Hating himself for making such a decision, for not having avoided getting to this situation, Jess threw the Wanderer into jump space. Heading for the fighter closing in on the containers full of children. He had the weapons firing even as the ship dropped into real space. The fighter was rocked by the concentrated volley of weaponry causing its own fire to go wide of a container. Jess didn't give it long enough to correct. Pouring fire into the fighter at point blank range even the plasma cannons struck home. The shields buckled almost immediately then the fighter erupted in an explosion. At point blank range the blast rocked the Wanderer, burning out several already overloaded shield generators.
Not pausing to recover Jess threw the Wanderer back into jump space and towards the remaining fighter. Too late. The fighter had destroyed two containers already and a third was blown apart even as Jess reached for jump space. In desperation he brought the Wanderer back out between the fighter and the fourth container – just in time to absorb the punishment intended for it. More shields burnt out under the onslaught.
Jess was aware some hull areas were covered by only minimal shielding now. In desperation he lashed out with every weapon he could focus on the fighter and launched the remaining six fast attack missiles. The fighter shuddered under the weapons assault but it's shields held somehow. Return fire scorched a burning line of fire down Jess's leg as it pierced the shields and burned away a patch of hull near the engines. Then the missiles struck home erasing all evidence of the fighters existence in a massive explosion.
Jess quickly checked the status of the final container. It was undamaged. Six people had survived thanks to Jess but twenty-nine had died, including the two children.
Heart aching Jess stretched his awareness out to the rest of the battle zone. The freighter and the two undamaged corvettes had turned and were making a run for it. Trying to cover enough distance to jump clear. The three heavily damaged fighters were trying to limp away, as was the heavily damaged corvette that still had propulsion. Three fighters and one corvette remained completely unable to move. The danger to the containers was eliminated.
The danger to those within the containers remained though. Already the air would be getting stale and the temperature dropping dangerously low. There was no chance of any ship from the station reaching and recovering more than two or three of the containers in time to save the occupants, even if they launched immediately.
Jess was tired and battered from the battle but his work wasn't finished yet. He started with the container he'd just saved from destruction by the fighter. The Wanderer drew close to the container then used its fields to drag the container into contact with itself. Then he jumped to the next container and so on. The containers were small enough that the Wanderer could capture four at a time, even with the shuttle still nestled against its belly. Once he had the first four he jumped the ship, now wallowing badly with the additional mass of four containers and the shuttle, close to the station and released the containers. Then it was on to the next four and so on.
With twenty-seven surviving containers Jess needed to make seven runs. Even with the Wanderer's agility and ability to short cut via jump space it was a race against time. Now the video feeds from the containers were invaluable – allowing him to prioritise those containers with the most people, or with many children, to be picked up first, along with those where the occupants were clearly in trouble.
By the time he dropped the third cluster of containers off the area around the first two groups was busy with tugs and shuttles pulling the containers into cargo bays. From the chatter over the radio he knew that the entire station had mobilised to bring the containers in and treat those inside. So far no messages had been sent to the Wanderer which Jess was glad about. He still harboured a lot of anger at the people of the station for getting him, Sal and Ali into the current situation.
Once the final three containers were dropped off by the station Jess jumped the Wanderer a good few minutes flight away from both the station and the remaining pirate ships. The freighter and two corvettes continued their run for freedom. For the moment Jess was content to let them go.
Finally having some time Jess had the Wanderer extrude an elongated corridor to meet the shuttle's airlock. Jess made his way into the corridor. Heart heavy from what had already happened, and fearing the worst, he patched into the airlock's emergency communication circuit and spoke to those in the shuttle.
“Whoever is in the shuttle,” his voice sounded tired, drained, even to himself. “I'm sorry for the rough ride and for having to overpower your ship. The battle is over and the pirates have been defeated. The containers have been taken to the station and are being recovered now.”
He felt it best not to mention the three destroyed containers or the fact that at least some of those in the final containers he'd rescued might not make it.
“You will see that your airlock leads to a pressurised corridor. Please send out your captives. If you wish to join them feel free. I will say this once though. Don't make me come in there to get them. If you do I won't be held responsible for my actions.”
He killed the circuit without waiting for a reply. He didn't want a dialogue, just wanted this nightmare to be over. Nothing happened for a couple of minutes, then he detected vibrations that suggested the inner airlock door was being opened. Soon after the outer door opened and he grinned in relief at seeing Ali and Sal standing there, both looking tired and worried but otherwise unhurt. His smile froze as he took in the two men standing behind them each holding an automatic pistol pointed at one of the captives. Both men looked to be well into their fifties and had a hard look about them. Jess was sure they'd use the guns if provoked. The one standing on the left spoke.
“Right. You've seen our captives. You've seen they are healthy. Now the four of us are going back inside and you're going to let this shuttle go. If what you say is true then once we are safely back on the station you can discuss their release with the governor. Until then any hostile action means we shoot one of them. Nowhere fatal to begin with, but it will still hurt like hell. Don't try anything.”
Jess stared, mouth open. The man who'd spoke reached out and triggered the control to close the outer airlock door. As it started to slide shut Jess reached out for the ship, for the familiar acceleration of his thoughts.
Immediately the closing door seemed to slow to a crawl. Jess reached out with the ship's fields. First jamming the door so it couldn't close, then slamming a shield between the two men and Sal and Ali. He stepped forward to pull them both out of the airlock. The man behind Ali fired... then screamed as the gun exploded taking part of his hand with it. Jess was in no mood for half measures. He'd ensured any weapon fire wouldn't kill the two men but felt they deserved significant pain if they tried anything. The other man dropped his gun as if it had suddenly turned into a scorpion then tried to aid his colleague.
Jess pulled Sal and Ali from the airlock then allowed it to slam shut. Sealing the corridor he had the ship shove the shuttle away – none too gently – and then let himself return to his normal speed of thought. Almost before he could react Ali had him in a fierce hug, crying against his shoulder. Sal threw her arms around both of them and the three of them stood hugging each with tears running down their cheeks. Jess could hardly believe that he had the two of them back.
Chapter Fifteen
After the initial relief of being back together the three of them headed to the living area. Jess retracted the corridor behind them and left the shuttle where it floated immobilised. The people on the station could rescue the two crew, he had no desire to.
Once they reached the living area the questions started.
“What happened?” asked Sal shakily. “What the hell happened.”
“What do you know so far?” replied Jess.
“We were being held in a cell for days. The conditions weren't bad and they didn't mistreat us, but I hated being confined again. It made me realise how valuable our freedom is.
Our
guards seemed fairly relaxed. Things were settling into a routine. Then suddenly they appeared outside our cell shouting at us to stand up. They wrenched the door open then dragged us from the cell at gun point. It was terrifying. They wouldn't tell us what was happening. Just kept telling us to shut up and move faster.
After several minutes passing through the station at a near run we entered a hangar and were taken aboard that shuttle. They belted us in then secured us to our seats so we couldn't get free. All of the guards except two left – those two went into the cockpit.
The flight was smooth for a couple of minutes then all hell broke loose. The shuttle was shaken violently then all the systems seemed to die. Even the lights went off for a few seconds. I thought we were going to die.
Then the shuttle was grabbed or shoved by something. The acceleration was crippling for a second or two. After that there was the occasional violent manoeuvre but nothing more.
Finally the speakers in the ship boomed to life with your voice. We couldn't believe it for a moment. Not until the pilots came back to get us. I could see how worried they were. They freed us, took us up to the airlock. You know the rest. So... what the hell has been going on?”
“I guess I need to start at the beginning. Once you were caught I was pretty angry. Ready to tear the place apart. Matt convinced me not to.”
He hoped they hadn't noticed the catch in his voice at Matt's name. He had enough to tell them without going into his friend's treachery.
“The governor wanted us to fly to Stone Snake mining complex and free their people. In fact they wanted us to take many of their guards with us but we refused. Told them we'd go rescue their people but on our own terms. Without any guards. They said they were going to kill you – I didn't have any choice.”
Ali turned pale at his words. Sal looked angry. Before they could comment he continued.
“So we flew there, but it turned out it's more than a mining complex. It is the main base for a pirate organisation. They found out about the ship's amazing abilities and wanted it for themselves. They decided the way to do that was to get leverage over me. You two. So they sent a fleet here to intimidate the locals. As added pressure they brought all the slaves captured from Glory Falls, loaded them in containers with limited heat and air then sent them out in different directions. Too many containers and too many directions for the station to rescue them all. And they'd threatened to destroy any ship attempting a rescue. That's why you were dragged out of your cell at such short notice. Not that they actually planned to save the prisoners.”
“But what happened to the people in the containers?” asked Ali. “You rescued us. Does that mean all those people died? For us? What happened to the pirates?”
“I did.” Jess said flatly. “I destroyed or disabled almost all their ships. The main freighter and two combat ships the size of a corvette are heading out to jump range now. The rest I dealt with. But I wasn't fast enough. They got three of the containers. Killed twenty-nine people. Two of them were just kids.
That left the other containers. I used the ship to grab them, dragged them close to the station. Did it as fast as I could but I think some of those inside might still have died. They were getting so cold and the air was running out. I messed up. I didn't manage to save them all.”
Ali crossed to where he sat and knelt in front of him. She took his face in both hands and forced him to meet her eyes.
“How many containers did you save? How many people did you at least give a chance to, a chance they didn't otherwise have.”
“Twenty seven.” His voice was still flat. Devoid of emotion. Inside anger and pain warred with horror and self loathing yet none of it reached his voice. “Twenty seven containers. There were one hundred thirty-two people to start with. So there were one hundred and three that I got back to the station. I could have saved more though. I could have saved those twenty-nine. I decided to risk them to save just twenty... but nineteen of those were children. I had to choose. I don't know if I made the right choice.”
The churn of emotions inside were finally penetrating the numb layer that surrounded him. His eyes filled with tears that he blinked away angrily – not wanting to seem weak.
Ali shook his head gently, moved her face to within inches of his. Stared into his eyes.
“Jess... what am I going to do with you? You're doing it again. Taking all the responsibility. You saved over a hundred people. You saved them. I know you did the best you possibly could. Far more than anyone else could have. You couldn't save everybody – that's tough. That hurts. But that's the way it is sometimes. Now for gods sake let yourself cry.”
At her words the barrier inside Jess was smashed aside. He broke into agonised sobs driven by his feelings over failing to save everyone, the shock of the fight finally sinking in and even guilt over those he'd killed in the battle. Ali wrapped her arms around him. Holding him tight and rocking him gently as he cried.
Once he had cried himself out she pulled back a little, though he was very aware of her having taken his hand. He started to feel awkward about his outburst. Ali seemed to guess what he was thinking.
“If you even think of getting all manly and ashamed over crying you'll be getting another slap round the face! You're human. Despite being wired into this ship you're completely human. There's nothing wrong with crying for those who have died, but you mustn't let it overwhelm you. You must not take on all the responsibility.”
Jess nodded sheepishly. Sal looked intrigued.
“Another slap round the face? Did I miss something?”
This time it was Ali who looked sheepish. She just shrugged her shoulders. Sal laughed.
“What I want to know is what Matt's been up to,” Sal said. “He should be have been looking after you. Making sure you didn't take on too much. I'll give him a piece of my mind. Where is he?”
Jess's face fell immediately. His stomach dropped too. This was the moment he'd been dreading more than any other. Before he could speak Sal could tell something was wrong.
“What happened?” she demanded. “Is he hurt? Did someone manage to capture him?”
Jess took a deep breath then started to answer.
“No. He's not hurt. Matt... that is... well... Matt is the reason the pirates know about this ship. He betrayed us. When we reached Stone Snake mining complex he drugged me. I woke up in a cell deep in the complex. He already knew the people there. He'd been there many times before. He used to live there, or be based from there anyway. He told them everything. About the ship. About you two. That's why the pirates came here to get you. They wanted to use you to control me.”
Ali sat staring at him with her mouth open. Sal looked as if she was about to be sick.
“Are you sure?” she asked in a whisper.
“Yes. I'm sorry. When I woke in the cell he was there. He told me I was too naïve. That with the kidnappers nearly controlling me using Ali, and then losing the two of you to Glory Falls, it was only a matter of time till someone controlled me, and so controlled the ship. Said that in that case he wanted his group to be in control. He made threats. He said they'd hurt you both. Badly. Then if I still didn't cooperate they'd start cutting bits off. It was horrible. I couldn't bear the thought of it.
He told me about the plan to get you back too. About the containers with the prisoners taken from Glory Falls. And it was Matt that told me those prisoners would die, or most of them anyway. That the pirates wouldn't stick to their side of the deal once they had you two. He knew. He knew that those people would die... those children would die. And he didn't care. How did I misjudge him so badly?”
“You didn't!” Sal told him firmly. “You didn't. We didn't. We'd only known him a handful of days. We knew he'd had a life before being a slave, but not the details. He wouldn't have told us about this anyway. Whether he planned to betray us from the start or wanted to stay with us he had to keep that side of his life hidden.”
Jess nodded, though he was only partly convinced.
“And I swear...” Sal continued, “if I ever get my hands on him I'll make him regret the day he was born.”
“Only if you get to him before me,” Ali said.
The fierce looks on their faces made Jess glad he wasn't Matt.
“So we know roughly what happened,” Sal said. “We can fill each other in on all the details later. The question now is... what do we do?”
“First thing is to deal with the damaged and disabled ships.” said Ali. “They'll be working on restoring them to action. If we're still here that means running or fighting. If we're gone then they'll turn on the station.”
“I know.” Jess said. “That's part of the reason I disabled some of the ships. To try to leave them a defence force, though they'll have to get the pirates out somehow. Now I'm not so sure. After everything they've done, and them trying to shoot you as you left the shuttle, I'm tempted to leave them for the pirates.”
Ali squeezed his hand. Smiled gently at him. “You don't really mean that. You're angry at them but there are kids on the station. You've already saved some of them once. Could you leave them to the pirates mercy?”
“I... I... no.” He sighed deeply. “No. You're right. I guess we can help persuade them.”
“So that's what we'll do about those ships. And I guess we know what to do about the station too. We're going to help them. Though I certainly won't be going back aboard.” She shivered at the thought. “And we shouldn't make it too easy for them. The other big question for the moment is what to do about the freighter and corvettes.”
Wanderer's Escape Page 11
