After Moses: Wormwood

by Michael F Kane

  “And usually short-lived,” Matthew said. “She’ll get over this and be wiser for it. With the Sparrow only stopping by Ganymede once every few months, it was inevitable that his attention would move elsewhere.”

  “Maybe so,” Abigail agreed. She bit her lip. “So how are you, Matthew. I mean how are you really? Are you fit and ready to be back on the job?”

  “Physically, I am, though it will be a while until I’m ready to run a marathon.”

  “You’re still looking a little scrawny,” she said. He raised an eyebrow, and she responded with a shrug. “Just saying.”

  “And then, of course, there’s the hurt pride that you guys have gotten along just fine without me. Which is good,” he said quickly. “I’m glad you were able to get some jobs done and continue with the recruitment, but you do have me wondering what I do around here.” He gave her a half-smile, and she knew he was mostly joking. Still, it rubbed her the wrong way.

  “You wouldn’t have botched that job on Titan.”

  “I told you it happens to everyone.”

  “This one wouldn’t have happened to you,” she insisted. “And I don’t know if it’s the random sermons or other bits of wisdom you sprinkle in, but this place just isn’t home without you. We’re lucky to get two words in with each other without a fight.”

  “I was hoping you and Davey had been exaggerating,” he said quietly.

  “Not one word,” Yvonne said from behind them.

  Abigail half fell out of her seat as she turned to stare at the woman. She stood stock-still in the doorway to the cockpit. Abigail couldn’t help the miasmatic feeling of guilt rising in her throat. “Look. I’m sorry—”

  “Save it,” Yvonne said.

  Matthew just gave her a curious look. What did he see? Abigail turned her attention back to Yvonne, trying to see through his eyes. He would pity her for being... lonely? Ashamed? What was it about that recording that had driven her away from them? There was a hollow look in her eyes and Abigail at last recognized it.

  Despair.

  Yvonne tossed a data chip at Matthew. “There’s your missing recording. Shut the door before you watch it. And I will never speak about this again. To anyone.” Without another word, she fled back down the hall and closed herself into her room.

  Matthew turned and held Abigail’s gaze for a long quiet moment before he obeyed and shut the door. He slid the chip into the computer and pulled up the file. He fast-forwarded until there was something to see on the outer cams.

  They watched in silence as Lexter Miyoshi died at the bottom of the Sparrow’s ramp. As Yvonne boldly faced down the White Void enforcers. Unfortunately, they couldn’t quite make out the conversation, but it was obvious when the tables turned and Kudzu was held against his will. Abigail’s breath hitched in her throat when the short, pasty-looking man passed her a gun.

  And then it didn’t fire and Yvonne threw the weapon at him and clawed at his face. Abigail covered her mouth with her hand. She wanted to avert her eyes, but it wasn’t over yet. The pasty man brutally executed Kudzu, and she finally did turn away.

  All their questions. All her strange behavior. It was no wonder Yvonne had come away from Ceres a different person. And she’d born her secrets in grim silence. Her own harsh treatment of Yvonne came back to haunt her in full force.

  Slowly she turned to Matthew. He would know what to do. He always did.

  But he only stared out the front canopy, eyes tired and filled with grief.

  Wormwood: Part 2

  I.

  “COME ON, MOM. GIVE me a chance. You promised.”

  Gebre’elwa reluctantly took her hands off the controls and sat back, flashing an entirely fake smile at her eldest son, Tamru. She folded those hands neatly in her lap over her dress.

  Her husband, Kofi, chuckled over the comm. “Dear. You did promise him.”

  She sighed loud enough so that Kofi would hear. “I feel I have been the subject of a conspiracy between you two. Perhaps I’m not quite ready to have my baby flying.”

  “I’m twenty and not even the baby of the family,” Tamru said, his hands flying over the bank of controls. “And you were behind the yoke by the time you were sixteen.”

  “It was a different world then,” she said. “The space lanes were a lot safer. And I am worried. You’re not going to alleviate my fear by telling me not to worry. That’s not worked on a single woman in the history of our race. Just... Be careful and make me proud.”

  He rolled his eyes at her and then turned back to his instruments. “Checking sequence-rigging to the Jade Adder right now.” ‘Elwa craned her neck to get a look out of the canopy. Off to her right, the Adder floated in perfect formation, their computers linked and control delegated to the Qolxad, flown by her son. The sequence-rigging would allow them to stay together through frameshift on the long trip out to Saturn, otherwise, they’d most likely drift out of communications range. It had been an annoying technical hurdle to overcome, but hopefully, one that would end up saving them time down the road.

  The Adder was a big step for the family business. A second ship meant they were able to carry twice as much cargo, and while for now, they intended to stick together, it also gave them the option to cover more ground. Movement from the Adder caught her attention. Kofi leaned forward to wave out of the window at her. In spite of herself, she smiled. “Yes, dear, I can see you over there.” He chuckled over the comm but left it at that. “How’s the Model 42 handle?” she asked.

  “It was good before Tamru wrenched control from me. Smaller and sleeker than the Qolxad.”

  Tamru cleared his throat. “I’m ready for the sequence-rigged frameshift.”

  “Don’t tell me,” she said. “You’re the captain.”

  “Right,” he muttered and opened a comm to both ships. “Standby for frameshift,” he announced to the nearly two dozen crew members.

  There was the characteristic moment of disorientation as they were translated to a new high-speed reference frame, and then they were on their way. ‘Elwa leaned forward again to get a good look at the Adder. It was still beside them in perfect formation. Looks like the rigging was on point.

  “Good job, kiddo,” she said. “We’ll make a pilot out of you yet.”

  He shrugged. “That was the easy part. Landing will be the bigger challenge.”

  “Depends on what the weather’s like on Titan when we get there. You’ll be fine. The moon’s upper atmosphere can be nasty, but it’s usually nice and calm at the surface. You’ve got a few days before you have to deal with that.” She crossed her arms. “What’s on the itinerary in the meantime?” He looked at her in confusion. “I’m not in charge, captain. You’d better be thinking about duties to hand out to the crew because I’m not going to do it for you.”

  “I know who is cleaning the toilets.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “And then you’ll find your mother is a vengeful woman.”

  Their laugh was interrupted when the frameshift suddenly failed, and they reverted to their previous speed. ‘Elwa’s hands flew to the scopes. “Asteroid four hundred klicks ahead. And the tug that dragged it into our path.”

  “We’ve got company,” Kofi said quietly from the comm. “You don’t suppose it’s—”

  “Who else would it be?” she bit out. She switched the comms to an open frequency. “Meriadoc, I assume you’re out there?”

  A heavily armed patrol craft breached the asteroid’s horizon on an intercept course. “Captain Meriadoc,” he corrected. “It’s good to see you, Gabby. It’s been, what, nearly a year?”

  “Fourteen months,” she corrected. “I was hoping for longer.” She glanced at the main display. Tamru had already altered their course to both retain their speed and reach the edge of the asteroid’s gravity. As soon as they were to the boundary, the sequence-rigged ships would frameshift out.

  “Well, you remember the drill,” Meriadoc said. “Dump an appropriate offering of cargo and you get off peacefully. Or we
make it a chase. Given our current positions, this would be an exciting one.”

  Sometimes she accepted the deal. The Qolxad had twenty containers attached to its belly and it wouldn’t be difficult to detach one as an offering for the pirate. But their current cargo was far too valuable. And with the recent purchase of the Adder, things were tight at the moment.

  “You’ll have to catch us this time,” she said into the comm. “Sorry to disappoint.”

  Meriadoc laughed. “Why would I be disappointed in a bit of sport? See you soon, Gabby.”

  She cut the open comm. “You get all that, Kofi?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Turning over the helm to Rolf. I’ll be a lot more comfortable in the tail gun.”

  ‘Elwa allowed herself a smile. “Take care of our old friend permanently this time, won’t you, dear?”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Tamru scratched at his head nervously. “Anytime you want to take the helm back would be good.”

  “You’re fine,” she said. “For now. Keep our course straight for our exit until they’re in firing range. Then start evasive maneuvers. Rolf?”

  “Right here, ‘Elwa,” the pilot of the Adder returned.

  “We’re going to disengage the sequence-rigging. Stay close. We’ll reengage if we can for our escape, but if not, you’re on your own.”

  “Understood.”

  “Mom, are you sure...” Tamru asked carefully.

  She waved him off. The situation favored them, so this would be a good experience for Tamru. Meriadoc’s gunners would get in a few shots, and then they’d be away. He wasn’t getting anything this time, and judging by the asteroid’s position, it would soon be out of the ever-shifting lane of traffic between Jupiter and Saturn. She wouldn’t mind the pirate wasting his time and fuel for a fruitless catch.

  “They’re in range,” Tamru said, quietly. Louder, he spoke into the comm. “Return fire. Make them regret pulling us out of frameshift.”

  ‘Elwa breathed a soft exhale of relief. The angles were even better than she’d realized. Meriadoc’s gunners weren’t going to have time to get a clean shot before they were safely away. The Qolxad and Adder bobbed and weaved, and the thumper fire from the patrol craft vainly tried to track their movements at nearly a hundred kilometers.

  “Ten seconds to safety,” she called. “Re-engage the sequence-rigging.”

  “Done,” Tamru said after hitting a few buttons on the screen.

  Beside them, the Adder began to mirror their movements. And then they were away. They’d have to reset their heading, but they were beyond the reach of Meriadoc and his killers. She placed a hand on Tamru’s arm. “You did well.”

  He wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Yeah. Sure. First time you let me fly a run and we almost get murdered. Thanks, Mom.”

  She just chuckled. “Rolf? You guys okay over there?”

  No answer.

  “Rolf?”

  “My lady I...”

  She gripped the arms of her seat. “What happened, Rolf?” The man hesitated and in her heart of hearts, ‘Elwa already knew what he was going to say. The foul taste of bile rose in her throat.

  “Kofi’s turret was hit. I’m... I’m sorry.”

  II.

  IT WAS A HAZARD OF the occupation. They’d talked about it for years, but they’d gotten off so well that the dangers felt inconsequential. What a lie to swallow.

  Kofi was gone in an instant. The entire rear turret of the Adder had been sheared off by a thumper blast. In all likelihood, he’d felt no pain, just been snuffed out of existence as the gravity shockwave tore him apart. What was left of him would orbit the sun in a small field of debris until the end of time itself. Which meant that when they finally arrived back at the Ethiopian colony of Zerai-Deres on Callisto, there was nothing to cremate.

  ‘Elwa had a beautiful orange and teal urn made anyway. And when the days of mourning and public funeral were over, it sat on a mantle in her office at the family compound. Her ships weren’t safe enough for such a precious possession. Not anymore.

  For the first time in her career, ‘Elwa wasn’t on those ships. Tamru was given command of the Qolxad, while she stayed with her other two children on Calypso. She threw herself into her work, mostly to drown out the grief, scheduling shipments and jobs for the two ships as they hopped around the solar system.

  Her daughter Zuri found her sequestered in her office four months after Kofi died. “Mom. Get some fresh air.”

  ‘Elwa looked up from the reports she was pouring over. “I’ve work to do.”

  Zuri crossed her arms. “Don’t pull that crap with me. You’re not even this busy when you’re on the Qolxad.”

  ‘Elwa set her bifocals aside and looked at her daughter. When had she become an adult? She stood in the door to her office, looking like a window into her own past. But it wasn’t a perfect mirror. Zuri had some of Kofi in the way her nose hooked. “If I slow down,” she said slowly, “I’ll start thinking. And that will lead to regret. There’s a thousand things that could have transpired differently and if any of them had happened—”

  “It’s not your fault Dad died.”

  She paused and then decided lying was the easiest solution. “I know. But I can stop it from happening to someone else.”

  Zuri stepped around the desk, and ‘Elwa hastily cleared her work away. “Mom,” her daughter said threateningly. “Show me.”

  She should have ignored her and sent her from the room. Instead, she pulled up the files. Zuri leaned over her shoulder and peered at the screen. “What am I looking at?” she asked. “Dates, coordinates of... attacks? You’re looking for Meriadoc.” It was a simple accusation.

  “Yes. As I said, I can stop anyone else from suffering as we have. God knows I’ve run into the pirate more than I want to admit. I should have done this years ago and then—”

  “Mom. It wasn’t your fault.”

  She didn’t try to lie this time. “Leave me to my work.”

  Zuri shook her head and walked to the door. “Revenge rots the soul.”

  “I’m not going to kill him,” ‘Elwa said. “There are over a dozen bounties on his head. I’ll capture him and make a fortune, ensuring no other families lose their father. It will never end if I don’t stop it. No one else needs to...” And then her voice cracked, and she slumped back as the tears began again. How she hated them. Zuri was by her side in an instant, arms wrapped around her, and together they wept for Kofi, the best husband and father they could have asked for.

  III.

  IF FINDING THE SOLAR system’s most elusive pirate was going to be easy, someone would have done it long ago. Captain Meriadoc’s career had spanned almost four decades. ‘Elwa had heard rumor of the rogue before she had been taught to fly by her own father and had a run-in with him only a few years into her career.

  Everyone who frequented the lanes between the planets had a story about Meriadoc, or at least knew a story. ‘Elwa collected them greedily for her research, desperately searching for a clue as to the pirate’s whereabouts. The stories all had a similar thread.

  Meriadoc, captain of the Mordant Jewel, thought of himself as a gentleman. He would never open fire if he was offered cargo and he never went back on his word. There were tales of him even letting ships go after a good fight or a witty banter of words. His tactics were always the same. Tug an asteroid into a space lane to collapse a passing ship’s frameshift, collect the cargo, and then disappear to who knows where. And that was the real question. Where did the Mordant Jewel fly out of? Ships needed maintenance and fuel. They weren’t self-sufficient.

  The obvious answer was one of the Freeports. The independently owned stations were scattered across the solar system. Some were owned by businesses or individuals, homes to a few thousand proud citizens. Others were owned by criminals or split by various factions. A few had gone dark and silent over the years, failed societies that had wasted away before ultimately disappearing forever.

  �
�Elwa spent the next three years personally visiting every Freeport she could. Her empire was growing and it was easy to find excuses. Even the most dangerous Freeport rolled out the royal welcome for her, though there were many that Tamru insisted on doing business with on her behalf. In all that time, they never found any hint of the Mordant Jewel’s passing.

  “It’s not one of the Freeport’s,” Tamru said. “You’re going to have to give this up.”

  ‘Elwa sighed and rubbed her head. “I know. But it feels like... like failing.”

  “You tried. We all did. And it’s all right to not always win. I don’t think Dad would have wanted you wasting the rest of your life on a fruitless quest for revenge.”

  She rounded on him. “How dare you pull that on me!”

  He didn’t even flinch. “Someone has to say it and without dad here...” He shrugged. “It falls to me.”

  She gestured at the door. “Just... Leave me alone.” To her surprise and secret disappointment, he left. She hated that he was right. She’d burned three years on this search already, and she was no closer to a solution than she had been at the start. What a fool she’d been to think she could accomplish what no bounty hunter had been able to in the last few decades.

  On a whim, she pulled up her monitor to the public bounty boards and placed a reward of twenty thousand for anyone who could provide a tip that led her to Meriadoc. What was a little more incentive when there was already so much? Then she went back to her research. Despite what her children thought, this wasn’t an endeavor to give up on, not if she spent the rest of her life in pursuit of the elusive goal.

  She would end Meriadoc’s reign of terror, one way or the other.

  IV.

  NEARLY A YEAR LATER, she got an anonymous tip from the bounty boards. She called Tamru to her office. “It’s a short message,” she said, pulling it up. It read ‘The information you requested’ and was followed by a set of orbital parameters and an offset value she didn’t understand.