by Francis, Ron
A transmission from Absolution ended his musings as Colonel Jaketh’s face came into view. “We are going to begin firing on the asteroids. They are not very far into the field and I believe several asteroid chunks will hit Endeavor, weakening their shields more quickly. She will have no choice but to come out to us and end this pointless charade.”
“I do not see how that isss a good idea, Colonel,” he countered.
“I did not expect that you would, Blade. Are you ready to open fire or not?”
“We will be ready to fire asss soon asss you give the order,” he replied. He thought it was a terrible idea, but it would do no good mentioning it further to Jaketh. It’s not like the man would listen. At least it would give his men something to do. They had been itching for a fight since the Colonel’s men let Marcos escape on Zenith, making him look like a fool. Now Jaketh just wanted to rattle his saber to show his men he was still in control. The Admiral would never engage in behavior this foolish.
______
Kimiko decided to try and straighten things out with Jesse. She wasn’t just hurt; she was upset with Jesse about his relationship with Cassie. She was also upset he had put his life on the line again for her and Josiah, too. Did he just do it to try and get back in her good graces, or did he do it because it needed to be done. How could she even think about questioning his motives? She hated feeling this way. She decided she was finally going to talk to him about how she felt. She caught up to him in the corridor leading away from the galley.
“Hey, Kimi,” He called as he walked slowly towards her.
“Jess, I need to talk to you,” she began, and then continued without waiting for a reply. “I know this might not be the best time to talk about this, but I just had to get it off my chest before we go into battle. I am really upset with you.” She wanted to continue her thought, but couldn't. This was going to be harder than expected.
“I know, Kimi, and I've been hoping to talk to you about it. I'm sorry I hurt you, it wasn't my intention, and I hope you know I would never purposely hurt you. I really didn't know how you felt, and it's my fault. I should have. Everyone else noticed it, and I don't know why I didn't.” He looked down as he continued. “The bottom line is, I just really don't know why I missed it, and I am so sorry I ever hurt you. Everyone seemed to think Cassie was all wrong for me, and they were right. So it would seem my judgment is suspect all around when it comes to women.”
“Jess, it really hurt me to see you with Cassie, especially with how she treated you. I just kept thinking, ‘how could he put up with that when there are people he could be with that would never treat him that way.’ I have been waiting for a long time for you to see me as more than a friend, Jess, and it hurt that you did not. It hurt to see you happy with someone else, even though I have no claim on you. I just can't understand why would you choose Cassie over me?”
“I don't know, Kimi, I really don't know.”
“That is not good enough, Jesse, I cannot do anything with that.”
“Kimi, I didn't know how you felt, and to be quite honest, I don't know what I'm doing. I can tell you this, it's not like I consciously sat there and thought, ‘should I choose Kimi or Cassie,’ and then chose her over you. In my mind, she was the only choice.” He paused as he got ready to continue. “I'm really sorry I hurt you, I wish I could take the last three months back, I really do. Can we at least work on being friends again? I miss that.”
She looked at her friend and realized he really was trying to extend an olive branch, so she replied, “I think we can work on that.”
“I'm sorry, Kimiko, but we have to finish this later. We have to get to the bridge so we can come out of an asteroid field to face off against twelve ships. I am glad we talked, but now let's get our minds focused on survival, and maybe we can finish later.”
She followed him on to the bridge, happy they had talked, but not quite satisfied with how the conversation had gone. She knew he was right about one thing: the conversation did need to end because they all needed to concentrate on getting out of this mess alive.
When they arrived at the bridge, Collin was already in the pilot's seat, ready for Jesse to give the order.
“Alright, people,” Jesse began, hoping no one on the bridge heard their conversation, “Let’s try and get out of here. Jo, is the portable shield generator hooked up?”
“Yes, it is, Colonel,” Josiah dutifully responded.
“Kimi, what is the status of the weapons?”
“Online and ready, Colonel,” she replied in the same crisp military tone she always used when they were on the bridge.
“Alright, Collin, take us out.” He ordered.
______
As Collin was getting ready to exit the asteroid field, all of the Conglomerate and pirate ships opened up and started blasting the asteroids. They were pouring heavy fire through the asteroid field.
“What are they doing?” Collin yelled. “Why would they be shooting at the rocks?”
“They’re probably trying to flush us out. Maybe they got tired of waiting.” Josiah offered as he checked the shield status.
“I don’t know,” Jesse began, and then the realization hit him. “They’re trying to hit us with the asteroids.”
A barrage of asteroids was headed Endeavor’s way. The crew looked on, wondering if even the portable shield generator could take that many hits at once. Most of the big rocks never reached them though. The asteroids intended for Endeavor were knocked of course by many of the asteroids already in the field. Some of the chunks meant to harm Endeavor actually knocked asteroids off course that would have naturally hit the ship. When it was all said and done, it hardly seemed worth the effort. One thing it did accomplish, though, was to take out some of the asteroids between Endeavor and the fleet poised to capture her.
“How are the shields holding, Josiah?” Jesse asked as a plan began forming in his mind.
“Endeavor’s shields are holding at eighty-five percent. The portable generator cannot operate at one hundred percent while tied into the ship systems. I estimate that it could take at least two dozen direct hits.” Josiah answered. “Why, Jess? What do you have in mind?”
“Endeavor’s shields can easily take a dozen direct hits, probably more,” Jesse began. “So that means that with the portable shield generator boosting the power that she can probably withstand close to forty hits. Our problem is how to close the distance and bypass the fleet before we get hit forty times,” Jesse surmised. “Does anyone have any ideas?”
“I think we should go straight at them, full speed, weapons hot. We should make them blink, and when they are done blinking, we will be gone,” Kimi explained. “We already know Endeavor’s sublight engines are faster than anything they have, so it may take them some time before they can lock on to us.”
“I agree with Kimi,” Josiah added with one addition. “Sensors show a path will briefly open up in the asteroid field in forty-eight seconds. We follow the path and come out at a different angle than expected. It will increase our chances of success slightly.”
“I’ll take slightly,” Jesse replied. “It’s a good plan, Kimi. Collin, let’s make it happen. Coordinate with Josiah to find our way out of here. Kimi, fire at will, everything we have.”
“Even the net, Jesse?” she asked.
“Only if they launch more fighters than you can take out with the lasers, it’s your call,” he answered. “Okay, people, let’s do this.”
“We go in nine seconds,” Josiah yelled. “Eight, seven, six, five, four, three….”
Jesse looked around the bridge. His people were ready and they were the best.
“….two, one, go now!” Josiah yelled as Collin hit the thrusters.
Endeavor rolled into a two thousand meter vertical dive. She came out of the dive at a right angle for three seconds followed by a diagonal dive with a sweeping curve to the left. She was grazed by a large asteroid which knocked her slightly off course, but Collin was able to compens
ate almost instantly. The move cost them, and their window was closing. Collin saw another opening to the right and shot through the gap out of the field. Collin pushed the sublight engines to full speed, flying straight at the enemy ships. Coming from an unexpected angle had the desired effect as it took the fleet precious moments to readjust their line of fire. Some of the ships in the back of the formation were no longer even in a position to fire on Endeavor.
Kimi picked one of the pirate gunships and opened up with Endeavor’s plasma beam at full power. The first shot disabled it and the second shot destroyed it. Kimi then moved her focus to one of the Conglomerate frigates. Two torpedoes and two plasma beam hits later, the enemy ships were down to ten. Their element of surprise was gone as Endeavor’s shields began to take punishment. The Conglomerate ships launched a huge wave of fighters and watched in horror as the anti-fighter net from Endeavor cut through nearly all of them. Kimi had begun focusing on a Conglomerate heavy cruiser in the back of the formation. Endeavor’s shields took several more hits as Kimi fired. Collin was bobbing and weaving to the best of his considerable abilities, but the reality was that Endeavor had to pass too close to the fleet to not take a considerable pounding. They were halfway through the fleet when Kimi scored the decisive hit on the heavy cruiser, and the resulting explosion was impressive. Collin had also intended to use that space as his exit point. Now there was one less big gun in between them and their exit. As Endeavor passed the last ship, Josiah called out that the portable shield generator had lost power. It had been enough; the remaining nine enemy ships were no longer in position to bring the full force of their weapons to bear. They could still be hit plenty hard by secondary weapons, though. Collin was still flying a dazzling pattern of zigs and zags, bobs and weaves, and now had the space to do so more effectively. Nevertheless, Endeavor was still taking fire.
“Shields holding at forty-one percent,” Josiah called to the rest of the bridge.
“Eleven seconds until we can jump to light space,” Collin added.
“Pirates have launched their Razzers and they are closing the distance quickly. Engaging with anti-fighter lasers,” Kimi informed.
Jesse was proud of his crew. He knew he had the best, and they were proving it right now. If Endeavor made it to light space, they will have proved it once again. Two more blasts rocked Endeavor’s shields.
“Shields at twenty-nine percent,” Josiah updated.
“Entering light space in three, two, one,” Collin yelled triumphantly.
A seam opened into the dimension that holds light space, and as reality lost focus around them, the crew let out a loud cheer.
______
Suzy, Reece and Bessa entered the bridge to the sounds of celebration. Collin made his way over to the door and picked Bessa up in a big embrace.
“You should have seen it,” He began, eyes full of excitement. “We just made it past a twelve ship blockade. We took out three of them and most of their fighters, too. I can't even imagine what they are going to have to tell their commanding officers about losing us.”
Bessa looked into his face. He was so happy, and she was the first one he had chosen to share the moment with. She just leaned forward and kissed him. It was just a quick kiss in the excitement of the moment, but Collin seemed to become even happier.
Jesse looked around; Josiah was explaining the battle to Reece, who was looking much better. Suzy was embracing Kimi. Collin had gone back to the controls to make sure they were on course. Jesse walked over to Bessa.
She looked up and asked him. “Why did you rescue me? Was it because you thought I was beautiful?”
“What, no,” he stuttered taken aback by the question. “I hadn’t even seen your face when I decided to intervene. Ask Suzy. Your back was to us and you were bent over in pain. I had no way of telling if you were fifteen or fifty. I couldn’t tell if you were the most beautiful woman in the galaxy or the least desirable. I only knew you were in trouble and needed help. What is this all about, Bessa?”
“So you didn’t help me because you want to be with me?” Bessa asked apprehensively.
“No, I’m sorry. I do consider you to be very beautiful, but women are the last thing on my mind right now. I guess I'm still hurting from how my last girlfriend treated me. That, and knowing I hurt a friend,” he admitted a little sadly.
She smiled and said, “Give it time, Jesse. I only asked if you were interested in me because as the man that saved my life, you would have that right. I feel like I am beginning to have feelings for another. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course I don’t mind. If that's what you want, you should definitely go for it. I only want you to be happy.” Jesse smiled and gave Bessa a hug. Collin joined them and Jesse knew he had heard their conversation. Collin embraced him and thanked him. Jesse knew Collin was going to be a happy man while Bessa was on board.
Jesse was surprised to realize he was still in a pain from the day’s activities, and he was pretty tired. He walked over to Suzy as she was listening to Josiah and Reece’s conversation. She looked at him and asked “Are you all right, Jesse?”
“Not really,” he replied. “I’m still in a bit of pain; I could use a mild painkiller.”
“You know that's not what I mean, I just talked to Kimi,” she replied. “Would you like to talk about it?”
“Maybe later, but I actually could use something for the pain. The jolt of the fence and the hard landing has me a little out of sync. I'm sure I'll feel better after I get some sleep.”
“You’re going to go sleep now?” Suzy asked disbelief in her voice.
“No, sorry, I meant after I get some sleep tonight. I can't leave the bridge now, we are still celebrating our great escape,” He reminded her. “Kimi was the hero today. She really came through for us.”
“You two should go try and work out your problems right now, while you're both still excited about the escape.” Suzy suggested, hope in her voice.
Jesse leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I don’t think our problems can be solved right now, and right now I'd settle for having my friend back. Maybe we’ll sit down tomorrow. For now, let's just enjoy our good fortune in today's battle.” Jesse turned and walked away, not waiting for a response. Suzy followed him with her eyes upset by how sad he seemed.
______
Almost three hours later, the crew sat down to a celebratory dinner prepared by Suzy and Josiah. Everyone had a smile on their face as they got ready to eat. Everyone also noticed that Jesse and Collin were still not done with the final touches of the repairs. Jesse was the most qualified to fix the ship, being one of its builders, but anyone could have helped Collin. Everyone wondered if he was just keeping himself busy to keep his mind off Kimi.
Suzy was lost in thought as Kimi approached her and sat down.
“Can I talk to you, Suzy?” She asked quietly.
“Of course, what’s up?” Suzy smiled as she replied.
“This thing with Jesse is really bothering me, Suzy. I don’t know what to do. I thought that if I just put it out there what was bothering me it might get better. But we talked, and he even said the right things, but I don't feel any better.”
She took a deep breath as she prepared to speak. “I think you're being a little hard on Jesse, he should have been able to figure out how you felt, but he's never been good at picking up hints. And remember, you could have told him how you felt at any point and I believe his eyes would have been open. You were afraid, and so you didn't. I really believe that he had feelings for you at some point, even if he didn't realize it. I'm really not sure how he feels now, but I do know he really wants his friend back.” She smiled and squeezed Kimi's arm as she said that last line.
“You are right, Suzy, I was afraid. If I had had courage, we would be together, and he never would have been with Cassie.”
“He's still hurt from that, too. Remember, it took him six and a half years before he dated anyone, and then he had to pick someone that was jus
t using him, and he's hurting. Not to mention that he now knows how you felt. He realizes that he's hurt you, and that hurts him even more. I know you are still his friend. I think both of you need to just give it some time. Let the hurt clear away and if it's meant to be, it will work out.”
Just then, Collin arrived at the table followed by Jesse, still looking a little worn out from the hard day he had.
Jesse picked up his glass of water and raised it before he sat down, the savory smell of the roast making his mouth water. “To the best crew any ship has ever seen. Well done today, all of you.”
Reece raised his glass and added “Here, here.”
Everyone raised their glasses and took a sip. Jesse sat down, smiled at Kimi, and to his surprise, she smiled back.
______
Captain Blade was about to make a transmission that he hated making. Not only had he failed in his mission, he had lost a ship in the process. This was not going to sit well with Garrinoras. As the screen came to life, Garrinoras looked expectantly at him, waiting to hear of the capture of Jesse Marcos.
“Mighty, Garrinorasss,” he began. Endeavor hasss slipped our grasp once again. The Conglomerate armada used ill-advised tacticsss and allowed them to slip past the blockade. Colonel Marcosss was able to destroy three shipsss during hisss getaway, including one of your gunshipsss.
“This is most disappointing, Captain Blade. I hate disappointment. I especially hate it when Marcos is involved. Please explain to me how he was able to escape from an asteroid field with a fleet of twelve ships blocking him in.”
He explained the Colonel’s tactic of blowing up asteroids to flush Endeavor out. He explained how all the debris masked Endeavor’s movements, and they came out of the field in a completely different place than expected. He went on to recap how Endeavor attacked at full sublight speed. He also noted that it took more hits than they should have been able to take. It destroyed three ships, most of the fighters and escaped to light space. He could tell how angry Garrinoras was, and he was going to have a discussion with Admiral Greyside about their arrangement. When the transmission ended, Captain Blade knew he would not be alive much longer if things continued to go badly. His only chance was to capture Jesse Marcos. Then, he would not only survive, but he would also have cemented his position as Garrinoras’ second-in-command.
