat. Kate and Merrick turned to him while the archivists looked up from their work. Garrett eyed everyone in turn. When he reached Dagger, she cocked her thumb at him and feigned a shot with her finger.

  "What'cha got for us, flyboy?" Dagger asked.

  "A decision," Garrett replied.

  Dagger dropped her leg to the floor and leaned forward in her chair. She growled, "Well, it's about time! Which bit of scary alien tech are we going after first?"

  "The key," Garrett announced, sparing no time for theatrics. With Georges gone, the First Lieutenant was the highest ranking member of the marine team.

  Tarun objected, "Please let me remind you we have almost no information to go on during our search! The tablet should be our first priority. The knowledge it could provide would be invaluable in our attempts to safeguard the other two components!"

  "Which is why the tablet is our second objective," Garrett said, his tone steady.

  "I would appreciate an explanation for your decision, Lieutenant," Tarun huffed. As the senior archivist, he was not used to having his wishes contradicted.

  "Alright," Garrett said and held up a finger. "First of all, we know right where the key is on Ardennes. As for the tablet, Nemus showed Kate it is aboard a derelict Tallinn ironclad called the Seiklus. As we've discussed at length, the Seiklus is dead in space and far from any shipping lanes or planets. Most likely, no one else, especially the Ater, know where to even begin looking. The only way Kate found it was through Nemus. The Seiklus has been adrift for more than fifty years. I believe it can wait a few days."

  "Second," Garrett said, holding up another finger. "We discovered the key is part of the Reticort Museum collection on Ardennes mostly by searching the open source material you have collected here in the Archives. If we found it that easy, it's likely someone else could do the same. This means we need to move on it sooner than later."

  "Third, as far as we know, the orb is still in the hands of the Tallinns. To retrieve it, we will need to have a better plan than simply docking with a derelict ironclad or walking into a museum. Taken together, these three factors give us a clear list of priorities; the key, the tablet, then the orb."

  "I still say the tablet would be useful," Tarun grumped.

  "And you'll hopefully have it to study very soon," Kate soothed. "But we must ensure none of the Aether Source components fall into Ater hands."

  Tarun's eyes darted to Dagger. "And I suppose you will pilot your ship on this mission?"

  Dagger slumped back into her chair and threw up her hands. "Who else?" She jabbed a finger in Garrett's direction. Without breaking eye contact with Tarun, she said, "Put your hand down, flyboy! When you get your own ship, you can play pilot again."

  "Your ship," Garrett laughed. "Your rules!"

  "I'm coming with you," Tarun stated.

  "That won't be necessary," Garrett said. "I would not want to pull you away from your duties here at the Archives."

  "Collecting, studying, and safe-guarding these artifacts is my primary concern at this point in time," Tarun countered. "I have also studied the Reticort records in depth. My knowledge of the city will be indispensable. I am going."

  "Me too," Tivon said, her voice timid.

  Tarun looked over at the tiny woman and raised his eyebrows. "I'd wanted you to stay and lead during my absence."

  "Taite is more than capable of keeping things running while we are gone," Tivon said. "Besides, I have been on several missions with Kate and the others. My knowledge of the artifacts may also prove useful."

  Tarun sighed. "Then we shall leave Taite in charge."

  "Does anyone else think we should wait for the Colonel to return before we jet across the galaxy looking for ancient technology which could actually be a really big bomb?" Ross asked. "I mean, given the fact we're going to end up infiltrating a non-align
ed planet and then take a highly valued item from the Tallinns? Maybe we need to see what he has to say about all of this."

  "We don't have an updated ETA on Georges," Garrett noted. "Who knows how long he'll be gone."

  "We need to move on the information we have," Kate blurted. She blushed when everyone looked at her. "I mean, I don't think we can waste this chance to go after the key. I...can't explain it, but I feel like time is running out."

  Everyone fell silent at Kate's statement. Her role as Watcher and her intimate relationship with Nemus often presented her with visions and insights not available to the archivists and certainly not to the marines, Dagger, or Sparrow.

  "Good enough for me," Sparrow said. She had witnessed Kate's abilities in action. If Kate thought they needed to go, they should move.

  Tarun stood. "When do we leave?"

  "I don't know," Dagger said. "How soon can you pack?"

  Chapter 10

  No Man's Land

  "It would be helpful," Dagger hissed through clenched teeth, "if you could shoot a few of them down before they hit my ship again."

  "Trying!" Garrett replied, his attention never wavering from the targeting console. He aimed Blade's big top turret using the controller clutched in his right hand. With his left he jammed a finger against the firing icon on the screen. Blade rocked as rapid blasts of plasma leapt through the air toward the squad of fighters who'd taken an unhealthy interest in them.

  Sparrow wasn't sure whose side the aircraft were on. Then again, only Nemus and Tarun seemed to completely understand what all the fighting was about here on Ardennes. Tarun had explained how the situation on Ardennes was a planet-wide phenomenon of attrition warfare, trench fighting, and mechanical innovation similar to what Earth experienced during World War I centuries earlier. Sparrow found the wide-scale suffering more than she could handle and had left the archivist and the big tree to review the long history of the War of Ardennes in exhaustive detail.