by Cheree Alsop
The speaker sounded above them.
“Captain Devren, you’re needed on the bridge.”
“I’ll be right there,” Devren answered.
“You can’t go,” Tariq said.
“I’ve got to,” Devren replied.
“You’ve lost too much blood. Look at you. You can barely sit up straight. What are you going to be able to do up there?” Tariq reached for a needle on the tray his assistant had left. “I should give you a sedative so you’ll take the time to rest and get over this. It isn’t a minor wound.”
Devren caught his hand despite the pain the abrupt action must have caused. “Tariq, this ship needs a captain and I’m all we have. The Kratos has nearly fallen apart, half our crew is injured, and we had to dump our cargo to escape the rebels. The crew needs a strong captain and I’m the only one who can give it to them.” He lowered his voice. “Don’t second-guess me again.”
Tariq dropped his gaze. “Yes, Captain,” he said quietly.
Devren waited for Tariq to tie off the bandage, then slid his damaged shirt back on. Liora rose from her seat.
Tariq watched them go. Just before Devren passed through the door, he called out, “You’ll be back here for a transfusion if you keep this up.”
“Get the blood ready,” Devren replied.
He and Liora left the medical wing just as a yell and a loud crash sounded behind them.
“I’m guessing that was Tariq’s supply tray,” Devren noted.
Liora glanced at him. “Doesn’t that bother you?”
Devren’s lips twitched as though he fought back a smile. “Tariq will always be my best friend first and my medical officer second. We’ve survived some pretty bad situations together; I’ve learned to take his bad moods in stride.”
They reached the bridge and the door slid open. The remaining few bodies of the fallen rebels had been removed and the floors scrubbed while Liora and Devren were in the medical wing. The antiseptic scent of cleaners remained pungent in the air.
“Captain on the deck,” Hyrin called.
Everybody rose. Liora felt all eyes on them.
“What’s going on?” Devren asked.
Hyrin pushed a button on his control panel. The wall screen flickered and revealed the face of a gray-haired man with short-buzzed hair and two stars on the shoulders of his uniform.
Devren put his hand to his brow in a sharp salute.
“Colonel Lefkin, it’s an honor,” Devren said.
Though he maintained an outward expression of calm, Liora could read the surprise in Devren’s gaze. She wondered how often a colonel contacted a lone ship in the Coalition forces.
“Thank you,” the colonel replied. He glanced at a paper on the desk in front of him. “I have been informed that Captain Metis lost his life in a skirmish with the Revolutionaries.”
Devren nodded. “The loss has greatly impacted the crew, Colonel. Our ship has also taken heavy damages.”
“Understood,” the colonel replied. His bushy eyebrows drew together. “Lieutenant, the SS Kratos was on a mission to the Cetus Dwarf Galaxy when it intercepted the distress signal from the Osprey Kirkos.”
“Yes, Colonel,” Devren confirmed.
“At this time, Lieutenant, the SS Kratos is ordered to continue its mission. Arrangements will be made for repairs on Gaulded Zero Twenty-one, and you will be fitted with fresh supplies and weaponry for the mission. Also, I understand that with the loss of Captain Metis, you are the highest ranking officer aboard your ship.”
“Yes, Colonel,” Devren answered, his voice level.
“Call your crew to the bridge, Lieutenant. You are to be promoted to the rank of Captain of the Starship Kratos.”
All eyes turned to Devren.
Devren’s hands, which he had been holding loosely behind his back, tightened so that the knuckles showed white.
“Yes, Colonel,” he said.
“Signal me when your crew is assembled,” Colonel Lefkin told him. The screen went dark.
Devren nodded at Officer Duncan.
The man pressed the button on his earpiece. “Attention all able crew members of the SS Kratos, your immediate presence is required on the bridge for the promotion of our new captain.”
Officer Hyrin gave an appreciative whistle. “Sworn in by the Colonel himself. That’s an honor.”
“Yeah,” Shathryn echoed. “That silver fox could swear me in anytime.”
Officer O’Tule elbowed her. “His com might still be on. What if he heard you?”
Officer Shathryn winked. “Then maybe he’ll come pay us a visit.”
O’Tule’s mouth dropped open. “Do you know what being married to a colonel would be like? You could spend all your time dilly dallying in the marriage dome of Isonoe. I hear colonels’ wives get to shop on the Jupiter channel and…”
Liora turned her attention to the other crew members pouring onto the bridge. Many had injuries that had been bandaged, and all looked the worse for the wear.
Tariq was the last to enter. He stopped near where Liora stood by the back wall. He gave her a narrow-eyed look before he folded his arms and turned to meet Devren’s gaze.
“Aside from a few I won’t let leave their beds, all crew members still alive are present and accounted for.”
Devren gave his friend a self-suffering look. “All crew members still alive?”
“Well, you wouldn’t want me to bring the dead ones from the hold. It’s a mess down there and—”
Devren cut him off with a wave of his hand. “Save it. Let’s have a little respect for the fallen, shall we?”
“I always do,” Tariq replied. He glanced at Liora and said, “It’s the living ones I have a problem with.”
Devren shook his head and said to Hyrin, “Officer, please signal the Colonel.”
“The Colonel?” Tariq repeated. “Whose butt did you kiss to get that honor?”
Colonel Lefkin’s face appeared on the screen. “Nobody’s, I hope,” the man said without a hint of a smile. “I just happened to be available, and the late Captain Metis was a friend of mine.”
Tariq had the sense to look repentant. “I apologize, Colonel. No offense meant.”
Colonel Lefkin turned his attention to Devren. “Crew of the SS Kratos, due to the unfortunate loss of Captain Metis, and in light of the necessity for continuation of the Kratos’ mission without further delay, it is my honor to promote your lieutenant to the rank of captain.” He glanced at the paper in front of him. “Devren Ristic Metis, I promote you to the rank of Captain of the Starship Kratos, Iron Falcon of the Coalition of Planets. Should you accept this promotion, you swear to uphold the Coalition’s oath of equality of race, exploration of the Macrocosm, and advancement of knowledge for the growth and understanding of mortalkind.”
Devren solemnly answered, “I accept.”
“Captain Devren Ristic Metis, the Starship Kratos is now yours,” Colonel Lefkin concluded.
“Thank you, Colonel,” Devren replied.
“The appropriate documents and uniform will be available on Gaulded Zero Twenty-one when you stop for repairs and supplies. The mission directives will be forwarded to your log along with the passcodes and cardkeys necessary for your task. Good luck, Captain.”
“Thank you, Colonel.”
Officer Hyrin pressed a button and the colonel’s face disappeared from the screen.
“Congratulations, Captain,” Officer Duncan said, his deep voice booming through the bridge. “We’re grateful they gave you the position.”
“Yes,” Officer Shathryn said. “And who knows who they might’ve assigned should you have declined?” She patted her purple hair. “I’m sure they’d be dreadful.”
“We wouldn’t want that,” Devren told her. He looked around at the crew. “Members of the SS Kratos, I swear to do my best to protect and serve you as a leader should. While I don’t deem myself worthy to fill my father’s shoes, I promise to be a fair and merciful captain and will do my best to
complete our missions in a way that protects you and sees you safely home, wherever that may be.”
“The Kratos is our home,” Tariq shouted from the back of the bridge.
“That’s right,” Straham seconded.
Cheers and shouts went up from the other crew members. It seemed to Liora that she witnessed a tradition among shipmates. It made her happy to see Devren’s acceptance, while at the same time, the fact that the captain who had been killed was also his father struck her hard. She respected the way Devren had stepped into control instead of dwelling on the loss at a time when his crew depended on him. There was much more to the young captain than he let on.
“Lieutenant Argyle, how are the repairs coming?” Devren asked.
A Salamandon with grease in his gills, on his black uniform, and caked in the nails of his long, skinny fingers, answered, “She’s got three fried converters and the hull looks like Emmentaler cheese.” He smoothed his bushy mustache. “Give us some time to jimmy rig it and we’ll be able to limp to Gaulded Zero Twenty-one, but just barely. I’d recommended taking it easy.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Devren answered. “Finish what you need to of the repairs and give us the green light when we’re clear to take off.”
“Yes, Captain Metis.”
Devren gave the older lieutenant a wry look. “Captain Metis was my father, Sam.”
“Better get used to it,” Lieutenant Argyle answered. “I have a feeling it’s going to stick.”
At the lieutenant’s motion, the other crew members not normally aboard the bridge left. The room felt empty without the press of bodies. Liora preferred it that way.
“Congrats, Dev,” Tariq called before he ducked out of the room.
Devren sat heavily in the captain’s chair. He stared at the screen for a few minutes as though he saw things beyond the black monitor.
“You always wanted to be a captain,” Officer Hyrin said, breaking the silence with an encouraging smile.
“Not like this,” Devren replied quietly.
The silence that filled the bridge lingered until the intercom beeped.
“Captain Metis, we’re ready for take-off,” Lieutenant Argyle reported.
Devren sat up straight. “Officer Shathryn, how does she look?”
“Like a wounded cavarian, but she’ll fly.”
Devren met Hyrin’s eyes. “Officer Hyrin, let’s take off.”
“Yes, Captain,” Hyrin replied.
The ship shuddered as it lifted into the air.
Hyrin threw a worried look over his shoulder. “Here’s hoping,” he said. He slid a bar toward the top of his control panel. A grating noise sounded, then the ship pushed forward.
Devren let out a breath and a small smile touched his lips. He looked back at Liora.
“Welcome aboard the SS Kratos.”
Chapter 5
Gaulded Zero Twenty-one loomed on the starboard side of the ship. Liora studied it from near the captain’s chair. A mass of debris, the hulls of spaceships, remains of old space stations, and battered pieces of transports had been welded together to create a trading post. As she watched, a giant cone from the nose of a rocket was hauled into a gap between two Aluminum Finches that looked as though they had seen better days.
“This is where you resupply?” she asked with doubt in her voice.
Devren nodded. “It doesn’t look like much, but the Gaulded are owned by the Kristo Belanite family of independent traders from the Draco Dwarf Galaxy. When Coalition supply ships are too far away, we can count on fair trading and they deal in CSOs.”
“CSOs?” Liora repeated.
“Coalition Standard Ounces,” Officer Duncan answered from behind Liora. “It ensures fair trade across the Macrocosm. The Kristos have honored CSOs for the last century, and so they’ve gained the Coalition’s loyalty.”
Liora’s gaze followed a ratty Tin Sparrow to its docking point on Gaulded Zero Twenty-one. “But anyone can trade here?”
Devren nodded. “Anyone smart enough to know not to cheat a Belanite. They’re like living lie detectors.” He glanced at her. “Keep on your toes. There’s no telling who we’ll see here.”
“She can handle herself,” Officer Straham said.
“Yeah,” Duncan seconded. “Anyone would be better off facing a Belanite than a Damaclan.”
He smiled at Liora. She forced a return smile past the knot in her stomach.
Hyrin guided the ship into an empty space at the dock. The landing of the SS Kratos jarred the crew aboard the bridge.
“Blame that on the fried converters,” Hyrin glanced back at Liora. “My landings are usually like butter.”
“That happened to be the worst butter of my life,” O’Tule said, patting the green skin of her cheeks. “Now I know what butter feels like. It’s like being smacked in the head and booted in the backside all at the same time. It makes me pity butter and want to be nicer to it, if you know what I mean.”
Shathryn gave a knowing nod. “I know exactly what you mean,” she said as she attempted to pat down her frizzy hair.
Officer Hyrin smoothed a hand across his dashboard of buttons, switches, and levers. “Don’t listen to them. We’ll get you sorted out in no time.”
Devren motioned for Liora to follow him out of the bridge. “Time to stretch our legs. Repairs might take a while.”
“Yeah,” Tariq said, catching up to them amid the hustle of crew members in the hallway. “Thanks to your owner, we became a pincushion for the Revolutionaries.”
“He wasn’t my owner,” Liora snapped.
“You were his pet, were you not?” Tariq asked.
At that moment, the main door leading from the SS Kratos slid open. Liora’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of Malivian leaning against the railing of the loading dock.
“I assume you’re talking about me?” the reptilian Hennonite said with his lipless smile. “I was hoping you’d have to refuel soon, if you made it through the attack.” His gaze swept the SS Kratos’ hull. “Looks like it was a close one.”
Devren paused on the deck. The Kratos crew bunched around their captain. It was clear by hands close to guns and the serious expressions on the faces around Liora that the Coalition members were ready to fight for Devren should the need arise.
Devren seemed to realize the same thing. He forced a smile.
“Interesting seeing you here,” he said. “I thought we might get the chance to discuss particulars again.” He tipped his head at Straham. “Officer, see that the crew gets their commission as well as four coppers for the pub. They deserve it after that last skirmish.”
His words appeased the tension of his crew. They followed Straham down the loading ramp and past Malivian. He appeared to be waiting patiently, but Liora knew from the raptness of his gaze and the way his claws fingers tapped against his thigh that he was barely holding himself in check. The knot in her stomach tightened.
As soon as the last crew member was gone, Malivian stalked up the ramp. All pretense of the camaraderie with which he had addressed the officers when they were aboard his ship had vanished.
Tariq stepped in front of Devren and crossed his arms, halting the Kirkos’ owner.
“You have my property,” Malivian demanded.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Devren replied.
Malivian’s eyes narrowed. “You stole Liora from my ship.”
Devren glanced at her.
Liora wanted to run, but the Gaulded didn’t offer much chance of an escape, and her Damaclan heritage forbade her from such a cowardly act.
“Liora isn’t property.” Devren’s voice remained calm.
Malivian sneered, revealing rows of pointed teeth. “She’s a slave, Captain.” He spat the last word. “I purchased her for a hefty sum, and have yet to recoup on the cost. You have no idea how expensive it is to obtain such a Damaclan beauty. Her face alone fills the stands of my circus with admirers.”
Malivian’s forked tongue ran across his t
eeth and Liora looked away.
The circus master continued, “I don’t suppose you want me to report the fact that a Coalition officer stole such a priceless product from my ship when you were supposed to be protecting us.”
“You left us to die out there,” Tariq growled.
Devren put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “It’s alright,” he said quietly. “Let me handle this.”
Devren met Liora’s gaze. She couldn’t read his expression. The captain’s jaw tightened and he looked away.
“Fine; she’s yours. Take her back and end the risk to my crew.”
Cold washed through Liora. She wanted to protest, to fight them all, to escape, but the sting of betrayal was too great.
Malivian stalked up the ramp with a triumphant smile.
“Handcuff her for me,” he said, holding out a set of thick silver cuffs.
Devren took them without a word. He motioned for Liora to turn around. She faced the ship that she had briefly thought of as her salvation. Now, the fact that she had fought for the crew left a bad taste in her mouth.
“I’m sorry about this,” Devren said, his words quiet.
“I’m sure you are,” Liora replied dryly.
The familiar weight of the cuffs holding her hands behind her back made her heart beat quicker. Devren checked both cuffs to ensure they were secure. As he did so, Liora felt something slip into her palm.
“Come back to us,” Devren whispered.
Before she was sure he had even said anything, Devren turned her back around.
“She’s ready.”
Liora glanced at Tariq as she walked past. The blue-eyed medical officer looked away.
“About time,” Malivian said when she reached him. He grabbed her arm and steered her roughly down the ramp.
Liora looked back once, but Devren and Tariq appeared to be locked in a heated discussion. Tariq threw his hands down and stormed back inside the Kratos. Liora could feel Devren’s gaze on her back until they turned past the closest starship and disappeared from view.
“Did you think they would save you?” Malivian asked, his voice low and mocking. “All humans are alike. Dangle money or the promise of punishment in their faces, and they back away like a whipped cur.”
