by AM Scott
“Copy that, Lightwave. Lashtar clear.”
“Scholar, Ruhger.”
“Go ahead, Captain.”
“Katryn proposes transferring to your shuttle for this trip. I can provide surveillance and top cover by myself. I agree with her assessment. Are you willing?”
Saree muted her mic. “Hal?”
“It’s a good idea, Saree. You will be safer with someone in the cargo bay.”
She unmuted. “Agreed, Captain. It’s a good plan.”
“Chief, dock Fortuna Lucia at the nearest shuttle port. When we’re done unloading, Katryn will join the Scholar. Scholar, it may take a while; the passageways are jammed with people who will be living in Cargo Bay One. Katryn will be moving against the flow.”
“Copy that, Captain. We’ll stand by.” Saree muted the mic again. “Any further ideas on this, Hal?”
“No, Saree. I believe Sister Lashtar’s plan is acceptable. I also think you’ll be spending a lot more time in the shuttle with me on this fold.”
She laughed, watching as Chief skillfully docked her shuttle, the clamps locking with a slight vibration. Docking status was good, so she initiated the shuttle hatch airlock cycle, ready to open it for Katryn.
“There are two Sisters in front of the shuttle hatchway requesting entrance, Saree.” A vid of two young women in the standard brown Sister robes appeared. Other people, mostly more Sisters and young girls, streamed around them. “Do you want to talk to them? They are armed, but many of the Sisters are. Katryn is at least one minute away.”
Saree shrugged. “Sure, I’ll talk to them.”
“Go ahead.”
“What can I do for you, Sisters?”
“Scholar Sessan, are you helping with the final evacuation?” There was a lot of background noise, so hearing them was difficult.
“Yes.”
“We’d like to help provide security. Katryn knows us,” a perky voice came from the girl on the left, in a dark brown robe, with darker brown hair.
“And ‘us’ is who?”
Giggling came over the comms and Saree couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Oh, sorry, Scholar. I’m Brin, and this is Nat.” She swept a hand toward the shorter, blonder girl beside her. “Will you let us help? There should be lots of room, right?”
“Saree, these two seem unduly anxious. It could be in anticipation of action, but I cannot be sure.”
“Stand by, Sisters.” She muted her mic. “Thank you, Hal. Can you route me through to Katryn?”
“Certainly, Saree.”
“Yes, Scholar? I’m going as fast as I can but it’s really crowded. Excuse me!” Shuffling, swishing noises and muffled words jumbled in the background. “Sorry.”
“I’m not worried about that, Katryn. There are two Sisters outside my airlock, Brin and Nat, saying they want to help with the final evacuation. Is that a good idea or not?”
“Well, Scholar…excuse me…more defense isn’t a bad idea, but those two wouldn’t be my first choice. Excuse me. Coming through. Move!” A pause and more shuffling, swishing, muttering background noise. “But since my first, second, third and twentieth choices are on the ground right now, I guess it couldn’t hurt. Wait until I get there and I’ll ask them a few questions first.”
“Copy that. Don’t hurry on my account.”
“Make a hole!” Katryn bellowed, causing Saree to wince. “Sorry about that, Scholar. I should be there shortly. Sometimes it sucks to be short.”
“No problem—we’ll wait.” She swiped off Katryn’s comms. “Hal, back to the Sisters outside, please.”
“Of course. Go ahead.”
“Sisters, Security Officer Phazeer will arrive shortly. Please wait.” She swept off the comm. If they complained, she didn’t care. She tapped her fingers on the worn, dingy pleather of the armrests, anxious to get this final run over and done. Good thing Hal was handling all the communications from the surface—the pleas for help were heartbreaking, but she could do nothing more. None of them could.
“Saree, I could let you listen in on the conversation between Katryn, Brin and Nat, but it’s very noisy in the corridor. Shall I just summarize?”
“Yes, please, Hal. Good idea.”
Drumming her fingers, she waited. She was so ready for it all to be finished.
“Katryn is asking about their intentions and telling them they are under her command, no questions asked. And that you are in command of your shuttle and air operations. The Sisters are telling her they just want to help, but they seem unduly nervous. I think Katryn thinks so too, but she can’t get anything definitive from them.”
“Scholar, Katryn here.”
“Go ahead, Katryn.”
“We’re ready. Can you let all of us in?”
“Certainly.” Hal opened the shuttle airlock. Saree turned around to assess them herself. Nat and Brin were both taller than Katryn, but just about everybody was. They both appeared to be in good shape and secured their weapons correctly, but she’d expect that from anyone the Sisters trained. “Katryn, please take the co-pilot’s chair. Sisters, the couch is the most comfortable seat for now.”
They strapped in, while Saree secured the hatchway and readied the shuttle for release. “Anyone not strapped in, speak up now.” No answer. Excellent—everything was ready. She swept up the comms to Lightwave. “Lightwave, Shuttle Fortuna Lucia.”
“Go ahead, Scholar,” Chief said.
“We’re ready for departure.”
“Copy that, Scholar. Alpha shuttle is ready.”
“Scholar, please initiate course thirty seconds behind me,” Captain Ruhger said.
“Copy, initiate thirty seconds behind Alpha shuttle.” She watched on the screen as Alpha shuttle moved away from Lightwave.
“Scholar, I’m releasing the clamps now and pushing you out. You have full control…now. Good luck, Scholar. Lightwave out.”
Taking control of the shuttle, Saree activated the thrusters to push them farther away from Lightwave. Alpha shuttle’s thrusters flared on the screen, quickly damped by the light sensors, the shuttle heading for the planet. Waiting the requested thirty seconds, she initiated the course Captain Ruhger sent over and she’d laid in. The thrust pushed her back into her seat and she oofed a little, even though she expected it. Louder exhalations came from the girls on the couch. Followed by more giggling after the anti-grav generators kicked in. Saree sighed. It was going to be a long trip. She concentrated hard on flying, much harder than required, ignoring the giggling girls. Katryn did the same, mostly concentrating on her holo, which looked like Lightwave’s surveillance, occasionally darting looks around the shuttle or over at Saree. They made it down safely.
Saree went through the motions of flying but let Hal actually land—he could fly much closer to the building than she could. Katryn took in a sharp breath when she saw just how fine Hal was cutting the margin for error but she didn’t say anything. Once down, the three of them unbuckled and confirmed their tactics, while Saree readied the thrusters for a hot takeoff.
Katryn called over to her. “Scholar, I’m going to lower the cargo ramp.”
“Katryn, go ahead. I’m staying here, ready to go.”
“Lashtar to Beta and Fortuna Lucia. Are you ready?”
“Beta Shuttle ready,” Tyron said.
Saree checked the cargo bay camera. Katryn was standing on the ramp, close to one side, Brin and Nat running down it. “Fortuna Lucia ready.”
“Sisters, execute evac now. Sound off those check-ins from North and South leads as you stack people.”
Saree listened intently. Each position sounded off as they gathered, heading toward the shuttles. There was no sign of enemy action, but there shouldn’t be. Smart people would wait until the Sisters were gone, then loot the leftovers. Trying to take another Sister would just get them killed. They were murders and rapists but not entirely stupid. Too bad—stupid people were easier to deal with.
Her ramp resounded with tramping feet as women sprinted
up it, piling into the cargo bay, weapons pointed out, ready to fire. Katryn closed the door and the bars thudded home. The women sat on the floor without being told, strapping in, Brin and Nat staying with them. Katryn came forward, securing the shuttle hatch to the cargo bay behind her, and secured herself in the co-pilot’s chair.
Katryn said, “Scholar, everyone’s accounted for and strapped in.”
“South, check in,” Lashtar said.
“South, eleven Sisters accounted for plus Brin, Nat and Katryn. We’re a go.”
“North?”
“North, eleven Sisters accounted for and Beta shuttle personnel. Go.”
“Lightwave, we’ve got all our people. Clear for takeoff.”
“Copy. Fortuna Lucia launches first. Beta, thirty seconds behind; Alpha, thirty seconds more. Execute at will, Scholar,” Chief said.
Saree swept the launch button and sent them thrusting up, the dust of Gliese swirling below them. She watched as Beta shuttle launched.
Lashtar came on the comms after Beta launched. “Thirty seconds to destruct.”
“What did you do, Lashtar?” Chief asked.
“What any smart person does in a war, Chief. I denied use of resources to the enemy. Watch.”
Saree swept the view of the Sisters’ compound back up. “Katryn, do you think the Sisters in cargo want to see this?”
Katryn gave her a grim smile. “Yes.”
She activated the holo in the cargo bay and they all watched the compound dwindle in the screen. Plumes of dust appeared around the outside of the structure, then the roof caved in and the walls crashed inward on top of the roof. When the dust cleared, there was nothing left but rubble.
Katryn sighed but didn’t say anything. They flew to Lightwave in grim silence, most of the Sisters in the cargo bay loosening their harnesses and collapsing into exhausted sleep.
“Scholar, please release your controls. I’m locking you to your usual berth since there are only a few people to disembark,” Chief said.
“Thank you, Lightwave.”
Confirming the handoff to Lightwave was secure, Saree released the controls. The shuttle latched on with the normal faint vibration, then another as the airlock connections were secured. She checked the seal status—good—and released the shuttle airlock security, the inner hatch swinging open. Katryn had already walked to the cargo bay hatch and opened it, allowing the Sisters to stream toward the main shuttle hatchway. The first Sister quickly initiated Lightwave’s airlock controls and walked out into the crowded, noisy corridor. Soon, only Nat, Brin, another girl and Katryn were left.
Brin paused in the hatch to the airlock, then turned back toward Saree. “Thank you, Scholar Sessan, for allowing us to come along.” Then all three girls lifted their rifles, Nat pointing hers right at Katryn’s head; she couldn’t get her helmet up fast enough if Nat fired. “And I’m really sorry, but we’re taking your shuttle. We’ve got to rescue Tonee and Lessa. Don’t touch anything, Scholar—just step away.”
“You idiots!” Katryn spit out. “You’re going to get yourselves killed.” Nat hissed something at her and Katryn dropped her rifle to the floor and kicked it away.
Saree stood, keeping her hands up and making her movements slow and easy. “Sisters, this is piracy. This will not end well for you. Even if you rescue your friends, which is extremely unlikely, you have stolen a shuttle. You’ll be stuck here in orbit around Gliese. No reputable folder will take you from here. Lightwave will not let you latch back on. You are setting yourselves up. It might be fast or slow but it will happen.”
“Move out, Scholar. Just go and I won’t kill you,” Nat snarled, her face furious. “Tonee is my Sister and I’m getting her back.”
Saree shook her head and moved toward the hatchway, nodding at the question in Katryn’s eyes. She exited the shuttle and closed the shuttle airlock, securing it fully.
“Lightwave, this is Fortuna Lucia. Release us. We’re returning to Gleise,” Mari’s voice said.
“Fortuna Lucia, that’s not advisable,” Chief said calmly.
Saree and Katryn exited into the crowded corridor. She swept up a connection with Lightwave. “Lightwave, Scholar Sessan. Don’t bother releasing the shuttle. This attempt at piracy will be concluded shortly.”
“Copy that, Scholar. Is this conclusion fatal?”
“Unless the girls do something spectacularly stupid, no.” Saree grimaced. Hopefully Hal listened to her. They were just ignorant, naive girls, desperate to do something, anything to save their friends.
“Saree, I’ve got several possible solutions,” Hal said in her ear. “I could remove the oxygen or I can send sleeping agents into the cabin, but both of those are chancy and make cleanup time necessary. A better choice is lowering the oxygen content in the cabin, then, when the emergency masks pop out, sending an anesthesia agent through the masks only. If you agree, sweep your hand once, like you’re executing a command.”
Saree swept her hand, like she was swiping a holo control. She snorted a bit of a laugh.
“Executing,” Hal said.
Saree walked forward into Lightwave’s airlock, pulling Katryn with her. She closed the hatch without fully securing it, and swept up the view of her shuttle’s control area, sharing it with Katryn. The girls frantically swept and poked at controls, trying to make anything work, while the main screen displayed a very large version of an oxygen sensor in front of them, the level dropping into the red zone. The girls sagged back into their seats, breathing harder and harder, still sweeping away at the non-responsive controls. The emergency masks dropped from the ceiling. All three girls reached for them, clearly gasping in panic, and fastened them over their faces.
Katryn shook her head. “Idiots. I would have found a suit when the oh-two started dropping. Anyone with any brains could guess what comes next.”
Each girl took in several frantic breaths and sagged in their seats. Secured in the harnesses, they didn’t fall to the floor, but within seconds they were out cold, lolling limply in the chairs.
Katryn chuckled mirthlessly and followed Saree back into the shuttle. They removed the masks, leaving them dangling. Katryn pulled flex cuffs from a pocket on her armor, securing each girl’s hands in front of them.
“Lightwave, the situation is neutralized. Would you please send someone to pick up these girls? They are unconscious but should recover shortly.”
“Copy that, Scholar. Sister Lashtar is on her way with a couple others,” Tyron’s voice said.
“Thank you, Beta Shuttle.”
“No, thank you, Scholar. We appreciate your restraint,” Captain Ruhger said.
“They’re just scared, angry girls. I understand.”
Katryn unbuckled the harnesses and laid each girl out flat on the floor. She looked up at Saree. “When did you set that in motion? I was watching you. I didn’t see you do anything or even subvocalize.”
Saree shrugged. “Sure I did. Right after we closed Lightwave’s airlock.”
“But the controls were non-responsive before that. I was listening to the girls; they’d forgotten they were still on the ops net.” Katryn frowned at her, clearly in speculation, then her face cleared. “Oh. A voice command. I bet the word ‘piracy’ is a cue, isn’t it?” She nodded, a look of pleased admiration on her face. “Very clever.”
Saree smiled back at her. She’d let Katryn speculate her way into a solution. Besides, in a way, Katryn was absolutely correct. It was a voice command, just not a specific command.
The hatchway annunciator chimed, so Saree swiped the ‘open’ sequence.
Sisters Lashtar, Ani and Navarr came in. All three stopped by the would-be pirates and bowed deeply. “Scholar Sessan, please accept our abject apologies for the actions of these Sisters. Do you wish to press formal charges? I wouldn’t blame you if you did.” Lashtar looked at her, grimly waiting.
Smiling gently, Saree shook her head. “No, Sister Lashtar. They’re just young and scared. And they’ve learned a valuable
lesson. That’s good enough for me.” Who would she press charges with, anyway? There wasn’t any law enforcement here.
Lashtar bowed again, a shallower bow allowing her to keep eye contact. “It is not enough for us.” She spread her hands, motioning toward Ani and Navarr. “To ensure the lesson is learned, I assure you their punishment will be severe. For one, they will be stripped of their provisional Sisterhood and sent back to the supplicant level. They will also be cleaning all the sani-mods on Lightwave for the rest of our trip.” She smiled, a rather nasty smile. “And if they have time after that, which I doubt, they’ll be standing penance poses. Trust me when I say they’d rather clean toilets. There will be further punishments as well. Once we reach our destination, they may be banished.”
The girls started to rouse during this speech. They blinked rapidly and shifted around a bit. Evidently, their hearing returned first, because they all had horrified looks on their faces despite the fluttering lashes and twitching muscles.
Katryn chuckled. “Oh, they’re definitely going to regret pulling this stunt. Idiots.” She shook her head slowly. “And to think I was going to recommend bringing Nat on as a security apprentice.” She snorted and looked straight at Nat. “Mud-burrowing clueless idiot. You are no Sister of mine.” She strode out of the shuttle.
Nat’s expression was priceless. Saree couldn’t help but smile sardonically at the mix of shock and despair. The three Sisters looked down at their charges, reached down and pulled the girls to their feet. They each draped a girl’s arm over their shoulders and half dragged them to the airlock.
“Thank you again, Scholar,” Lashtar called as they left.
“No problem, Sister.” Saree waited until Hal secured the airlock hatches, then she carefully returned the emergency masks to their stowed positions, making sure the tubing was coiled properly and the spring-loaded ejectors correctly positioned. If she ever had to use one, she wanted to make sure it’d be right there, ready to go.
“Don’t worry, Saree; I already purged the masks. They will be clean if you ever need one.”
“Thank you, Hal, and thank you for finding a good solution.”
