by Jaleta Clegg
"Do you really want to live like this? Do you really want to watch your brother die?"
"Even if we let you have our ship, it won’t do us any good."
"I can get you money, if you need it."
"From the Patrol? I don’t want it."
"I don’t work for the Patrol. Tayvis does."
"And what about the other one? Jerimon?"
"I don’t know what to think about him. He’s Jasyn’s brother."
"You make it sound easy."
"Like breaking into an alien ship and disabling the computer systems and then taking out the force generators while being hunted and chased by idiots. Simplicity itself. This time I’m only fighting a couple of crime syndicates."
"Is that all?" He smiled, but it had rough edges.
"I need your help. You know computer systems. You can help me figure out a way to get my ship back from them. They still have Jasyn and Clark."
"I can’t, even if I wanted to."
"You think I don’t have nightmares?"
"So I’m not as tough as you are."
"Wade, I need your help. I want your help."
He leaned back and closed his eyes. "I can’t."
"Try."
"Dace?" Jerimon sauntered into the kitchen. "I hate to interrupt, but we’re going to go look at the ship. We need you there."
"I’ll try," Wade said. "I don’t promise anything."
"Good enough, Wade," I said.
We went back into the main room. Deke talked animatedly to Scholar and Tayvis. They had papers on the table.
"Easy," Deke said. "I got all the parts. They just need put in and she’ll fly."
Wade looked at his brother then over at me.
"Let’s go look," I said.
We trooped across the lot. The ship was in a shed at the back, a tall grain silo that had been converted over to house the ship. It was an old design, landing on its tail instead of using a maglev field to lower it to the ground. There were two access hatches, the lower one led to the engines, the upper one led directly into the control room. Between them was a single deck with three small cabins and a tiny galley. A ladder connected the three decks on the inside.
I climbed up the side of the ship to the lower hatch and popped it open. The lights flickered on. I went in.
The engine was a mess. Parts were strewn everywhere. I poked at it, looking for a place to start. I wanted Habim there. He could have put it together in an hour and have it working better than new. But I was the closest thing they had to an engineer, except for Deke.
They rigged a pulley and brought him up to the hatch. Wade climbed up and swung him in, settling him in a chair to one side. Now that I could see him, I understood Scholar’s warning. Deke’s legs were withered and twisted, beyond useless. His arms and hands were suffering the same fate. But his eyes were bright and he was grinning hugely.
"The engine core looks good," I said. "Everything else is disconnected."
"But the parts are there," Deke said. "You have to start with the pressure valves and hoses."
"Not by myself," I said, "or we’re going to be here a month."
We got Tayvis and Jerimon and Wade busy connecting tubes and moving parts. I conned Doggo into sitting in a corner and testing valves. We moved Deke’s chair over to the hyperdrive unit. He supervised Jerimon and Scholar while I worked on the sublight system with Tayvis and Wade.
We worked all night. I was tired, my headache was still raging, all of my bruises were still complaining. I ignored them. I had a chance of getting my ship and friends back. Nothing and no one was going to stop me.
I wormed in under the engine and worked a wrench around the bolt I wanted. I was wearing only the tight sleeveless shirt and the pants by then. The rest kept getting in the way. I got the wrench settled on the bolt and twisted. The wrench slipped. I bashed my knuckles on a connector. I swore, loud and long.
"She really is an engineer," Wade said, peering through a nest of hoses at me.
"You ought to wash your mouth out," Tayvis added, grinning next to Wade.
"You want to scrub filters?" I threatened.
"You want some help?" Tayvis offered.
"You couldn’t fit down here if you wanted to," I said. I got the wrench settled and tugged it. It slipped again. I caught my knuckles. They were bleeding this time.
"Take a break, Dace," Tayvis said. He nudged my leg with his foot.
I sighed and realized how tired I was. I squirmed out from under the engine. I sat on the floor near Deke. Jerimon tested connections around the hyperdrive. Deke watched him like a sand cat with a rodent. Scholar was gone. Deke had Doggo rebuilding the stabilizer assemblages. I was surprised at the amount of work we’d accomplished. Another six hours and we just might have a ship to fly. I got up. Tayvis pushed me back down.
"We still need to look at the cockpit," I said as I sat back down.
"Wade’s taking care of that," Tayvis said. "You want something to drink?"
Doggo looked up and grinned.
"Not if it comes from Doggo," I said. I leaned back and closed my eyes, just for a moment. That moment lasted six hours.
Chapter 38
The Avenger limped into a berth at the Patrol station orbiting Tebros. Suweya finished locking the ship down and arranging for repairs before he turned to Lowell.
"Thank you, captain," Lowell said.
"Two weeks before the ship’s ready to fly again," Suweya said.
"May I borrow Commander Venn until then?" Lowell asked politely.
"I want in on the fight," Suweya said. "We’ve been after them for years."
"I can’t wait two weeks."
"How about two days? Get me a priority dry dock and we can be fit in two days."
"Querran will pitch a fit over the expense. You’d better let me sign for it instead."
"I’ll let you talk to her. I believe she’s waiting on Tebros."
"Tell her I’ll be there in two hours. Two days, captain?"
"I’ll send a message when we’re ready. Two days or less, Commander."
"Do you want me to find you a replacement point gunner? I know of several good ones that should be on Tebros waiting for me."
"As good as Ensign Tayvis?"
"They don’t have the attitude problems."
"Then I’ll take one."
Lowell nodded and saluted Suweya. "I’ll arrange priority dock before I leave the station."
The ship bustled with activity as he walked to the hatch. The officer on watch duty saluted him and let him off the ship.
The station was very busy. People in various Patrol uniforms hurried through the docking bay. Most of the slots were full. Lowell saw evidence of damage on many of the ships. He walked through the station, noting everything, not attracting any attention. He wore a plain black uniform, no insignia.
He found the station master at the center of a very large crowd of people. The station master worked efficiently but looked worn and tired. He caught sight of Lowell and stopped, his pen poised over yet another stack of papers. He handed the papers to his aide.
"Take them in order," he instructed the aide. The station master pushed his way out of the crowd and stood in front of Lowell. "Commander Lowell, there’s a shuttle waiting for you in bay seven. I was told to watch for you and send you down to headquarters as soon as possible."
Lowell smiled. "Thank you, station master. I have a request for you. The Avenger needs priority in drydock. Give me two days."
"I can’t do that. I have sixteen ships of that class waiting for repairs already. Whatever hornet’s nest you helped stir up, they’re fighting mad. We’ve had reports of three dozen pirate attacks in the last week alone."
"Give the Avenger priority and I’ll get them stopped."
"No, Commander."
"Don’t make me pull rank," Lowell said in the same mild voice.
The man’s grim smile faded. He looked at Lowell’s empty collar.
"Please," Lowell said.
"Thank you. Two days, please. It’s all I ask." It wasn’t going to be all and Lowell knew it but there was no reason for the station master to know that. "Shuttle bay seven is which way?"
The station master pointed it out for him, glad to get rid of him.
Lowell thanked him again and walked towards the shuttle bay. He would have to make sure the station master lived up to his word.
The shuttle was waiting, standing by just for him. They launched as soon as Lowell got the safety belt fastened. He watched the station drop behind. Tebros grew in the window, a swirling ball of clouds, water, and land. He sat, thinking, during the flight. He put together the facts he knew, the ones he had deduced, and those he was merely guessing. It added up to a nasty picture.
The shuttle touched down. Lowell was escorted off and met by a groundcar and more escorts. In record time he found himself in a plush office located high in the tower of Tebros Headquarters. Querran waited for him along with Commander Jenoshi and Chief Drummond. None of them looked happy. He smiled brightly.
"You almost destroyed my ship," Querran said.
"I misjudged their response," Lowell said simply. "Captain Suweya is very competent. All repairs to his ship will come directly from my budget, not yours, Suella."
"Are you trying to buy me off?" Querran said harshly. The lines in her face were deeper than they had been a week ago.
"Because of your little game, Commander," Drummond said, "we’ve lost three ships and have at least two dozen more damaged and unable to fly."
"You have an entire battle group here," Lowell said. "That should be more than sufficient for a few pirates."
"A few pirates?" Drummond sputtered incoherently. His face turned dark red.
"We’re fighting ships as well armed as our best hunters," Jenoshi said, "and just as fast and agile."
"I know," Lowell said. "I ran into two of them." He sat at the table where the others were sitting. "I took the liberty of ordering another battle group here. They should arrive," he checked his watch, "tomorrow evening at the latest."
"You did what?" Querran gasped.
"This has gone on long enough," Lowell said. "Too much damage has already been done. We have to end it quickly."
"How?" Jenoshi demanded. "Commander Lowell, with all due respect, this is not the Enforcer’s business anymore. You are being relieved of command."
"By whom?" Lowell still smiled. It made them nervous.
"As the highest ranking officer present," Jenoshi said, "I’m relieving you. You will be confined to quarters on Tebros until an inquiry can be held regarding your actions."
"I beg your pardon, Fleet Commander," Lowell said. "You don’t have the authority to do that."
They looked wary now. He studied them with his flat silver eyes and benevolent smile. "Unless you have a direct order from the Emperor himself."
Querran’s face went pale. Drummond choked.
Jenoshi snorted. "Delusional, too. We’ll get medical certification."
Lowell reached over to the access scanner set into the table and placed his hand on the screen. "Access code six four seven nine alpha, priority override."
The screen blinked green and yellow. The others watched, their faces pale, including Jenoshi’s.
"Identify," Lowell said, "name, rank, and authorization."
"Grant Lowell," the computer voice floated into the room, "Enforcer High Command, Director of Information, Authorization code zed blue omega. Identity confirmed."
They froze in place.
Lowell lifted his hand from the scanner. "As I was saying, there will be a second battle group here by tomorrow evening, local time. And support from the surrounding sector Enforcer units. We have the chance to remove the entire upper ranks of two of the biggest crime syndicates. I don’t intend to waste that opportunity. I have in custody Darien Harris, thought to be the head of Targon Syndicate. That thought was, regrettably, in error. He’s had his mind scrambled."
He thumbed the control panel again and requested a map of the sector. Stars blossomed above the table.
"This is where the Phoenix was headed. The only possible destination is Haviland." The star flared bright yellow as he touched it. "The other ship that intercepted us was headed this direction." Five systems formed a cluster of yellow under his fingers. "Your pirate attacks." More colors blossomed, red and blue across the map. "I believe the base of their operations is located here." A single star flared white. It stood by itself at the far edge of the map. Yellow formed a crescent near it. Red and blue circled it farther out. "I’m waiting for confirmation which should arrive very soon."
"What planet is that?" Drummond asked, recovered enough to lean close and peer at the map.
"Xqtl," Lowell said, getting the inflection perfect.
"A deserted planet of ancient ruins," Jenoshi said skeptically.
"The base of operations for both Targon and Blackthorne." Lowell adjusted the map again. A further ring of green bloomed and spread across the map. Xqtl was at the center. "I compiled reports from the last three years. Known crimes committed by both groups as well as locations of ships known to work for them." He touched the map a last time, stars burned violet under his fingers. "Offices of Belliff."
"All based on conjecture," Jenoshi objected.
"As I said," Lowell corrected him, "soon to be confirmed. Beyond a reasonable doubt." He leaned back in the chair and steepled his fingers under his chin. "I suggest you prepare what ships you can. And Chief Drummond," he smiled at the haggard looking man, "give the Avenger a priority dock for repairs. I’m commandeering it for the duration."
Both Jenoshi and Drummond left, looking cowed.
Querran stayed, watching Lowell. "That was cruel."
"But effective," Lowell answered.
"How did you program that into the computer? You have an expert code man working for you?"
"I didn’t have to slip it in, Suella."
"It’s true?"
"Every word."
"No wonder you never wear rank."
"And have everyone saluting so much nothing gets done?" He shook his head.
"Answer a question for me, Grant."
He looked at her expectantly.
"How does this tie in to Dace? Other than Belliff."
"You caught that, I missed it the first time through." He swiveled the chair, studying the dots of color still floating above the table. "Belliff was the obvious connection. Dace destroyed years of work and handed the Patrol enough information to lock away the executives for lifetimes. Darien Harris was the key to the rest."
"How?"
"That’s two questions," Lowell said and grinned. "I’ll answer anyway." His grin faded. "Darien Harris had a brother, Leran Sevolis, a noted linguist and a drug smuggler for Targon. He smuggled Shara off Dadilan for several years before Dace put an end to that."
"Dace destroyed Shara? I’d heard something about it, that it wasn’t available anymore but not why or who."
"She crashed on Dadilan, quite by accident. She left the government in shambles and destroyed the monastery where they made Shara. Mostly by herself. She turned me down when I offered her a job. Leran Sevolis was killed in the fight. They all blamed Dace."
"Harris had personal reasons for wanting her dead, as well as orders?"
"It gets worse," Lowell said. "She was responsible for putting Luke Verity behind bars, as you know."
"And he had ties to both Blackthorne and Targon." Querran sat back and slumped in her chair. "Are you sure this will get them to let her go?"
"I’m hoping," Lowell said. "I didn’t realize just how deep things were until after they hijacked her ship on Shamustel."
"And they’re here, on Xqtl." Querran tapped the white star on the map.
"They have to be," Lowell said.
There was a knock at the door. It slid open and Paltronis walked in. She looked tired with a dangerous edge that warned peopl
e to leave her alone. She dropped a packet in front of Lowell. "It cost two agents’ lives. They confirm Xqtl."
Lowell tapped the packet. Two more lives gone, he thought. And he was responsible.
"Do you still have the package I gave you to hold for me?" Lowell asked Paltronis.
The stocky woman unfastened her top pocket and pulled out a small cloth bag. "Is it necessary, sir?"
"Very, I’m afraid." He opened the bag and poured the contents into his hand.
Querran caught her breath. She’d only seen that insignia once, long ago when she’d attended the Emperor’s coronation as a young major.
He fastened them to his collar with a wry smile. "Give me the Avenger for another week, Suella."
"Sir," she answered.
"It’s still Grant, at least in private." He stood and straightened his uniform. "Is everything else ready?" he asked Paltronis.
"One thing more," Paltronis said. "I have a report that the Gypsies are on the move into this sector. Three times the usual number of their ships. They are looking for the Phoenix. I heard a rumor one of them found it."
"Haviland?" Lowell asked.
Paltronis nodded. She was used to Lowell having information she could have sworn he had no way of knowing.
"Take a scout and whatever crew you need and go there as quickly as possible. If they have moved on, head for Xqtl. They’ll all be there soon enough."
Paltronis nodded and slipped back out. Lowell picked up his packet. He shuffled through the contents. He extracted a single data cube and squeezed it. He watched data scroll through the air. He squeezed it again and placed it on the table in front of Querran.
"Your proof," he said. "Would you mind showing it to the others for me? I have a lot to do and not nearly enough time."
Suella Querran picked up the cube, nodding. She was too old for this. She was going to retire as soon as she got back to Cygnus.
"I’ll see you get whatever retirement package you want, if you’re certain it’s what you want," he said.
"How many more times are you going to let Dace wreak havoc in my sector?"
"You enjoy it and you know it, Suella. Would you like to have dinner tonight? Talk over old times, nothing more."
