by J. J. Green
“Really? No, I didn’t know. The minute that I arrived aboard ship I came straight to your cabin. Got some weird looks when I asked where you were. I hope I get time to say hi to both of them before the fight starts tomorrow.”
Jas heaved a sigh when he reminded her of the trial ahead. Everything that was about to happen had regained meaning for her. Before, she’d only wanted everything to be over. Now, she was desperate for the Unity Alliance to win and for Carl to survive. But he’d been flying fighters for five years. It was hardly credible that he’d lived this long. Could he survive one more battle?
“I didn’t know what had happened to any of you for so long,” Carl said. “Then I heard about a new destroyer called the Thylacine, and its commander, Jas Harrington, who’d climbed the ranks on merit. They said she was one of the best to serve under.” He gave a small smirk.
Jas rolled her eyes and batted him. “The ship’s named after you, you know.”
“Huh?” Carl lifted himself onto one elbow.
“It’s a long story, but one of the admirals has a soft spot for me. When the new ship was commissioned and I was chosen to command it, he asked me for suggestions for a name. They went with the one I picked.”
“You think I’m like a rare, predatory marsupial?” Carl asked, one eyebrow raised.
“The Tasmanian tiger came back from extinction, right? When everyone had given up hope.”
He sighed, wrapped his arms around her, and buried his face in her neck.
After a little while, Jas said, “Speaking of animals, where’s Flux? Is he hiding in your cabin?”
Carl sighed again. “He’s gone. He left about four years ago. A planet we freed from the Shadows was his homeland, and he said that now a couple of hundred Earth years had passed, the heat would have died down enough for it to be safe for him to go back.”
“He’d been in trouble for something?”
“Yeah. He’d been hiding out. On the run, he said, though he wouldn’t tell me what for. Looked sheepish when he talked about it.”
Jas wondered how Carl had been able to read the expression on the creature’s face. “I’m sorry. You must miss him.”
“It was for the best. I didn’t want to get the little fella killed. He said to come and visit when it was all over.”
When it’s all over. Jas hoped with all her heart that it would all be over after tomorrow.
“This admiral who liked you,” Carl said. “Was it Pacheco?”
“Yeah, it was. How did you know?”
“Most of the others have three heads, or six legs, or slither rather than walk.”
Jas chuckled. He was exaggerating, but he had a point. “We got to know each other when we served together on the Infineon. He was in command. It was my first posting.”
“So...did you guys get together? It’s okay if you did. I don’t mind. Five years is a long time.” Though he was trying his best to hide it, Jas detected a tone that indicated that he did mind.
“Nothing happened between me and Pacheco,” she replied. She didn’t mention the admiral’s annoying pursuit of her. “How about you? Did you find someone to keep you company between missions?” Now it was her turn to pretend to not mind.
“I couldn’t, Jas. Couldn’t stop thinking of you.” His eyes showed his raw honesty.
Should she tell him that she’d been convinced he was dead? It didn’t seem a good idea. That was a conversation for another time.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too.”
They both slept.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jas’ alarm woke her two hours before the Thylacine was due to jump to the battle zone. Her stomach sank at the thought that, this time, Carl would be among her fighter pilots. The sound of her alarm hadn’t disturbed him, and she studied his tired features with concern. He needed a week of sleep before he would be in a state fit to fly, but she knew he wouldn’t allow her to exempt him from duty.
The fact that she was the person who might be sending him out to risk his life again seemed unbearably cruel. Just when she thought the Shadow War couldn’t ask any more of her, it made another request.
She eased herself out of Carl’s arms and went quietly to take a shower. She would delay waking him until it was absolutely necessary. She would leave just enough time for him to eat and dress before the battle hour.
Running her fingers through her hair as she came out of the shower, she was happy to see that he was still asleep. But as she was dressing, he woke.
“Good morning, Commander,” Carl said from the bunk as she was buttoning her uniform jacket.
She clicked her tongue. “Don’t be an idiot, Carl.”
“You look sneck, Jas. And sexy.” He got out of the bunk and came over to her. He held her upper arms and leaned forward to kiss her, but stopped.
“Krat,” he said, concern overtaking his amorous look. “You’re trembling. What’s wrong?”
She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face into his shoulder. “I guess I’m scared.”
“Scared?” He rubbed her back. “Jas, you’re the bravest person I know.”
“No, I don’t think I was ever that brave. I just never had much to lose. Not until now.”
They stood silently in each other’s arms for a while. Jas lifted her head and kissed Carl on the lips. When he kissed her back, though her heart was sad, her body responded. Her breathing quickened and she lifted a hand to unbutton her jacket at her neck. She pulled Carl closer with the other. He helped her with her buttons, and soon they were back in her bunk.
Their lovemaking was more tender and gentle this time. Jas forgot about anything much else. She even forgot where they were and that time was passing—until the loud ringing over her door chime drew her quickly and painfully back to reality.
“Krat,” she exclaimed, extricating herself from Carl’s embrace and checking the time. “I’m supposed to be speaking to the pilots right now.”
“Who’s at the door?” Carl asked, picking up his flight suit from where he’d dropped it the night before.
She gave him a worried look. Jas hoped it wasn’t who she thought it was. She hoped it was Trimborn, or Sayen, or anyone else but that person. As she picked up her jacket, she noticed the comm button flashing. How many times had she been called without answering?
She hastily fastened her uniform, then opened the interface screen next to the door. Her stomach fell. It was the last person she wanted to see in the circumstances. Pacheco was right outside, his uniform perfect, and not a hair out of place. He looked annoyed. She winced.
“Carl,” she said, “I have to go.”
He was pulling his flight suit over his shoulders. He nodded. “Me too.”
Jas took a breath and opened her door. She rushed out, knocking Pacheco’s shoulder and spinning him around.
“I’m sorry. I’m on my way to the launch bay.”
As she ran, she glanced over her shoulder. Pacheco had managed to catch the door before it closed and was looking into her room. Carl appeared, zipping up his flight suit.
Jas cringed and ran on, wishing she’d had time for a better parting from Carl.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Carl tried to step around the admiral who was waiting outside Jas’ room, but the man blocked his path. He peered at the breast of Carl’s flight suit and said, “Pilot Lingiari, I don’t think we’ve met.”
Carl finished pulling up his zipper. He guessed this was the admiral who had the hots for Jas. He didn’t like the look in the man’s eye. It was the look of someone about to throw the first punch, and Carl didn’t have time for scrapping with love rivals. He had a ship to fly.
“No,” he replied, “I don’t think we have.” Saluting and asking permission for this or that didn’t seem appropriate in the circumstances. “Excuse me.” Carl tried to sidestep the admiral again, but the man put a hand on his chest. Carl looked down at the hand and up into the admiral’s eyes.
&nbs
p; “Being in the commander’s cabin first thing in the morning is unprofessional behavior,” the admiral said, not blinking. “You’re aware that fraternizing while on duty is a court martial offense for both of you?”
Carl tilted his head and looked at the admiral from under his brows. “What I’m doing in the commander’s cabin is none of your business, mate.”
The two men locked gazes for a long moment. Anger and pain flitted across the admiral’s features, but they were followed by something like resignation. His hand dropped to his side, and Carl took the opportunity to leave. He walked briskly away. He should have been in the launch bay with the rest of the pilots ten minutes ago.
After Carl had gone twenty or so paces, the admiral called out, “Lingiari.”
He stopped and turned.
“You’re a lucky man,” the admiral said.
Carl paused before replying, “I know.”
Carl jogged through the ship to the launch bay, where the rest of the pilots had already assembled. He snuck behind the fighter ships and slipped in at the back of the group of men and women. Jas had begun speaking to them already. She was talking about how hard and dangerous their job was and that everyone aboard the ship appreciated their service.
She hadn’t changed much in the five years since he’d last seen her. She didn’t keep herself as fit as she used to, and the strain of command showed on her face. But he found out the previous night and that morning that she was still the same Jas he’d fallen in love with.
She’d said she was scared. He was scared too. Not of the forthcoming battle. He’d lost count of the number he’d flown in the Shadow War. He would try to fly his best as he’d always done. He couldn’t do more than that, and that attitude had stood him in good stead until then.
But he knew what Jas had meant when she’d said she was scared of what she had to lose. Now that they were together again, he felt the same way. He would have given a lot to jump the Thylacine to Earth, fly Jas down to his parents’ old farm, and live out the rest of their years quietly. Maybe have a kid or two if Jas was willing. He could teach them to fly.
There had been a time when he’d only dreamed of piloting starships across the galaxy, looking sneck in his pilot’s uniform, and flirting with his female shipmates, who he’d imagined would all fall at his feet, of course. That time seemed long ago, and he felt like a different person now. Whether it was living through the Shadow War that had caused his change of heart, or because he’d fallen in love, he didn’t know. It didn’t matter. He only had to get through today, and maybe his new dreams would come true.
Jas was finishing up her speech. Her gaze had passed over him all the time that she’d been talking, but as she wished them good luck, her eyes met his. For a brief moment, she had the same expression she’d had in her cabin when he’d felt her trembling. The neutral look of command fell away, and her vulnerability and fear showed through.
He wished they’d had time for a proper goodbye. Or maybe it was best that they hadn’t.
Jas turned and left the launch bay. The squadron leader ordered them into their cockpits, ready to respond instantly to the order to join the battle. Carl climbed aboard his fighter and strapped himself in.
It wasn’t much of a consolation, but he’d always loved the Unity fighter ship’s design. A high cockpit protruding to the front, giving excellent visibility if his scanning equipment failed, and streamlined body with two aerodynamic engines for flying in an atmosphere as well as space. Six low-energy laser emitters faced forward, two on each wing and one on either side of the cockpit. Carl knew these planes’ capabilities like the back of his hand.
Just one more flight. Or maybe it wouldn’t even come to that.
He yawned and put on his helmet, but opened the visor, which turned off the air and power. Reserving those for when he absolutely needed them had saved his life a couple of times. There weren’t many more lonely and isolated experiences than floating in a disabled fighter ship in deep space, waiting for and hoping that someone would be back to pick you up before your oxygen or heat ran out.
The squadron leader’s head appeared at Carl’s window. “Lingiari?” came the man’s voice through his comm. Carl nodded. The man made the universal open up gesture. Carl gave the voice command to unlock the hatch, and with the clunk of heavy metal, the ship complied.
“What’s up, sir?”
“Step out, pilot. Gotta scan you.”
Carl unfastened his safety harness and swung out of the cockpit. The squadron leader ran a Shadow scanner up and down his body. He read the display and nodded. “Just a precaution after your late arrival last night. Can’t be too careful. It seems a bit odd to me that we’re getting special attention. The Thylacine’s the only ship with the full complement of pilots. It’s like we’ve been singled out for something.”
Carl shrugged, but the man was right. It was a little strange that the authorities had gone to the trouble of reassigning himself and two other pilots to the Thylacine at the last minute. The ship was an ordinary destroyer. There was no reason it should be shown any special favor. Jas hadn’t said anything about the battle plan for the ship.
“Anyway,” the squadron leader continued, “glad to have you aboard, Lingiari. I read the service record that arrived with you. I was impressed. It looks like the Unity have sent us their best pilots. You’ve been in this war longer than I have. Not many have survived so long.”
“I’ve been lucky, sir.”
“Takes more than luck to survive the number of engagements that you’ve seen. You could probably teach me some maneuvers, but there’s no time for that now. You were never promoted to squadron leader?”
“I was offered it, but I prefer just to fly.”
“Probably wise. Let’s get through today, then I’d be glad to share a beer with you later when we celebrate winning this kratting war.”
Though the man’s words were light, his eyes told of the pilots he’d spoken to in the same manner for the last time.
“I’d be happy to,” Carl replied.
The squadron leader ordered him to return to his ship. As Carl refastened his harness, he mulled over the man’s suspicions about the role the Thylacine was to play in the battle. But after a moment he gave up trying to figure out what it might be.
Whatever Jas’ task was, it didn’t make any difference to him. He would have to do the same job as always: get close enough to the Shadow ship to penetrate its force field with fighter fire, and destroy whatever he was told to destroy. Then get out of there fast before he was caught in the blast if the ship exploded.
For the time being, however, all he had to do was wait. He settled down to mentally replay his recent moments with Jas.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jas encountered Sayen as she went from the launch bay to the bridge. In a quarter of an hour, the order would come to jump to the star system where the massive Shadow ship had been spotted. Jas was in a rush, but at the sight of her friend, she had to stop to tell her the news.
As passing crew members moved out of earshot, she said, “Sayen, Carl’s here.”
“Carl’s aboard the ship?” Sayen exclaimed. “He’s alive? That’s great. When did you see him?”
“Last night. He came to my cabin.”
“Oh,” Sayen said, smiling. “That must have been quite a reunion. I’m happy for you.”
“I’d be happy too, if it weren’t for what we have to do today.”
“Oh, yeah.” Sayen’s smile fell. “He’s flying, then?”
“I couldn’t persuade him not to. I probably could have thought up a reason to excuse him from duty, but he wasn’t having it.”
Her eyes softening, Sayen said, “If he’s made it this far, he can make it through one more battle. I’m sure of it.”
“I hope so. I don’t know what I’ll do if he doesn’t. I’d given up on him. I’d given up on everything. Then he came back. If he doesn’t survive this, I don’t think I’ll have a reason to go on.”
>
“Carl will be okay, Jas,” Sayen said. “He’s a brilliant pilot.”
But nothing her friend said could dispel the fear that hung over Jas’ heart, and there was no time to talk more with her.
“We’d better go to the bridge,” Jas said.
Pacheco was already there. He was standing—there was nowhere for him to sit. As well as overseeing the battle maneuvers of the Thylacine, he would help to orchestrate other ships involved in the engagement.
His expression was pained and tight as Jas and Sayen entered the bridge. He didn’t look at Jas as she took her seat. Sayen went to her console. The rest of the officers were already at their stations.
“Navigator,” Pacheco said, “Please plot our jump.”
“Yes, sir.” Sayen swiped her screen to activate it and read the display. “Oh,” she said. “K.67092d?”
“Yes,” Pacheco said between his teeth. “Is there something remarkable about that, Navigator?”
“No, sir,” Sayen replied. “I mean, it’s only that I’ve been there before. It’s the planet where the commander and I first encountered the Shadows.”
The Shadow trap planet. Of course. Jas thought. The planet’s designation had been familiar, but she hadn’t realized why until Sayen pointed it out. After all these years, they were returning to where it had all begun.
“Hmpf. Yes, it is a Shadow planet,” Pacheco said. “One of the earliest ones from what we can gather. Possibly the Shadows have their reasons for parking their mother ship there, but that doesn’t concern us today. We’ll be fighting this battle in space.”
Jas recalled the harsh, windswept, barren surface of K.67092d and the hexagonal structures that the poor fool, Master Loba, had insisted were not constructed by sentient beings. No one had ever discovered how the Shadows made their traps, but there was no doubt about what happened inside them. Myth-addicted, resource-hungry Loba had paid for his thoughtless greed with his life.
