by Chandra Ryan
Her eyebrow arched in suspicion as she studied him but she eventually nodded.
“Lieutenant Barkswell.”
The young man stepped forward at his name.
“You have the bridge. The moment the subspace engines are up, enter the coordinates Lieutenant Commander Parker plotted. Until then, keep me informed and make sure no one but Lieutenant Commander Parker or myself get through that door.”
“Aye, Captain.”
He wasn’t exactly happy about leaving Barkswell alone but he wasn’t going to argue. If he did she might make him stay behind instead. “Let’s go.”
She held her hand out to one of her security entourage. The man handed her an assault rifle, which she immediately gave to Parker. The look on the security officer’s face reminded him of a chastising uncle.
“Know how to use that thing?”
Parker braced the weapon on his shoulder and found he was happy with its weight and balance. Looking through the scope, he smiled to himself. The gun wedged up against his body and the adrenaline pumping through him was pretty damn close to a homecoming for him. “Yeah, I think I’ll manage.”
He took the clip out to check the ammo then reloaded it and hung the weapon over his shoulder. He was ready. Which was good since the rest of the group was already leaving the bridge. He followed Harlow and two security officers as they made their way through the intersecting metal corridors. When they reached the weapons lock she stopped and motioned the security officers to break right before turning to him.
“You’re with me.”
Her words sent a rush of pride through him. She could have sent him with one of the security team and had the other officer watch her back. But she hadn’t. She’d chosen him. He wasn’t sure what it meant but it had to mean something.
“I’ve already told you, I don’t need a knight. I can take care of myself. And I can’t have an XO who feels he needs to protect me from my job.”
The realization that she’d kept him with her to give him a private dressing-down didn’t do wonderful things to his ego. Especially since she was wrong. “This has nothing to do with me wanting to protect you. I realize it’s been a while since you’ve had a functioning XO, but security is directly under me. You’re the one stepping on toes here.”
She stopped and stared at him for a moment, her brow furrowed. “Fuck. You’re right.”
Damn straight he was. Still, now wasn’t the time or place to get into it. “We can define things later. But for right now we’ve got to focus.”
She nodded stiffly as she pivoted on her heel and began walking again. They made their way to the passage that led to the holding cells but stopped at the sight of the security officers flanking the corridor.
“Captain.” A young officer stepped forward to salute them as they approached.
“What the hell’s going on?”
“The division fields in the prison cells fell. We had to evacuate. I tried to notify you, but our coms aren’t working.”
The division fields were the electronic shields that separated the prisoners and kept them contained. If they had indeed failed, he could only imagine the chaos and rioting going on behind that door.
Harlow hit her com button. “Captain to engineering.”
There was only silence.
“Engineering, report.”
Again silence.
She turned back to the security officer. “I hate to leave you like this, but I really need to check this out with engineering.”
“We’ll be okay, Captain. Just see if they can do something about our coms when you get there. It feels weird, being cut off from everyone else.”
“Will do.”
They encountered only a few crew members on their way to engineering. Even without the com system it seemed as if they knew where they should be and what they should be doing. It was a testament to what an amazing captain they had. “So what do we do?”
“Engineering will get the subspace engines up and running and we’re going to get the hell out of here. If we can get it all done before we’re overrun, we count it as a victory.”
“And if we don’t get it done before then?”
The cryptic look she shot him made his blood cool. “A lot of my men die.”
Her shudder made his stomach turn. He wondered how many times she’d seen her crew massacred in the line of duty.
She opened the door to engineering and walked through without a backward glance at him. Her back stiff, shoulders straight, she was the image of a collected captain.
“Commander Vance, report.”
His uniform sported large sweat stains under the arms as he saluted before making his way over to her. It took him a few minutes to get to them as he had to pick his way around the groups of computer programmers frantically typing and talking at monitors. “We think we’ve isolated the hack, Captain. But it’s going to take some time to clean the system.”
“You’re sure it’s a software problem?”
“Positive, Captain. I don’t know why I didn’t see it earlier.”
She turned back to the man. “Do you have any suspects?”
“That’d be for security to determine. But since we did just have that conversation, I made a list of people who’ve had access to the systems in anticipation.” He handed her a small chip, his eyes darting from hers back to the small piece of metal several times. “I’ve highlighted the personnel advanced enough for code of this sophistication, but I listed every crew member who’s come near here just in case I misjudged someone’s aptitude.”
“Thank you, Officer.”
He nodded and licked his top lip nervously. “If there’s nothing else, I should probably get back to—”
Harlow interrupted his obvious attempt at being dismissed, saying, “Communications and the division fields are down. They need fixed ASAP. But the subspace engines are top priority.”
“I’ll get teams on it when I can, but we’ve got our hands full.”
“I understand. Just do what you can to get us out of here. You’re dismissed.”
Vance saluted stiffly before leaving them.
Parker watched in disbelief as she plugged the chip into her handheld and started scrolling through the names. “Do we really have time for this? Wouldn’t it be better to do the investigation after we’re certain we aren’t going to die?”
“Engineering is cleaning the system, security is protecting not only the ship but also my crew, tactical is sending a distress beacon and keeping us in one piece so we can leave when the engines do come up. Do you want all that work to be for nothing? If we don’t know who the traitor is, he could upload another hack, or release knockout gas in the ship, or do any one of a million things to keep us from getting out of here. Every member of this ship is doing their job right now except one, and it’s my job to find that one.”
He followed her back out into the corridor. Her head was bowed over the computer as her fingertip followed the columns of names and access codes. She didn’t even seem to pay attention to where she was leading him but he couldn’t help but notice. They were making their way to her quarters. He could tell with each step and turn they took. He wasn’t ready to be alone with her in her rooms but he couldn’t turn back either.
It could be worse though. As they entered her quarters another blast hit the ship and sent her body slamming into his. He was definitely not ready for that. Desire surged through him and made his body shake with need. It’d only been a couple of days since they’d been together. He shouldn’t need her so desperately. But he did. And now all he could think about was getting away from her. Wrapping his hands around her arms, he gently steadied her and then took a step back. “Damn it! That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
He took another step back from her as the trembles quieted and eventually stilled. But he couldn’t tear his eyes from her still-racing pulse at her neck.
Her hand flew to the spot, covering it from his view. “Don’t do that.”
�
�Do what?”
“Look at me like that. You’re over me, remember?”
“I know it’s easy for you. You weren’t in a relationship. But it’s not for me. I have—had feelings for you.”
“You think this is easy?” Her words were hot with anger. “It’s not. Nothing about this is easy. This isn’t what I wanted.”
“Then what do you want?” He wasn’t sure why she was talking to him about their relationship—or lack thereof. Maybe the pressure of the situation and the stress of the last couple of days had worn her down. But she was opening up and that was all that mattered.
“From you? I don’t know and it scares the hell out of me. And I can’t deal with it. Not right now. I need to focus on my ship. I need to find out who the traitor is and make sure they don’t succeed in freeing any of the prisoners.”
“It’s Barkswell.”
“It’s not. I know it isn’t him. When I told you he saved my ass, I wasn’t speaking figuratively. Three years ago he pushed me out of the way just as a transformer blew. He used his body to shield mine from the explosion. He has scars down his back that should’ve been mine. So no. I won’t believe he’s tried to sabotage my ship. Not without solid proof. I owe him that much.” Only he thought he heard a little doubt in her voice.
“Just because he did the right thing three years ago doesn’t mean he’s still a good guy. Things change. People change. You could read his mind. We’d know once and for all who is right.”
“I won’t do that, Parker. I’m not a by-the-book captain but there are some lines I won’t cross. Not with my crew.”
“Okay. I get it. I guess that just leaves me to find proof he’s the one behind this.”
“I’ll find the traitor. I don’t need you to do my job for me. I’m not looking for—”
“A fucking knight in shining armor? I know. But you found one, sweetheart.”
Chapter Eight
Harlow stared at him with her mouth slightly agape for a moment before she thought to slam it shut.
“Come on, Harlow. Think about it. Even if you’re right and it isn’t him, it’s somebody. We need to find out who’s behind this and you don’t have the time to investigate and protect the ship. Let me help you. It’s why I’m here.”
“Fine. You’re right.” That was the shitty part. He was. And if she couldn’t admit it she didn’t deserve the title “captain”. “I can’t be in two places at once. You dig into the who and I’ll keep an eye on the why.”
“Yes sir.”
She put on a layer of thin armor and then left him in her quarters to go check on the prisoners. There was no doubt that the assailants would be making their way to the cells once they successfully breached the ship. If she had any suspicions as to why they were attacked, finding out the prison’s division fields had failed had gotten rid of them.
“Engineering to Captain.” She breathed a sigh of relief as her com burst to life.
“Captain here.”
“We have communications and the subspace engines back online but the division fields are still down.”
“Acknowledged, engineering.” She smiled at the news. Finally something had gone right. “Captain to Barkswell. Get us the hell out of here.”
“Aye, Captain.”
She’d never been a fan of subspace travel but she almost enjoyed the sensation of the world freezing around her this time. Her breath caught and time stretched around her but they would soon be free. The boarding vessels might make it through subspace with them but the war ships wouldn’t be able to follow. They might just have a fighting chance now.
As soon as they burst back into regular space she took a grateful breath. “Report, Barkswell.”
“One boarding vessel made it through with us but there is no trace of the other ships.”
“Good to hear. I’ll be with security if you need me. Captain out.”
When she reached the prison wing of the ship, the guards were still outside with their weapons drawn. She immediately caught them up. “Engineering is working on fixing the division fields but the subspace engines and communications had priority.”
“Of course.”
“We lost most of the hostiles in the subspace jump but there is still one boarding ship attached to our hull. Tactical should be able to handle any possible breach but we believe there’s a traitor in our midst. Which means we need to be vigilant with the prisoners.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll make sure nobody gets past us without your permission.”
“I appreciate your dedication. But I’m going to need you to open the hatch.”
“With all due respect, Captain, we can’t do that. Without functional division fields, that hatch is the one thing keeping the prisoners in.”
“I think you misunderstood me. That wasn’t a request. It was an order.”
He looked at the other guards around him as if he were waiting for some sort of confirmation.
“Open the fucking hatch.” She moved her weapon so she was holding it at the ready. “You can either follow me in or face charges for insubordination. The person they’re after is in there and I’ll be damned if I make him easy for them to find.”
“Of course. Sorry, Captain.” Finally he turned and began entering the code to unlock the door. When the lock popped she took a deep breath and willed her body to relax. Having a shaky trigger finger could and would get someone killed in this situation.
The soldier opened the door slowly. It gave them the ability to gauge the chaos they were walking into and it allowed them time to show the inmates they had weapons trained on them. The last thing she needed was for the prisoners to realize they outnumbered the guards and rush them.
“Everybody on the floor. Facedown. Hands out to the side.”
One of the men started to run toward the open door but a well-placed shot to his leg stopped him.
“The next one will be a head shot. On the ground. Now.” This time they complied. They all lay down on the floor calmly except the man she’d just shot. He was sitting in a ball with his arms wrapped around his injured leg. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to feel bad for him. “I’m looking for Prisoner Lee.”
No one moved.
“I’m not in a charitable mood today. Don’t push me. Where is Lee?”
A shadow detached itself from one of the far corners of the room. As he took two steps toward her she could only assume he was the Prime Minister’s father. He was a large man with a thick beard and a weapon trained at her chest.
“I’m wearing armor. And even if you do manage to get past me, there’s no way you escape my ship alive.”
He lowered his weapon but his smile made her nervous. “Who says I want off the ship?”
“The people coming to rescue you.”
He handed her the weapon as soon as he reached her. “They’re not here to free me. They’re here to imprison my son.”
His words took a moment to sink in. “But—”
“Can I be frank with you?”
Hadn’t he already? “Sure.”
“I don’t need to be rescued, Captain. I’ll be found innocent in a court of law.”
Slowly the pieces started to shift in her mind. “But if you’re pulled off a prison ship everybody would suspect your son arranged it.”
“Isn’t that what you thought?”
Damn if he wasn’t right. They’d been looking at this all wrong. “Then you should have no problem coming with me. If what you’re saying is correct, I’m guessing the raiding party doesn’t exactly want to keep you in good health after making you disappear.”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
“Still, you won’t fault a little caution on my part.” She turned to her men. “Follow us out. Keep your weapons ready. If he so much as twitches, shoot out his knees.”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “Comforting.”
“Maybe not. But at least it’s honest.” She turned and left, confident in the fact they’d follow her. She needed t
o get back to Parker. He had to hear what’d just happened if he had any hope of finding the traitor.
They walked back to her quarters in silence but once they reached the door she ordered her men to wait outside. Once she and Lee were inside she filled Parker in on the new information.
But Parker just shook his head. “As interesting as his story is, it could just be that—a story.”
His response confused her. “What?”
“I admire and respect what he’s done for the people, but he is a criminal. They’re known to skew the truth if not outright lie. If those people boarding us are here to take him and frame his son I’m all for protecting him. But if they’re here to free him, you’ve saved them the time of fighting through security and blasting through a secured door. How do we know that wasn’t his goal?”
“He had a weapon. One he surrendered to me.”
“After you showed the prisoners you weren’t afraid to shoot them if need be. And where did he get that gun? It implies he’s got some pretty serious connections on the inside.”
“Your XO is right. You shouldn’t take me at my word. I may not be lying now but I’ve stretched the truth enough in the past to be suspect.” Lee smiled mischievously at them. “Even Jasper requires some sort of proof before he trusts me. Unfortunately I don’t travel with a lie detector. But I’m open to suggestions as to how to prove myself.”
“He’s not a member of your crew, Harlow,” Parker said. “You could find out if he’s telling the truth easily enough.”
Harlow grimaced at the position she’d just been placed in. But Parker was right. She couldn’t just trust Lee. She might be playing into his plan. “I’m a Sub Type One—a telepath. If you’d allow me, I can access your mind and read your motivation.”
“Nothing you see in there is admissible in a court of law, is it?”
“No, it’s not. Thanks in large part to legislation sponsored by your son.”
Lee nodded. “We may not always see eye to eye but he’s one smart cookie. I’ll give him that. So what would I need to do?”
“Nothing. I just need to touch you.” She held out her hand but paused as he flinched.
