by Ryk Brown
“Yes, sir.”
“And send Abby in as well.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What do you need Abby for?” Cameron wondered aloud.
“Tug told us something about a power source that was being developed by the Ta’Akar. Something that could provide limitless power. He said they have nearly finished it.”
Abby entered the ready room a moment later. “You asked to see me, Captain?”
“Yes, Doctor. Once before, you said that the range of the jump drive was only limited by the amount of power we were currently able to put into it. Is that true?”
“Theoretically, yes. If given enough power, as well as the ability to accurately calculate a long distance jump, you could jump between galaxies as easily as you would between stars. It would be a bit more difficult in practice, however. Why do you ask?”
“Theoretically, if we had access to a power source that was say, a hundred times more powerful than what we’re currently using, would that help get us back to Earth any faster?”
“Yes, if it could be properly interfaced and calibrated to work with our systems. It might be of use.”
“How much use?”
“You’re asking me to make a lot of guesses, here, Captain.”
“Indulge me, please.”
“With a hundred times more power, we might be able to get back in a few jumps. Maybe even one.”
“So, home in days or weeks instead of months, correct?”
“If everything went correctly, yes, it is possible.” Abby looked at him for a moment. “Are you saying you have access to such a power source?”
“We have intelligence that suggests there may be something of this nature in existence out here,” he admitted.
“Captain,” Abby urged. “If we could find and utilize this power source, the advantage that the jump drive would provide the Earth would be increased exponentially.”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking,” Nathan told her. “Thank you, Doctor. That’s all for now.”
Abby looked in each of their eyes as she turned to leave. There was obviously far more going on than she knew about. But the news of a potential power source gave her hope for the first time in a week. Hope that she might still return to her husband and children once again.
“Nathan,” Cameron started after Abby left. “That might explain why we came out with so little damage-and why they didn’t fire any nukes this time.”
“What are you talking about?”
“They wanted to capture us,” Jessica interrupted. “To get our jump drive. They know about the jump drive.”
“Then Tug was right,” Nathan said, plopping down in his chair.
“You are sure they will be well cared for?” Tug was not happy about having to leave his daughters in the care of strangers, especially after having just lost their mother.
“They are good people,” Jalea promised him.
“You have only known them for a handful of days, Jalea,” he reminded her as they left medical en route to see the captain.
“Yet in that short time, we have been through much together.” She noticed Tug looking back to medical as they left. “The doctor is well trained, and their injuries are minor.”
“But their technology is primitive,” he worried.
“Not all of it,” she reminded.
“Yes. This jump drive the captain spoke of. Does it really work as he claims?”
“We are alive, are we not?”
“And you have seen it?”
“Several times now.”
“It is difficult to believe,” he said as they started up the ramp to the command deck.
They walked in silence for several moments before Tug spoke again. “Is this why you brought them to me?”
“I don’t understand your meaning,” Jalea lied.
“You forget, I know you only too well, Jalea. You have tried on more than one occasion to convince me to return to your cause.”
Jalea stopped walking and turned to him, angered by his comments. “It isn’t my cause-it’s our cause,” she said, trying to control her temper, glancing back and forth to make sure nobody could hear them. “And it once was your cause, or have you already forgotten.”
“I have forgotten nothing,” he snapped back, his own anger at her insolence bubbling to the surface. “I was fighting the Ta’Akar while you were still suckling at your mother’s bosom!” he reminded her under his breath. “Do not behave as if you are the only one of us that has suffered great loss. I too have suffered, more than you can possibly imagine. Tug stopped and calmed himself before continuing. “Do not try and manipulate me as you do others, Jalea. You may not care for my reaction,” he added as he continued toward the bridge.
Tug took a few steps before he realized Jalea had not moved. He turned back to face her, knowing that she had more to say.
“Thousands have died,” Jalea began. “Two generations have suffered. And now, when we are scattered to the winds and all but defeated, the instrument of our salvation is delivered unto us, and you say you have had enough?” Jalea moved closer to Tug as she continued. “If we give up now, when victory is finally within our grasp, those that have fallen will have done so in vain. You would steal the meaning from their sacrifice? If we do this, how will we be judged by our maker?”
“I am certain we will all be judged harshly for our transgressions, dear Jalea. Of this I have no doubt.”
Jalea moved even closer to Tug, placing her hands on his chest in a more intimate fashion as she gazed into his eyes. “And what of your daughters? What kind of life will they have under complete and utter domination by the Ta’Akar?”
Tug looked into Jalea’s exotic green eyes, remembering all that they had once been to each other. But that had been another life, another time. He placed his hands on top of hers. “You can turn off your charms, Jalea,” he told her as he pulled her hands off his chest and dropped them at her sides. “I will not allow my daughters to be crushed under the heel of Caius.”
Tug turned and resumed his journey to the bridge. Jalea smiled wryly and followed. He might no longer take her to his bed, but he was still susceptible to her ways.
“Thank you for coming,” Nathan said as Jalea and Tug entered the room. “I trust your daughters are okay?”
“Their injuries are minor, thank you.”
“I am truly sorry about your wife.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Tug responded.
“Tug, this is my Executive Officer, Commander Taylor,” Nathan introduced. “Commander, this is Redmon Tugwell.”
Cameron stepped forward and shook Tug’s hand. “A pleasure, sir. Thank you for aiding in the rescue of our people. And may I also express my condolences for your loss.”
“Thank you, Commander.” Tug turned back to Nathan. “You wished to speak with us?”
“Yes. Please, have a seat.”
Tug and Jalea took the seats across the desk from Nathan, while Cameron and Jessica took seats on the couch.
“We seem to be at a crossroads of sorts,” Nathan began as he retook his seat. “And before we can decide which path to take, we need to clear up a few things. I was hoping that you might be able to help us in this regard.”
“I will do what I can, Captain.”
Nathan looked at Jalea. As usual, she showed no indication of her emotional state. Tug, on the other hand, showed far more in his expressions and mannerisms. The question was whether or not they were genuine.
“Last night, I was quite forthcoming in my detailing of our current situation as well as our immediate goals. And I felt, at the time, that you had been just as forthcoming.”
Tug got the hidden meaning in Nathan’s carefully chosen words. “And now you have reason to suspect otherwise?”
Nathan wasn’t sure how the next step was going to play out. He had an advantage at the moment that he felt compelled to press. Tug, and his daughters, were literally at his mercy. As distasteful as playing that advantage was to him, he felt he had
little choice. Under different circumstances, he would probably not choose this course of action. Now, however, the stakes were too high.
“Yes, I’m afraid I do,” Nathan admitted. “While my security chief was covertly preparing to rescue you, she overheard conversation between your captors. They were anticipating considerable favor for your capture. Possibly even decoration by some of your highest leaders.” Nathan let that hang for a moment, looking for a reaction in either of their faces. As suspected, none were of use.
“The over-excitement of inexperienced soldiers,” Tug offered. “Perhaps combined with a case of mistaken identity.”
“Uh-huh.” Nathan glanced over at Jessica. She wasn’t buying it any more than he was. “I don’t think so,” he disagreed. “You see, I noticed a few other things as well. Like, why our attackers seemed unconcerned with our capture, choosing instead to attack everyone with deadly force.” Nathan noticed a brief, side-long glance from Tug to Jalea, one to which Jalea offered no reaction. “Or why that warship didn’t blast us to pieces with nukes. Now why is that?”
“I cannot speak of the motivations of others, Captain. But I see no value in the capture of a farmer to the Ta’Akar.”
Nathan was surprised that Tug was still trying to hide the truth from him. It angered him that either one or both of them were trying to play him for a fool, at the risk of his life, the well being of his ship and crew, and quite possibly of his entire world.
Nathan leaned back in his chair, letting out a long, slow breath as he did so. He looked over at Jessica, and then Cameron. Neither of them gave any indication of what they were thinking.
Nathan nodded at Jessica, who pressed a button on her data pad. Tug’s recorded voice came from the device. “I have shed as much blood as any man could and still live to tell. This last battle was nearly my undoing. My wounds are still not yet fully healed.” Jessica pressed another button to fast-forward to the next clip. “My days as a Karuzari are over, Jalea. It is time for another to pick up the flag in my place.”
Tug stared at Nathan for a moment, anger and betrayal in his eyes. “You are more resourceful than I gave you credit for, Captain.”
Nathan was tired. He was tired of the stress. He was tired of the responsibility, and more importantly, he was tired of the games. But he was also tired of looking to others to make decisions for him. He had done that his entire life, not really caring enough to make up his own mind. That had started to change when he joined the Fleet. That had been the beginning of a real change in his life. And what had started out as a way to get away from everything for a few years and start over had somehow turned into a test of fate-his own, his crew’s, and even his world’s.
Nathan looked at Cameron and Jessica again, as he said, “Let’s cut the bullshit, shall we?” Cameron’s eyes widened. Jessica smiled slightly, waiting to see where Nathan was going. “You want to know what I think? I think one or both of you cooked all this up to suck us into your little rebellion.” Nathan suddenly leaned forward again. “At first, I thought you were looking for a way to hijack my ship,” he said to Jalea. “Then you started in with all that ‘gift from God’ crap the other day. Now I think you’re trying to make us an ally.”
“Is it working?” There was no emotion in Jalea’s question, and no expression on her face when the question was asked.
“Kind of, yeah,” he admitted.
Cameron leaned in to Jessica, whispering, “What the hell is he doing?”
“I have no idea,” Jessica whispered back. “But this should be good.”
“But not for the same reasons as you,” Nathan continued. “I’ve got one goal and one goal only. And that’s to get my ship and our jump drive back to Earth, before it’s too late. Now as long as our individual goals are mutually beneficial, I’m willing to play along. But there are conditions.”
“Such as?” Jalea asked.
“Such as who the hell are you, Tug? And why do the Ta’Akar want you so badly?”
Tug sighed. “Because I was the leader of the Karuzari.”
“Whoa,” Jessica muttered under her breath.
For the first time since they entered the room, Nathan thought he saw a reaction of some sort on Jalea’s face. She wasn’t happy with his revelation.
“That would explain a lot,” Nathan said.
“Yeah it would,” Jessica agreed. “Like the shield, for starters.”
Nathan looked a little skeptical. “Isn’t Haven kind of far away from the action?”
“It did present logistical difficulties. But it was a necessary precaution.”
“And the power source you spoke of? Does it really exist, or was that just a ruse to gain our allegiance?”
“I assure you, Captain, the device is real, as is the threat posed by its completion. In this I have been completely truthful. And this is why I continued to lead the Karuzari for as long as I did, despite the objections of my late wife.”
Nathan noticed Tug’s steely gaze becoming more intense as he spoke.
“I fought the Ta’Akar for more than twenty years,” Tug continued. “Ranni is the third love I have lost because of the Ta’Akar-because of Caius. When I came to Haven, in much the way I described, I left that life behind me. But sometimes fate does not let go so easily. Sometimes it finds you, no matter how hard you try to hide from its cold embrace.” Tug took a deep breath, steadying himself. “It seems that fate has once again got me in its clutches, Captain, as I believe it now has you. So the question, Captain, is will we face ours fates together?”
Nathan looked at Jalea. Her big green eyes, as seductive as ever, beckoned him. He looked at Cameron. Her eyes showed grave concern. Jessica’s, well hers seemed more entertained than anything. “It seems that fate has placed us on the same path, at least for now. I cannot promise you for how long we will travel this road together. But for the time being, you may consider us your ally.”
“I am grateful for this, Captain,” Tug said.
“We have much to discuss in the hours ahead,” Nathan told him. “But for now, I have a ship to take care of, and you have daughters that require their father’s attention.”
Tug nodded agreement. “I am at your disposal, Captain.” Tug rose from his seat and departed the ready room, with Jalea following him.
“Damn, Nathan!” Jessica exclaimed.
Nathan looked at Cameron. “Well?” he asked.
Cameron just shook her head, breathing in deeply. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Nathan.”
Nathan leaned back in his chair. “So do I.”
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