“Sounds reasonable,” Ben said.
“I think I’ve found just the place,” Kim said. “Take a look.”
The cavern was on one end of the island, a great gaping hole of black, volcanic rock. Above it, on the hillside, large trees grew in abundance. Ocean waves crashed against rocks that guarded the entrance, but the cavern looked big enough for the Echo to land in.
“Looks tight,” Ben said.
“I can thread that needle with my eyes closed,” Kim said.
“It’s hard to tell how deep it is,” Nance said. “Hang on.”
She powered on a spotlight. The sun was bright, and the light seemed dim, but it showed a deep, sloping recess that was large enough for the ship to land in.
“What about the tide?” Ben said.
“What’s a tide?” Kim asked.
“The sea levels change,” Ben said. “Something to do with the moon’s gravity. I read about it once.”
“Well aren’t you handy to have around,” Kim said. “I’m glad Lieutenant Quickdraw over there didn’t slag you when she had the chance.”
“Don’t talk about her,” Ike warned.
“I think we’re at high tide now, according to the planet’s info on the nav system,” Nance said.
“Okay, set her down, Kim,” Ben said. “But let’s keep an eye on that sea level. I don’t want to get stuck in deep water.”
Kim brought the ship in and slowly lowered her down above the rocky entrance. It wasn’t easy, but she got the ship inside the cavern and settled on the sandy floor.
“That’s how you do it,” Kim said, shutting down the engines. “Welcome home, Ike.”
“Can we go outside?” the sergeant asked.
“In the cave,” Ben said. “Let’s avoid the island in the daytime, just for now.”
“Come on, Lieutenant,” Ike said to Liachov. “Let’s get off this ship for a bit. It’ll do us all some good.”
Chapter 26
They didn’t all exit the ship, and Ben briefly considered taking off anyway. If not for the Imperium Fleet waiting to gobble them up the moment they appeared on radar, he would have been willing to make a break for it.
He had experience fear and pain in his young life. He knew disappointment and outrage. None of it compared to being shot. The initial impact of the stun charge from Liachov’s laser pistol had caused every muscle in his body to spasm, including those in his broken arm. Before he lost consciousness, he felt the splintery bone segments grind together. The pain stayed with him as he lay on the metal deck unconscious. It felt as if it were invading his body. His arm throbbed with every beat of his heart, sending electrical jolts of agony through him from his injured arm through his shoulder and neck, straight into his brain.
Then came the searing heat of the laser’s impact point. It was a chest shot, and even unconscious, he felt the pain, as if someone had dropped a hot piece of metal onto his bare skin. He couldn’t move even though his weary brain was screaming for relief. And then more pain broke into his consciousness. It was the back of his head, which had thumped against the metal decking and was continuing to lay on the unyielding metal even as his scalp swelled from the impact.
Pain wore on him, and he wanted to be free of it. Yet nothing he did cast the agony aside for long. He was upright again, sitting at his console trying to study the ship’s systems to see what needed to be done, but his mind was filled with the fog of pain.
“You okay?” Kim said, coming to stand beside him.
She slid her hand along his back, which also hurt, but her gentle touch was soothing at the same time.
“No,” he said honestly. “But I’ll worry about myself later. Tell me what happened.”
“You mean after you got shot? Well, we ran into a flight of Imperium fighters, eight in all. Got lucky, or perhaps they let us through, I’m not sure, but we used four of the missiles in the process.”
“Better to use them and live than save them only to be shot down or captured,” Ben said. “Looks like the auxiliary batteries will be charged back up eventually.”
“Four hours, nineteen minutes,” Nance said.
“We didn’t blow an engine or sustain any damage,” Ben went on. “That’s excellent.”
“Getting out won’t be that easy,” Kim said.
“And the lieutenant won’t be happy until she’s delivered to her base,” Nance said in a quiet voice, and Magnum moved over to stand behind her.
“You okay, Magnum?” Ben asked.
“All things considered...yes,” he replied.
“Okay, well, we need to lie low for a few days at least,” Ben said. “We can swap out the Zexum tanks so that we don’t accidentally run out when we make our break for hyperspace. Other than that, we rest and keep an eye on the skies.”
Kim and Magnum helped Ben down to the engineering bay, where they went to work changing the Zexum tank. It wasn’t difficult, but it wasn’t quick either. They had to use the engineering bay’s hoist to lift the empty tank and move them from the storage compartment. Ben made sure the connections were all right and tight, then fired up the reactor again. Once he was certain that everything was the way he wanted, they slowly climbed the stairs. Even Magnum was showing signs of struggle after being stunned.
Nance turned when they reached the main deck. “Four and hours and twelve minutes left on the batteries after you swapped out the Zexum. I’m starting a shipwide diagnostic check. It’ll be running for several hours.”
“We aren’t running anywhere,” Ben said. “But I’ll climb to the galley for some ale.”
“Let me do it,” Kim said. “I’ll get a pitcher and some cups. We’ll rest in the lounge.”
“Okay,” Ben said.
Magnum didn’t complain, and the two men made their way to the lounge with Nance. Ben settled into a chair and propped one foot up on a short table as he made a mental assessment of his injuries. His head was aching and sore, but it would heal. The burn on his chest would need more time, and perhaps a bandage so that his clothing didn’t further irritate it. His shirt was ruined, with a dark scorch mark right in the center of his chest.
“So what now?” Nance asked.
“I guess that depends on what Lieutenant Liachov wants,” Ben said.
“We have fulfilled our obligation,” Magnum said, rubbing his own scorch-marked chest.
“I doubt she’ll see it that way, and they have us outnumbered.”
“Not at the moment,” Kim said. “There’s a single man on the bridge, and Beck is down in the cargo bay. Surely we can take the two of them out.”
“And then do what?” Ben said. “We’re not ready to try and escape the Imperium forces in orbit.”
“We could fly to another island,” Kim said, setting down the tray of cups. “I prefilled the cups, so the pitcher would last longer.”
She handed a cup to Ben, who took a sip. The ale was cool, frothy, and had a welcome taste. He sighed a little, trying to ignore the blaring pain receptors in his brain.
“I doubt we’d get lucky enough to find another cave to hide in,” Ben said. “And once the Imperium starts combing the ocean looking for us, we’d be spotted.”
“So, we’re really going to sit here and do nothing?” Kim asked.
“Time is on our side, at the moment,” Ben said.
“Unless your arm continues to get worse,” Nance pointed.
“It’s just taking some time to heal,” Ben said.
“Can you move your fingers?” Kim asked.
“Of course I can,” he said.
The truth was, moving his fingers hurt. He wasn’t sure why, perhaps it caused the broken bones to move, but he did his best not to move any part of his arm, and the swelling wasn’t going down. He took another sip of the ale and told himself he wasn’t going to worry about it.
“You need to see a doctor,” Kim insisted.
“I will, once we’re safely off this planet and out of this system,” Ben said. “What other option do we have
?”
They sat in the lounge until sunset, then ventured out of the ship. The air was warm and heavy, and the smell of the ocean was strong. Ben didn’t find it altogether pleasant in the cavern, but once they got out onto the island proper, it was much more pleasant. A cool wind was blowing, and there were fragrant blossoms on the trees.
“These are Kepler. It’s a fruit,” Ike said, handing them fist-sized objects. “You peel the skin, it’s kind of tough, but the inside is sweet and juicy.”
They watched the freedom fighters in the fading light and then ate the fruit they had been given. Ben had eaten real produce, but nothing so fresh. The fruit was warm from the sunlight and was a mixture of sweet and tart.
“It’s delicious,” Kim said.
“Brigton is a verdant world,” Lieutenant Rena Liachov said. She had removed her boots and socks so that she could walk barefoot in the sand. Above them the stars were coming out in the purple sky. “We can grow enough food for our entire population, with enough left over to send to other planets. Yet the Royal Imperium demands such a high yield, which it doesn’t compensate us for, that there’s hardly enough for our own people. Hard to believe that people are starving on my world, isn’t it?”
“That’s terrible,” Nance said.
“That’s why we fight,” Liachov said. “For generations we had hidden entire harvests and falsified reports, and when the Imperium caught on, they sent troops. People were murdered. Storehouses burned. Even worse, the soldiers took more than their share, and we were left with nothing at all. So we fought back.”
“Until now,” Kim said. “Surely if the rebellion surrendered, it was because the Imperium was offering more than just amnesty.”
“Perhaps,” Liachov said. “But I don’t trust them to keep their word. They would slaughter our entire world population if they didn’t need the food we produce for them. And let’s suppose you’re right. Let’s suppose they keep their word and perhaps allow us to keep a greater portion of our harvests. How long would that last?”
“So you think it’s better to keep fighting?” Ben asked.
“I think, as long as the Royal Imperium is in control, the people of my world will suffer.”
“What’s the solution?” Kim said. “You take out one tyrant, and another just moves in.”
“That’s why each system should be free to govern itself,” Ike said.
“But what about trade?” Ben asked. “What about a common currency so that everyone has a level playing field?”
“Those are myths,” Liachov said. “Just Imperium propaganda. The field isn’t level, and their governing is nothing but totalitarian control.”
Night fell, and for a long time, Ben and his small crew sat on the edge of the beach, listening to the waves as the warm sea air gently wafted around them. Despite the beauty and tranquility, which was on a scale Ben had never experienced before, he couldn’t keep his mind off the conversation about the abuses of the Royal Imperium. It was more than just rumors, more than just the downtrodden from poor worlds complaining about those fortunate enough to live somewhere else. The government of the entire galaxy actually was a cabal of corrupt officials who saw themselves as being above the law. And if the despicable practice of drugging entire worlds, which Ben had seen firsthand at Mersa Prime, was true of the Royal Imperium, there really was no telling what depths they might sink to.
It didn’t take long for small crustaceans to come ashore after nightfall. Some of the freedom fighters gathered buckets of the small animals and dug fire pits to cook their catch. But Ben returned to the ship. The island was nice, but the Modulus Echo was his home. As he walked through the engineering bay, trying to keep his mind from the nagging pain of his broken arm, he couldn’t help but wonder what he would do to keep the ship safe. He would certainly fight, and had even killed to protect her. Was what the freedom fighters were doing any different?
“I still can’t believe we’re stuck here,” Kim said, appearing from around the corner. She was frowning, her tone on the verge of angry, but Ben thought she looked and sounded beautiful.
“I think danger suits you,” he said.
“Don’t try to sweet talk me,” she growled. “You nearly got killed by that psychotic fiend out there.”
“You don’t have to remind me,” Ben said. “But I can’t help but think we’ve done the same for the Echo.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m just saying we’ve fought and even killed for this ship.”
“No, that’s where you’re wrong,” Kim said. “We’ve fought for each other. We’ve fought to live. Don’t get me wrong, I’m falling in love with this old ship too, but it’s replaceable. You aren’t.”
“Good point,” Ben said, even though he didn’t think anything could ever replace the Echo.
“Of course it is,” Kim said. “And here’s another. We have to get away from these crazies before they get us killed.”
“You still thinking of leaving them behind?”
“I honestly don’t care. I’d gladly slag Lieutenant Liachov, but the important thing is getting us out of this system alive.”
“So let’s figure out how to do it,” Ben said. “But one thing I learned in the salvage fields is that patience is key to survival. We’re in a good hiding spot. There’s no need to get in a rush and make getting off this world any harder than it needs to be.”
“Fine,” Kim said. “As long as we’re on the same page. Now, let me help you get to bed. It’s not every day that you get shot and live to brag about it.”
Chapter 27
They stayed put for six days and perhaps would have waited even longer if not for Lieutenant Liachov’s insistence that they make contact with the survivors of their rebellion. Low-frequency radio reports indicated that the rebellion had in fact surrendered all over the planet. And while many of the low-ranking fighters had been released, most of the organizers were still being questioned by Imperium forces.
“They want to find our bases and destroy our caches of weapons,” Liachov declared.
Ben didn’t disagree. It only made sense that the victor would want to remove the threat of more violence, while the defeated would try to hoard whatever resources they could in case the Imperium failed to keep their word.
The freedom fighters carried their newly obtained weapons from Brimex Station onto the island and buried them in several small groups. Once they had all memorized the exact coordinates of the island and the location of all the buried weapons, Liachov insisted that they leave the safety of the cavern.
Ben would have preferred to stay hidden a few more days, but on top of Liachov’s insistence that they go, his broken arm was growing worse by the day. The break had occurred on his upper forearm, but the swelling stretched from his elbow to his fingertips, which he could barely move. The skin was a sickly looking shade of bluish gray, with places that were almost black. He kept the arm hidden in his sling, but the others knew he was suffering and urged him to leave the island in hopes that he could get medical help.
They waited until nightfall on the sixth day, and with the band of freedom fighters gathered in the atrium behind the bridge, Ben brought the main drive online.
“All systems are green,” Nance said. “Full power is available.”
“You’re good to go, Kim,” Ben said. “Just don’t scratch the paint.”
“Yeah, right, like this old rust bucket has paint,” Kim replied. “Besides, what do you take me for? An incompetent freighter pilot?”
“Would a simple ‘yes, sir’ not suffice?” Liachov said.
“Someone shut her up before I slam the ship into the ocean just so I don’t have to hear her voice again,” Kim threatened.
“Nice and easy,” Ben said.
The ship rose up a few feet, the top of her hull coming dangerously close to the roof of the cavern, before Kim eased them out over the jumble of boulders at the mouth of the cave.
“We’re free and clear,” Nance
said. “No sign of Imperium forces.”
“We’re running dark, correct?” Liachov asked.
“No, we’re complete idiots,” Kim replied. “We thought coming out of hiding we should shine as bright as possible so everyone could see us.”
“No running lights,” Ben said calmly. “No radar. And Kim will keep us under their radar as much as possible.”
“Just because your people have amnesty doesn’t mean we want to get caught,” Kim said. “This is an unlicensed vessel, after all.”
“The sarcasm isn’t necessary,” Liachov said.
“It’s been a long week and we’re all a little anxious,” Ben said. “But there’s no need to fight. We’re taking you home, Lieutenant. Then we’ll be out of your hair for good.”
“And you’ll be out of ours,” Kim muttered.
“Visibility is poor,” Nance announced.
“Aren’t the new cameras equipped with night vision?” Ben asked.
“Actually, I’m running a composite of night vision, infrared, and thermal imaging,” Nance said. “Just one more minute.”
“At least we’re over the ocean,” Nance said. “I’m forty feet in altitude. We should be okay.”
“Composite, coming online,” Nance said.
The view on the big display screens went from dull black to vibrant hues of violet and green. The sky was a murky green, while the sea was a rich purple color. Ahead of them was nothing but open sea.
“Increasing speed,” Kim said. “ETA is one hour to your mountains.”
“Tell us about them,” Ben said to Liachov.
The Kettering Range is in a tropical forest,” Liachov said. “The entire area is covered in dense foliage. The mountains themselves are tall limestone peaks. They’re millions of years old and laced with natural cave formations.”
“How tall?” Ben asked.
“Seven to nine thousand feet,” Ike said.
Ben kept a close eye on the systems while Nance, Magnum, and several of the freedom fighters kept up visual scanning using thermal imaging. Ben hoped they would make it to the rebel stronghold without being seen, but after fifty minutes of uneventful flying, they left the ocean and had to detour around a massive coastal city.
Jump Point: Kestrel Class Saga Book 2 Page 18
