Lysandra couldn’t help but stand there, watching Victor as he seemed to will his radio into responding.
“Lysandra, what are you waiting for?” Lena’s voice echoed through the corridor.
She turned toward the airlock but stopped when Fara finally answered over the radio. “The major leading the marines just contacted me or, more precisely, contacted you,” Fara said. “He seems to think you’re aboard the Alexander with the princess.”
“Their internal surveillance systems must still be down,” Cormac said.
“Whatever the case, they think you and the princess are here,” Fara said. “I’m using that.”
“What? Fara, what are you planning?” Victor asked.
“Get aboard the Mae, Victor,” Fara said. “It looks like all seats on the Alexander are booked.”
“Fara, stop! I’m coming to get you,” Victor said.
Lysandra, to her surprise, reached out and grabbed Victor by the shoulder.
Victor turned around and shrugged her hand off his shoulder. “Don’t try and stop me!”
“There’s nothing you can do,” Lysandra said.
“She is right, Captain,” Cormac said. “Fara is giving us a chance to escape.”
Lena came running down the corridor, a pistol hanging at her side. “What the fuck is the hold up?”
Lysandra turned toward her and couldn’t help but smile, despite the tension of the situation. “I think there's been a change of plans. Do you have room for three more?”
Confusion played out on Lena’s face until her gray eyes went wide with understanding. “Yeah, so long as you’re coming, I can take on more passengers.”
Lysandra nodded and grabbed the mercenary captain by one of the straps of his armored pressure suit to pull him toward the airlock. He barely resisted.
When they reached the airlock, an explosion reverberated through the hull of the Daisy Mae.
“What was that?” Lysandra asked.
“Explosive bolts,” Cormac said. “I think Fara just blew the Alexander’s docking clamps.”
Lena hit the button to close the outer hatch. “We should do the same.” She walked to the nearest intercom and hit the button. “Sticks, blow—”
“Wait,” Victor said.
“Why?” Lena asked.
He nodded toward Lysandra. “They think she’s on the Alexander.”
Lena glanced at Lysandra and then back at Victor. “Okay, so?”
Resignation shone in his black eyes. “We should wait and give Fara time…time to draw away the Alliance pickets.”
Lena’s mouth fell open, but she quickly composed herself and nodded.
“Captain, what are your orders?” asked the Mae’s pilot from the intercom.
She leaned into the intercom. “Nothing, Sticks. I’m coming to the bridge.”
“Aye, aye.”
“I’m coming with you,” Victor said.
“And me,” Lysandra said.
Lena shrugged. “Sure, why not. Nothing a bridge needs more than an audience.”
It was a bit of a squeeze, but none of the Mae’s bridge crew seemed to object to the presence of guests. They were too focused on what was going on outside the ship.
Lena settled into her seat and looked at one of her monitors.
“Captain, can we get out of here?” asked one of the Mae’s helmsman.
“I’d like to know what’s going on outside first, Sticks,” Lena said. She looked to Cormac. “I don’t suppose you could hack into the Gryphon’s sensors systems?”
The starchild shook his long head. “Not from here, and there would be little point if I tried to. The explosion knocked out the Gryphon’s external sensors.”
“I don’t like flying out there blind.” Lena tapped her armrest with her index finger.
“We made sure to time the sabotage just before the fleet jumped,” Victor said. “The Tenor 21 jump point will only be a short distance away once we launch. And, if Fara’s doing what I’m thinking she is, then the Alliance pickets will be drawn away.”
“Do you think we’ve given her enough time?” Lena asked.
Victor sighed and nodded. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Okay.” She turned her attention forward. “Sticks, blow the clamps. Let’s get out of here.”
“Roger that, Captain,” Sticks said.
A loud bang echoed as the explosive bolts detonated. Lysandra grabbed the back of Lena’s seat as the Mae lurched from under her.
“Tune up the AG field,” Lena said. “We don’t want to send people tumbling all over my bridge.”
“Thank you, Lena,” Lysandra said.
Lena glanced and smiled at her. “Anything for you.”
“We’re in space,” the helmsman said.
“Where’s the jump point?” Lena asked.
“Ten thousand klicks away.”
“Plot a course and punch it,” Lena said.
The helmsman slammed the throttles forward.
“Where’s the Alexander?” Victor asked.
Lena tapped her monitor. “Jesus!”
Victor walked up to Lena’s seat, standing on the opposite side from Lysandra and bent over to look at the monitor. “What is it?”
“The entire fleet’s broken formation to catch her,” said Lena. She glanced at Lysandra. “The high councilor must really want you back.”
“No, look at the weapon fire,” Victor said. His voice was level, but with a melancholy edge to it. “If the high councilor thinks the princess is aboard the Alexander, then he’s settled for having her dead.”
“More than settled.” Then Lena said, “There aren’t any ships moving to intercept us.”
“They may not have noticed us launch,” Cormac said.
“Good. I hope it stays that way,” Lena said.
Lysandra lay a hand on Lena’s shoulder to get her attention. When the freighter captain looked up at her, Lysandra stared in Lena’s eyes and shook her head and then glanced at Victor.
The mercenary captain was still hunched over the captain’s seat, watching as the entire Alliance fleet bore down on the Alexander.
Lena took the hint. “Oh, God, Victor. I’m sorry.”
He shook his head slightly. “Focus in on the Alexander please. I want to see this.”
“Are you sure?” Lena asked.
“Yes,” Victor said.
Lena nodded and tapped her screen, focusing in on the Alexander.
Lysandra couldn’t help but watch herself. The Alexander’s icon indicated the frigate had already sustained heavy damage, leaking atmosphere and fuel. Her drive output was down by half. But still Fara flew the frigate with incredible skill, flying recklessly close to Free Worlds’ warships.
Light kinetic fire pummeled the frigate’s shields, battering the hull beneath, but the Alliance warships in pursuit dared not use heavier weapons for fear of hitting one of their own.
But Fara was almost out of time or, more precisely, out of cover. The Alexander broke through the edge of the fleet and into open space.
The Alliance frigates chasing her unleashed a vicious volley from their main guns. To Lysandra’s amazement, Fara actually evaded the first couple shots. A third one hit and sent the Alexander drifting, helpless.
“Jumping in three…two…one!”
The Alexander and the ships about to kill her disappeared in an instant, replaced by the stars and empty space.
Lena tapped her monitor. “No contacts. Good. Sticks?”
“Captain?” the Mae’s helmsman asked.
“Move us away from the jump point, full burn,” she said.
“Aye, aye, Captain.”
Sighing with palpable relief, Lena rose from her seat and turned to face Lysandra. She smiled and embraced her.
“I’m so glad to have you back,” Lena said, the top of her forehead brushing Lysandra’s chin.
“I’m glad to be back,” Lysandra said, squeezing tight the smaller woman, drinking in the smell of her hair. Then, out the corner of her e
ye, she saw Victor walking toward the bridge’s exit.
“Victor,” she said. “I’m sorry about what happened to your ship and crew.”
He stopped and turned to face her, resignation in his eyes. “Fara was the only person aboard the Alexander. I left the rest of the crew on the Gryphon. They were all Free Worlders, so I couldn’t expect them to turn against their own people.”
“So how do we warn my homeworld about the Alliance fleet?” Lysandra asked.
Victor shrugged and shook his head. “We can’t. The Alliance fleet is blocking the most direct route, and we can’t get to Lysander before they do if we take a detour. I’m sorry, Princess, but I’m afraid I’m out of tricks on this one.” The mercenary captain turned and left the bridge.
Lysandra’s heart sank to her stomach. He was right of course. Even with her limited knowledge of astrogation, she knew they couldn't warn Lysander in time.
Tears streamed down her face.
“Lysandra? Is there anything I could do?” Lena asked.
Lysandra turned toward the smaller woman and kissed her.
Chapter 31
It was over; he had failed again. Victor stared at the bulkhead of his cabin as if he expected it to say something. It didn’t; it just stood there being what it was, while Victor sat on his cot being whatever he was, wearing the same pressure suit he had worn since the escape from the Gryphon. The reek of his own body filled his nostrils, and he didn’t care.
He was spent, used up. Giving his best shot, all he had accomplished was getting a friend killed. More than a friend really. Now she was gone, and the great void in his soul got just a little bit bigger.
A knock sounded at the door.
Irritated someone would interrupt his brooding, Victor got up off the cot and opened the door.
“Captain,” Gaz said. He sniffed the air coming from the cabin and grimaced. “Oh, man, I don’t think you’ve ever smelled this bad before.”
Victor scowled at the pit fighter. “What do you want, Gaz?”
“I’d like the badass merc captain I’ve been working with for the last five years to come back,” Gaz said.
Victor shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t help you on that one.” He tried to close the door, but Gaz placed a hand on it to keep it open.
“Look, I get it,” Gaz said.
“Do you now?” Victor said.
Gaz’s lip curled into a sneer, showing a row of spiked teeth. “Yeah, I fuckin’ do. Fara was my friend, and I knew ’er longer than you did. Which I think counts more than the fact you and ’er liked to fuck.”
“So what?” Victor said.
“So what? I’ll tell you fuckin’ what! I know, if Fara was here, she’d be kicking your ass,” Gaz said.
“Yeah, probably,” Victor said. “So are you going to do that in her place?”
“A man who spends five days moping in his cabin while there’s shit to get done ain’t worth the effort,” Gaz said.
“Well, what the hell am I supposed to do!” Victor said. “In three days, the Alliance fleet will reach Lysander and scour all life from its surface. And there’s nothing anyone can do about it.”
“I know that, and I’m not askin’ you to do something about it,” Gaz said.
“Then what do you want me to do?” Victor asked.
“Anythin’ really,” Gaz said. “So long as it’s more than just fuckin’ mopin’. A shower wouldn’t hurt for a start.”
Victor rubbed his chin, feeling the coarse hair beneath his hand, his beard now thicker than he usually let it grow.
The sound of approaching footsteps attracted Victor’s attention. It was Princess Lysandra.
A lump formed in Victor’s throat at the sight of her. Worry was etched on her face, though Victor’s disheveled state did not seem to be the source of it.
“Princess?” he asked.
“Lena needs you on the bridge,” she said. The tone of her voice suggested something was wrong.
“What’s going on?” Victor asked.
“Something’s following us,” Lysandra said. “And, by Providence, neither Lena nor I can make sense of it.”
Curiosity overwhelmed his depression. He leaned forward as if to listen better. “How does it not make any sense?”
Lysandra swallowed, as if to force a lump down her throat. “It’s a bit hard to explain. I think it’s best if you see for yourself.”
“Well, I’m curious,” Gaz said.
Victor glanced at Gaz and then back at Lysandra. “All right. Let me see.”
***
Everyone on the bridge was tense when Victor arrived.
“Over here, Victor,” Lena said.
“The princess said something’s following us,” Victor said, walking up to Lena’s seat. Princess Lysandra followed him.
Lena stabbed a finger at one of her monitors. “That appeared from nowhere half an hour ago.”
Victor leaned down to get a look. Lena pointed at a picture taken by a thermal sensor. Silhouetted against the cool blue background of space was a fiery red blade.
“Excalibur!” Victor said.
“Excalibur? Is that some secret Alliance ship?” Lena asked.
Victor shook his head. “No, no, that is very much not an Alliance ship.”
“Then whose?” Lysandra asked.
It was almost mine, Victor thought. “No one you’d know of, Princess. It…belongs to an acquaintance of mine.”
“Well, I hope you made a good impression, because that ship is gaining on us,” Lena said.
Victor checked the numbers on the screen. The ship’s acceleration was higher than the Mae’s. The time to intercept was estimated at just over thirty hours. But Victor saw no reason to wait that long.
“Cut the drives,” Victor said.
“Are you giving me orders, Victor?” Lena said.
“No, I’m making a suggestion, Captain Dryer,” Victor said. “It’ll catch us no matter what we do. And, besides”—he glanced at Lysandra—“if there's one ship that can save Lysander, it’s that one.”
Lysandra blinked and looked at Lena. “Shut down the drives, Lena.”
Lena sighed and nodded. “Sticks, cut the drives.”
The hum of the drives faded away, and the time to intercept was reduced to a few minutes.
“I hope you’re right about that ship,” Lena said.
“Me too,” Victor said.
Not long after the Mae cut her drive, the Excalibur fired her retrodrives, the exhaust plume obscuring the vessel’s thermal image.
When the retrodrives stopped, the Excalibur was just ten kilometers away.
After a beep, Lena tapped another screen. “Well, I’ll be damned. I just got docking instructions. Whoever’s controlling that ship wants us to fly into her hangar.”
“Are you willing to do that?” Victor asked.
“I don’t see any other choice,” Lena said.
“In that case, I’ll be waiting at the airlock. I think I’m expected,” Victor said.
“Fine by me,” Lena said.
“I’ll come too,” Gaz said.
“As will I,” Cormac said.
“I’m coming with you as well,” Lysandra said.
“Wait. You too?” Lena asked.
Lysandra smiled. “If that ship can really save my world, then I want to see it for myself.”
“Then I’ll come with all of you.”
Lena leaned forward to get out of her seat, but Lysandra gently pushed her back down. “You stay, Lena, and guard your ship. If there’s any trouble, I promise to run back aboard.”
Lena pursed her lips. “I’ll hold you to that.”
***
The thump of metal on metal signaled the last of the docking clamps securing the Daisy Mae in the belly of the Excalibur.
“Docking completed,” Lena said through the intercom. “Got a good seal on the airlock.”
“Roger that,” Victor said. “I see the airlock equalizing now.”
“Y
ou make sure Lysandra comes back from that ship,” Lena said.
Victor glanced at Lysandra. “I will.”
“Good,” Lena said. “And good luck in there.”
“Victor?” Lysandra asked.
He turned around to look at the princess he had captured and then had set free. “Yes?”
She chewed her lower lip, then said, “Thank you…for what you did. And I’m sorry about Fara.”
Victor nodded. “Me too.” He turned his attention back to the airlock. It was almost fully equalized.
Without bidding, Lysandra walked up next to him. “So when did you first encounter the Excalibur?”
“It’s a long story,” Victor said.
“I have time,” Lysandra said.
The airlock dinged; pressure between the Daisy Mae and the Excalibur had equalized.
Victor opened the outer hatch and walked through. “You’ll find out in a moment, Princess.”
Lysandra huffed with frustration and followed him, along with Cormac and Gaz.
Boarding the Excalibur, Victor had to squint against the bright light inside. The bulkheads and overhead were a matte white, while the deck was a black rubbery material.
The others followed him in, including Cormac, who gasped when he studied his surroundings. “This is a First Civilization vessel!”
“Very good, starchild,” the old man said, his projection standing just outside the airlock.
“Who the fuck are you?” Gaz dropped to a fighting stance.
Victor placed a hand on the pit fighter’s shoulder. “Easy, Gaz. That’s a hologram. And, besides, he’s not an enemy.” Victor stared at the old man. “Are you?”
“Quite the opposite, Captain Selan,” the old man said. “I’m here to help.”
“Which kind of surprises me. We didn’t part on the best of terms,” Victor said.
“Why would you say that?” the old man asked.
“You dumped me on Mustang,” Victor said.
“I didn’t ‘dump’ you there, Captain Selan.” The old man smiled. “I planted you there, with everything you needed.”
“Needed for what?” Victor asked.
“To grow and mature,” the old man said.
“Victor said you could help save my homeworld,” Lysandra said. “Is it true?”
The old man shifted his gaze to Lysandra. “I’m afraid not, Princess.”
“What? What do you mean?” she asked.
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