StarFlight: The Prism Baronies (Beyond the Outer Rim Book 2)
Page 34
“Hey, how did you know about those?” one of the girls asked. They were identical triplets, looking to be about ten years of age, but two of them had dyed hair, probably for identification purposes. It was the natural brunette who had spoken.
“We can talk about that when we have more time,” Dungias explained. “My name is Dungias, but my Captain calls me Z. How would the three of you like to go for a little ride with me?” When all three heads eagerly nodded to the affirmative, Dungias smiled. He turned away from the children and opened his holding compartment to make sure it was clean.
“But before we go,” Dungias said, leveling Alpha toward the nearest computer console. A short burst of light flew to the machine and script across the screen signified acknowledgement of instructions received.
“What was that,” the green-haired girl asked.
“He just downloaded a sub-routine,” the purple-haired girl stated.
“Cool!” all three cooed as Dungias turned to face them. He had the girls embrace each other before placing them side the small holding chamber. Looking around the room, he found nothing that a young girl might want to keep but failed to mention. Dungias jumped and phased through the wall, landing on the roof of the lower adjacent building. He could see ground-cars arriving; Brattle’s men. He was over one hundred meters away by the time the first man reached the stairway into the building.
“CK, relay the following message: All drones and personnel are ordered to proceed with haste to the Kulri-Kraythe. Disembark from Black Gate, report to the coordinates I am sending to each of your brace-coms. Be advised that the ship will leave without you in thirty minutes to rendezvous with me in thirty-five. That is all!”
“Message has been sent,” CK reported. “I suppose it’s a good thing they are already mobile, with the time limit you have given them.”
“There is little time to waste, CK,” Dungias returned, keeping a watch over how long the girls had been in the chamber. With only three of them breathing the air, he estimated they would have enough air to last them the entire trip. Still, he planned on opening the chamber up to fill it with air before leaving Black Gate.
“That is not all that must be done before you leave, Traveler,” a voice called to Dungias. It possessed a female tone, but it was not Cihpares. “I must speak with you before you leave this region. Your life may well depend on it!”
“And who, may I ask, is speaking to me?” Dungias projected.
“I am Eesa, of the Chorus of the Rims. I am with the Stars of The Territories. It is only with their permission that I am able to commune with you. Take your ship into the portal for the Prism Baronies. We will meet there.”
“I will be there shortly,” Dungias replied, confused, excited, and slightly fearful of this unforeseen turn in his trek.
The only thing you sometimes have control over is perspective. You don’t have control over your situation. But you have a choice about how you view it.
Chris Pine
(Rims Time: XII-4203.12)
“Now this is what I call a surprise,” Lady Sylgarr said after a fair amount of silence.
“That’s the part I’m hoping will keep these kids alive, your ladyship,” Jocasta stated. “It was a matter of circumstance that we even crossed paths. Apparently The Territories are smaller than I thought.”
“Apparently.”
Jocasta leaned forward in her seat as the image of Lady Oedelorana Sylgarr started to blur. When it cleared, another image had joined her and the pirate captain now looked upon mother and son.
“Captain Starblazer,” Loranos spoke in a strong and clear tone. “Please pardon the sudden change.”
“Some would call it an intrusion,” Jocasta remarked.
“Not when you are opening a channel to my estate,” Loranos advised. “I am under the impression you have passengers you wish to bring to this very same estate for the purposes of finding a safe port for them, is that correct?”
“It is at that, your lordship. I should have them there in about five days.”
“Consider yourself with granted landing rights at this estate, Captain,” Loranos said quickly. “I look forward to meeting you. It is time we put right what this family has heaped upon you, your ship, and your crew.”
“If you can handle these three bodies, consider the slate wiped clean,” Jocasta offered.
“You are too gracious, Captain. We will discuss the matter further upon your arrival. I will leave my mother to see to our goodbyes. Good travels, Captain.” Loranos stood up from the chair he had been sitting in and quickly walked out of frame and his half of the screen was removed from the signal.
“Broad shoulders on that one,” Jocasta commented. “I know you’re proud, but I have to ask. Should I expect a trap?”
“Duplicity, it seems, is something that only Falco has employed in family matters. Did you say five days?”
“That is what I said,” Jocasta returned.
“Then we shall meet then, face-to-face, Captain. I am looking forward to the event.”
“Here’s hoping it’s more boring than you’re making it sound,” Jocasta said before closing the channel. She sighed before sitting back in her chair. She thought for a moment, finding reason to smile. It seemed that things were going her way.
The smile, however, did not remain on her face for long. She looked across the desk of her Ready Room at a face that was anything but pleased; the face of a woman who felt scorned at the very least. She was, in fact, hostile and contrary, and Jocasta threw up her hands in frustration. “What is it now?! You’ve got a nice little haven waiting for you! Is this still about the bloody lip?”
“You punched me!” Tusyll complained.
“I told you to stay quiet while I was talking to Lady Sylgarr,” Jocasta defended. “You refused and I made you be quiet! Better be glad I used my fist instead of one of these gravity paperweights!”
“And what makes you think I want to be dropped off anywhere, let alone an Imperial estate?” Tusyll barked, bringing a look of utter confusion to Jocasta’s face. “What?”
“I think… no, I’m pretty sure you missed a step,” Jocasta said softly as she put her hand to her chin. “Who gives a shiny Kot what you want?! I could put you out right here if I really wanted to.”
“No you wouldn’t,” Tusyll argued. “You’re not a murderer.”
“You sure about that?”
“Very!” the young woman replied with an annoying smirk. “I’m not saying that you won’t blast me if I give you good enough reason.”
“Okay, that sounds more like it.”
“… but I haven’t given you a good enough reason and you know it.” Tusyll added, pointing at the pirate. Jocasta wanted to argue the point, but she just sighed. “And why can’t I stay on board and join the crew? It’s not like you couldn’t use a Jockey on board!”
“Now see, for that to happen you’d need to have someone on the ship who actually wants you on board… but who could that be. Wait, I got it. Me! You need to have me wanting you here!” Jocasta barked. “And while the time might come when I can look a Jockey in the eye and not get sick to my stomach, let me assure you that this is not the day, and you are not the one!
“Not to mention your baggage coefficient,” the pirate captain quickly added, getting up out of her chair.
“Baggage coefficient?” Tusyll questioned as she stood up.
“Yeah,” Jocasta hissed, “I figured I’d make it easier for you to process. Everybody’s got baggage, little sister, but you’ve got more than most and I’m kind of a simple-minded wench. No one is allowed to have more baggage than me!”
“What kind of rule is that?” Tusyll argued.
“A simple one!” Jocasta barked. “I can’t kick me off my own ship, but if I could, Missy, oh, rest assured I’d have a foot-sized sore on my own ass right now. So the question for you is a pretty easy one: you’re already three of a kind… do you want a repeat of the conclusion of our first conversation?”
“I get that,” Jocasta said in a softer tone as she relaxed in stance and emotion. “Yes, it sucks. But you gotta know, I’ve got my own enemies to make. I can’t keep them waiting too long.”
“You’re so cavalier about it.”
“No I’m not. Just being realistic,” Jocasta said. “The universe has got to balance me out somehow.”
“That has to be the most arrogant thing I’ve ever heard anyone say,” Tusyll said as she stepped out into the corridor. Feldspar stood there, waiting to escort her back to the Brig.
“A very good friend of mine taught me that the difference between arrogance and telling it like it is boils down to one’s perspective,” Jocasta said, thinking of her First Mate and pondering what wonders he might be working at that very moment.
“Just my luck he’s wondering the same thing about me,” she thought, finding reason to smile from the warmth the consideration brought to her demeanor.
“In that case, you might want to stop drinking that rum,” Tusyll giggled. “… it’s got your perspective a little off. And why did you say five days when it won’t take that long to get there?”
“Hmmm, you noticed that, did you? Quick girl.”
“Speaking of quick, with that time I could amp up your systems a bit around here,” Tusyll smiled brightly as she spoke. “… make it harder for people like me to screw with people like you.” Jocasta stopped walking as she thought about the offer. She looked up at Tusyll and smiled before nodding to the affirmative.
“You’ll need to talk to Shotgun, but I’m sure he’ll be happy to get the help.”
“Thank you, Captain!”
“Thank you, Tusyll.” When the young woman turned to walk, Jocasta put her eyes on Feldspar and they flared wide. Nielsen turned and hammered his bracer across the back of Tusyll’s head.
“Ouch!” Jocasta winced in sympathetic pain. “Don’t you have a freakin’ stunner, man?! I could’ve done that m’damn self!” Nielsen stammered as he realized he did have such a device and looked back and forth between the unconscious Jockey and his displeased captain. Jocasta shook her head and stepped around the young man. “You sure are working on that crew name, Feldspar. Get her to her cell and page Shotgun. I’m going to take a walk in the Arboretum.” She walked a few steps and stopped, turning to face the young man who was lifting the unconscious Jockey over his shoulder.
“Sorry, Nielsen, I just pulled a Ratchet Cratchet.”
“Captain?”
“The way you put the Jockey down was excessive,” Jocasta remarked. “… but you read my eyes perfectly because unconscious is what I wanted. Good work.”
“Aye-aye, Captain.”
“Not too shabby a shot either!” Jocasta added as she resumed walking to the lift pole. “Helm, what is our ETA to the Garnet Barony?”
“Looking like sixty-four hours, Captain,” Thomasine replied. “We shaved some time when we ripped through that rendezvous point.”
“Shave a little more, Thom,” Jocasta ordered. “I want to be there in two days and it needs to early morning according where those last transmission coordinates came in from.”
“Increasing drives now, Captain,” Thomasine replied. Jocasta snickered as she reached the pole.
** b *** t *** o *** r **
Hands clapped down on Llaz’s shoulders and gave them a slight shake. He turned in his chair to see a very happy Hennix smiling down on him.
“Yeah, you can’t let us goldbrick around here when there’s work details to get done!” the man said as he took a seat next to the Cutter who was eating his dinner. “That was a sweet set-up, Boss!”
“Glad you enjoyed it,” Llaz replied, quickly making eye-contact with the man. “But make no mistake, it is a work detail. I’ll be reviewing skills and progress every three days.”
“Say what you want, Boss,” Hennix said, waving Llaz off. “It’s not work when you find something you love doing. And I’ll be damned if Z didn’t up and find a way to make it even better!”
“Several ways,” Bruveia added as she walked by. It was clear to see that she too was overjoyed with what the work detail had revealed. “I’ll get your plate, babe. You need a refill there, Llaz?”
“I could stand another cup,” Llaz replied with a smile. “Thanks, Bruveia.”
“No problem, Boss.” The woman nodded once and turned for the serving line. Llaz looked at Hennix and shook his head.
“So, we’re going with Boss, are we?”
“Knew you’d have something to say if we called you Cutter,” Hennix explained.
“You better believe I would,” Llaz said quickly. “She was the best!”
“She was what this ship needed to get to where it is,” Hennix quickly replied. “But you need to square yourself away with something: it’s where she brought it and where she handed it off to you. Annsura might have been able to clean your clock, but you’ve earned your spot, Llaz.”
“Not might have,” Llaz corrected. “She was able to mix it up with the Captain and received one-on-one training from Z. There’s no might have in any of that!”
“Okay, I’ll give you that,” Hennix nodded. “… but I’m not the only one who thinks the office has been improved since you stepped up to do the job.”
“I appreciate that, Hennix,” Llaz said, looking off into nothing, remembering a woman he would have followed into death had she asked. The young man had serious doubts if he would follow himself. “Especially coming from you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Silnee asked as she sat down across from Hennix.
“Hennix has logged more time doing what he does than most of us,” Llaz explained, looking at Silnee and seeing light shine from her eyes once more. “Did you have a good time too?”
“I flew, Llaz,” Silnee explained. “I flew my ship! And that walk from the Sim-Room to here. Yeah, sure, I’ve done it hundreds of times, but that last time was the best!”
“I’m with Tolip,” Hennix quickly added before looking at the woman inquisitively. “Are they really ours though?”
“You will note the lack of presence of anyone else,” Silnee answered. “If it had been for everyone, then every single body would have been in the Sim-Room, or at least scheduled to train in the Sim-Room.”
“Well, everyone is scheduled,” Llaz added. “… but make no mistake, those ships were made solely for Project Pinion personnel. You guys are our star-force!”
“Each with a different job,” Agatha proclaimed as she walked into the Mess Hall. “Feather will scout ‘em out, Trident will board them and Cruel Intentions will provide starborne support!” Agatha hugged Llaz from behind and kissed his cheek. “And you are a darling slave-driver of a man, and I wish I could stay, but can anyone tell me where I can find Shotgun?”
“Fab Lab,” Llaz, Silnee, Hennix, the returning Bruveia, and Marlene said at the same time, falling into light laughter afterwards.
“Did you know they have beds down there?” Marlene asked her pilot. “Sweet little cots that are comfortable as hell. If it weren’t for PT and work details, I doubt ol’ Kryl would ever leave that place.”
Looking at his brace-com, Llaz nodded. “And with the time we have before we reach the Garnet Barony, I get the feeling that he’ll be in there until we dock.” Agatha said nothing. She just smiled brightly, slapped hands with Marlene, and took her leave. “I’m going to file that look under ‘I don’t need to know’.”
“Instincts!” Hennix said, taking both trays from Bruveia so she could sit down beside him. She smiled at receiving both his attention and consideration. “… the man’s got instincts!”
“To the hilt!” Everyone turned to see Cil
rus Cliye standing, once again without a shirt on, glaring at Llaz. He unfastened his weapons belt and handed it to Olreye. “I’m tired of taking orders from a sniveling little snot. I challenge for the position of Cutter. Stand down or be ready to wake up in the infirmary. Either way, I’m about to be Cutter of this boat!”
“I suppose it’s too much for this to be a really bad joke,” Llaz said as he slowly stood up.
“Llaz,” Silnee said, taking hold of his hand. “You can’t use your guns in this one.”
“Thanks for the reminder, Tolip,” Llaz said, patting her hand. “I’ll try not to read anything into that.” Silnee stammered and chose not to say another word.
“I accept,” Siekor called out, getting up from his seat.
“My challenge is not with you, Siekor,” Cilrus replied.
“Oh, but it is,” Siekor argued. “At the moment, Llaz is not Cutter… he’s acting First Mate and I’m his acting Cutter. So if that’s the place you’re looking to fill, your fight is with me!”
“I don’t care what body I send to the Rippers,” Cilrus barked before looking back at Llaz. “Unless you have something to say about this.”
“Siekor, clear all work schedules,” Llaz ordered. “See you in the Rec Room in ten minutes. And you’ll be facing this sniveling little snot,” Llaz said, pointing his thumb at himself.
“That will be fine by me,” Cilrus smiled before walking out of the Mess Hall. Llaz watched him walk out of the room and then turned back to those who had joined him at his table. He smiled at Hennix before speaking.
“How are those instincts now?”
“Last I checked, I’m a bigger than JoJo,” Hennix stated. “… didn’t seem to slow her down from handing me my ass… and we were three-on-one then.”
“Two and a half anyway,” Bruveia added. “I’d still like to get a taste of that Captain block now that my leg’s mended.”