“You say that as though that wouldn’t betray the very idea of democracy,” Ayan replied. “We were both raised to believe that the people should control their destiny.”
“Survival comes first, and that takes direction, power. You could turn Haven Shore into a military base in a couple days, especially with the Rangers in hand. They don’t take orders from the Council. This pretend oasis isn’t what people need, and there’s no way you’re happy playing politician.”
Alice watched the scene unfold in disbelief. Jake had to know that his words were falling on Ayan like physical blows, but he was relentless, verging on angry. Ayan was looking smaller by the moment, staring off towards a distant ocean instead of peering back at her old flame. After a moment of silence, Alice was surprised to hear Ayan say, “I hate you for being right. Not forever, but right now, I hate this. I put so much work into this place, and it just doesn’t feel like I’m needed here, like I’m wanted here.”
Alice wanted to see Jake put a comforting arm around Ayan so badly she was tempted to pick his limb up and drop it in its proper place herself, but her father didn’t move. “I’m sorry, and I’m sorry about Frost. He bolted ahead and got into a shuttle. No one gets a head start like an old ship thief.”
“I know he wasn’t aiming for me, maybe I needed a little gunfire to get the point,” Ayan said. “I feel like an idiot for not fighting this civilian spectator attitude harder.”
“I haven’t been here for awhile, so I’m not up to date on everything, but is this really the best place for you?” Jake asked.
Ayan practically scowled at the question. “I thought so a while ago. I don’t spend all my time worrying about the Council; most of the time I’m directing the construction. I have the education for it, remember?”
“I’m only wondering if you wouldn’t be happier off-world. If you’re looking for a place where you’re wanted, there are a lot of places for you in orbit. I know Oz wants you on the Triton, and we’re taking the Warlord out again soon, capturing another ship and following a few big leads. You could come with us, you’d be great out there.”
She looked up at Jake. It was so obvious that Ayan found his offer tempting. Alice silently hoped she’d take it. “I might not always get my way with the Council, but there are so many people in trouble left on Tamber. The society we make down here is more important than any of the buildings we put up. But then I look at you and what you’re doing with the Warlord and can’t help but think that’s where the real effort should be. Not for everyone, but for people like me. People who can survive on a ship like that.”
“People like us,” Alice caught herself muttering. She was immediately thankful for the cloaking technology that stopped her foolish third party participation from giving her away.
Ayan continued a moment later. “Everything is so…” she sighed and looked towards the broad foundation of the permanent port building. “So complicated.”
“The invitation will always be open,” Jake said.
“Thank you,” Ayan replied. “And good try. If I’m to be honest, I have to say I’m tempted. Oz just gave up trying to get me aboard the Triton full time. He teases, but I know there’s a serious offer in there. Are you looking to poach a few people?”
“You’re the first I’ve tried to steal,” Jake said. “On this trip, at least.”
“Well, you didn’t hear this from me,” Ayan said, “but try for more. Port Rush is in bad shape. There are thousands of stranded crew from ships that will never fly again all through there. I was going to tell Oz, but you should go first. Just don’t get caught by the Carthans. Actually, if you brought the Warlord down when you recruited, you could probably teach the Carthans a lesson about trying to stand in your way when they send a patrol to stop you from recruiting. I wouldn’t mind seeing a few of them with bloody noses.”
Alice was deeply surprised, and grateful for her suit’s sound suppression when she couldn’t hold back a giggle.
“That’s pirate thinking,” Jake said, grinning.
“You’re a bad influence,” Ayan replied. “Speaking of which, I have to get my day started. I’m meeting with my father, so I’ll ask if he can spare some Rangers for the Warlord.” She looked back to the north, where they could see the ocean to the right of a mountain peak. “I have a lot to think about here, and I get the feeling I don’t have much time to make some changes before the Council gets back together. More and more, it seems like I shouldn’t be on it when they return to the table. Either way, I think leaving on the Warlord is premature. It was good seeing you, Jake. Good luck.”
“I’ll check in when I get back,” Jake said as he watched Ayan leave.
He crossed to the railing and looked out over the broad foundation of the permanent port structure. It was over five hundred metres across, and it would take weeks longer to finish the foundations with their single deep drilling machine. The metres thick stabilization systems were being built off to the side under a temporary roof to protect them from rain. “I can see you, Alice.”
Alice disengaged her cloaking systems and joined Jake at the railing, nervous at the trouble she might be in. “Sorry, it’s become a hobby.”
“I don’t think anyone else saw you, I’m linked with my scanners and Crewcast,” Jake replied. “The only reason why I guessed you were there was because the spot you were standing in read blank, the only place I couldn’t see properly through the scanners.”
“Huh, didn’t think of that,” Alice said. “Sorry.”
“I’ve missed you on the Warlord,” Jake said.
Alice retracted her faceplate and pulled her headpiece down, deciding to tell him the worst news right then and there. “I got in trouble, was kicked out of the Rangers.” Her embarrassment and fear at his disappointment overwhelmed her as quickly as she could say the words.
He turned to face her with an expression she couldn’t quite read at first. It seemed as though he was about to smile, but he looked sad at the same time. “I know, it’s all right.”
“I still can’t believe I screwed it up,” Alice said, frustrated at the tears that threatened to well up.
Jake took her into his arms and asked, “You thought you were making the right decision at the time?”
“You read the report?” Alice asked.
“No way Anderson would give me access, I’m just guessing here.”
She hugged him back and gripped the back of his suit. Next to her father, she felt so small, safe, and like she was with the only person who could understand her. Those were things she forgot when she decided not to follow the Warlord nearly two months before, but she couldn’t help but remember them then. To make things worse - or better, she wasn’t sure yet – her father’s anger at her being kicked out of the Rangers had completely failed to materialize. “I feel so stupid,” she sobbed.
“I don’t keep stupid people on my ship, and you have a bunk waiting on the Warlord,” Jake said as he stroked her back.
“You got rid of Kipley?” she asked, amused.
“Sold him to the British,” Jake replied.
“I’m surprised you didn’t have to pay them to take him,” she chuckled, thankful for the relief humour brought. Alice wiped her tears away and stepped out of her father’s embrace. “I thought you’d be angry.”
“I was jealous, you know,” Jake said through a reassuring smile. “’What does she need with these Rangers?’ I thought. ‘She could be on the Warlord, the baddest ship this side of the Elek Strand.’”
Alice couldn’t help but laugh. His humour could be cheesy, but she usually enjoyed it.
“I’m glad to have you back,” her father told her. “When you’re ready, I’d like to hear the story about you and the Rangers over the last two months.”
“I’ll send you a copy of the reports, they’re all clear to share with family now,” Alice replied.
“I want to hear your side, I don’t care what the reports say,” Jake said.
Alice stared at him
for a moment. Despite his armour, darkened appearance, or reputation with everyone in the solar system and beyond as a criminal or soldier, the man standing in front of her was just her dad. He was back, and seemed to want nothing more than to spend time with his daughter. She pulled herself up so she could sit on the railing and asked, “How ‘bout now? Do you have time?”
Jake looked a little surprised, but smiled back at her. “Sure.”
She started by telling him about meeting a former fellow Ranger trainee at her apartment, and by the time she was telling him about meeting the pickers in the jungle, the tale came easily. Alice didn’t realize how unusual and amazing that day was until she was telling someone else about it, even though it ended sadly. Her father listened intently to every detail.
CHAPTER 25
Fluid Thinking
For the first time since the Everin Building came into being, the lowest floor was more than a lobby. Small bots with protective shells on top of fine manipulator arms, welders, spanners, and other tools rushed around, beeping and ticking at each other. They were busy installing the components for the transit system that arrived from the overworked fabrication shop beneath the building. The little skitter bots didn’t seem impeded at all by the removal of their wireless systems. They used audio and visual signals to communicate. A few used full words occasionally, something Ayan would ask a technician about when she had a spare moment.
Ayan couldn’t help but smile at the progress of the lobby. Before it had been a quiet, visually appealing place, with polished floors that featured a gold, blue, and green weaving pattern of stone, and a transparent metal ceiling with mild illumination built in. Through it, travellers could see the interior of the Everin Building. Open to the sky far above, it was easy to get distracted by ships descending and ascending between balconies with invisible impact shielding. There was a security office in the middle of the large lobby, with two pairs of officers on duty and access to the floor beneath, where the police and emergency services centres would be built.
With the transit system under construction, the lobby would become a hub for transportation, connecting the Everin Building to the rest of Haven Shore and beyond, if you included the nearby port, which was far from complete. She couldn’t help but notice as a skitter bot stood as tall as it could, about half a metre, in front of a pair of elevator doors and started beaming shades of green from its smooth metal shell. “This lift is ready for use!” it chirped loud enough for people nearby to hear. It was as though the bot was desperate to see people try the new thing his mechanical team had built.
It was what Ayan was waiting for, and she joined five other people who stepped inside. There was room for twice as many people in the fairly plain green and brown elevator car, but no one else seemed interested in going first.
“Beats the construction lifts,” said an older gentleman carrying a medical case. “Never knew when those things were going to stop or for how long.”
No one else joined him in griping about the temporary lifts that were often overused, or out of order. There was always one temporary lift working; the problem was, you didn’t know which one, and sometimes you’d have to walk the circumference of the building to find it. The top two-thirds of the Everin Building were mostly empty thanks to that situation. Two of the occupants, an older woman and a Haven Shore junior watchman in his green and blue vacsuit, glanced at her as they realized whom they were riding with. Their gawking was immediately followed by uncomfortable averted gazes and fidgeting.
“Someone has to be the first to go up the shaft,” Ayan said through a little smile. The lift moved so gently that she couldn’t tell how fast they were going. Her sensors told her the ascension was swift, and Ayan was alone in the lift after three stops. It was no surprise that she was the only one going to the top.
Her comm blinked, indicating that she had a call coming in from Mischa Konev. She answered and the image of Mischa's face appeared in front of her. It was an image only Ayan could see, sent directly to her eyes, but it was as though Mischa was standing in front of her. “Hi, Ayan.”
“Hello, how are you?” Ayan asked, aware that Mischa wasn’t calling for small talk.
“Great, busy, how about you?”
“Doing very well. Testing the Everin Building’s first civilian lift.”
“That’s good. Question for you,” Mischa said.
The lift doors opened, and after making sure she was in the right place, Ayan stepped off onto the rooftop. She spotted Lee in the middle of the temporary landing pads. He was accepting a new delivery of refurbished skitter bots from a cargo ship they’d converted into a mobile servicing vessel. They came in crates made from recycled metal plating and whatever else the welders could find. Once the skitters were activated and their programming was verified, they would find a place near their assigned construction post and make that crate their home, where they’d recharge, service each other, and store spare parts. Ayan had seen a couple of large ‘skitter settlements,’ as the construction personnel called them, and was amazed at the honeycomb-like structures that resulted from many skitter bots gathering. “Ask me anything,” Ayan replied.
“Are you leaving Haven Shore? I went looking for your apartment and found out that, as of last night, you don’t have one here. Lacey said I should talk to you directly about this, since I’m looking to nominate you to the Military Liaison seat.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that. After what happened in the port, I’m not sure what I’m doing, to be honest.”
“Are you all right? What happened?”
“I’m surprised you haven’t seen, it’s at the top of the Crewcast Feed. A member of the Warlord crew had a message for me, and he made sure I wouldn’t forget it. No one was injured, but it’s got me thinking longer term.”
“Not you, too. Did you know Victor’s leaving?”
“What?” Ayan asked, genuinely surprised.
“He’s turned my nomination aside. Admiral McPatrick offered him the head of security position on the Triton last night. He’s using the Council shuffle to poach people for the Triton staff. He’s got two hundred or so people transferring from Haven Shore back to the Triton, too. With no representatives to monitor transfers, we could be out of post-construction maintenance people by the end of the week.”
“I should have seen this coming, he’s been starving for personnel for months.” Ayan knew there was a solution, but it seemed too risky until Frost made his point. He’d given her something she didn’t realize she’d lost: a sense of urgency. For the life of her, she couldn’t remember when that slipped away. Maybe it came with the rise of the Everin Building, and watching families migrate from their converted cargo crates, broken down ships, and temporary shelters into their new homes. Perhaps it was because of the Council, or it could have even been the fact that Tamber was protected from interstellar bombardment thanks to the way it was situated in the solar system. It was probably a combination of all those things, but the question of when her sense of urgency slipped was unanswerable.
“Ayan, I need the Council to form fast, and I need people who are reasonable most of all. If the best of us transfer off-world, Tyra will bring in her own crowd, and it won’t be pretty.”
“I’ll see what I can do, Mischa.” A few nominees that could take her place came to mind and she couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll definitely have a couple of people you can trust by the end of the day.”
“I know them?”
“You will, and you’ll thank me.”
“Thank you, Ayan, but can you give me something to start with right now? I need an ally.”
“Give me an hour then contact Carl Anderson, he’ll take my seat.”
“Your father’s going to be available?”
“He’s already detached from the Sunspire and he has interests in Haven Shore with the Rangers.”
“Will he agree?” Mischa asked eagerly. “Did you already speak with him?”
“Tell him I sent you,” Ayan re
plied. “He’ll agree, and I’m sure he can suggest a few other people to nominate for other seats.”
“Fantastic, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’m just wondering, why are you leaving?” Mischa asked.
Ayan thought a moment and replied, “My personal drama got in the way of something important, so it’s time to move on and let someone else take the seat.” That wasn’t nearly the entire answer, but it was good enough for Mischa.
“I’ll miss having you at the table,” she said before ending the communication.
Lee Romita emerged from a battered cargo shuttle and smiled at Ayan. “You must love the view from the top,” he said. “Too bad I can’t get you within spitting distance of the edge.”
“Can’t seem to stay away from the surest sign of progress,” Ayan replied. “You and your people have really surprised everyone, Lee.”
Lee Romita looked genuinely surprised at the praise; he even took a half-step backwards. “Just following the designs you and the team programmed in.”
“Will you need us architects around much for the final touches?” Ayan asked.
He thought for a moment and shook his head. “No, why? You planning on going out of range?”
“Probably not, but I’m starting to look at a few other problems on Tamber. Problems that we could have a solution for if the Council members don’t get in the way. I’m starting to think it’s time to go another way without them so I can move on to more pressing things.”
“I’m not the first you’re telling, am I? I haven’t heard about this yet, and Crewcast is quick to move whatever you’re saying to the top of the Feed.”
“I’m thinking aloud, Lee. I find my situation is very fluid today, and I expect it might remain so for a while. You’ll keep my thoughts to yourself for now?”
“Yes, Ma’am. Now you’ve got me wondering if I’m the one you’re up here to see today, or if you have a shuttle coming.”
Randolph Lalonde - Spinward Fringe Broadcast 08 - Renegades Page 18
