by JN Chaney
“I assure you, it all matters.”
I got up and poured another cup. “Fine.”
Fred continued. “On a certain dig, Darius and a woman named Reslin Gaile, his partner and future wife, uncovered a two thousand-year-old storage device. They thought nothing of it at first, since such machines were common in digs like this and typically yielded nothing of true importance. Usually, you might find a log entry or someone’s personal diary. Historically interesting for scholars, but not exactly pertinent to Darius’s mission.” Fred leaned in. “However, when he and his partner returned to their lab, they began the process of retrieving the stored data within the device. It took several weeks to fully reconstruct the data within, but when they finally did, they discovered a message.”
“What did it say?” I asked.
“Earth is restored. Initiate Project Reclamation.”
“What the hell does that mean?” I asked, setting my cup down.
“That’s what Darius wanted to know. He was thrilled about this discovery, so he returned to his superiors to try and get their backing on expanding the project, this time with more focus. He wanted to search for more clues about Earth.”
“Let me guess,” I said. “They told him to piss off.”
“No, not at first. The Union leadership was actually intrigued by the data Darius collected. They continued to fund his efforts and even elected him as the head of the department. He kept working for them for another twelve years, searching for relics related to Earth, expanding his team, and acquiring more leads.”
“What happened?”
“He failed to deliver anything substantial. After a while, his superiors lost faith in him. They let him go.”
I chuckled. “Figures.”
Fred gave me a wry smile. “Does it? Darius knew what the Union was after. He’d found data on Earth’s lost technology, and he knew what the government would do once they had it. He took his research and left the organization, but he didn’t give up on any of it. He and several members of his team continued to search for the truth. They made it their mission to discover the homeworld.” He looked down at the pad in his hand, and smiled. “Years after he left his job, Darius discovered an archive full of information deep inside some ancient catacombs beneath a mountain on small colony world, far removed from Union space. Among the priceless data, there was a single image that stood out.”
He turned the pad around to show me what he was looking at—a planet, blue and green with expansive continents. I didn’t recognize it, despite my many travels. “What’s that?” I asked, taking the pad from him, and looking closer.
“Isn’t it obvious?” asked Freddie, and I knew that it was. “This is where we all came from, Mr. Hughes. This is Earth.”
Ten
I didn’t believe half of what Fred told me. Hell, I wasn’t sure I even understood it. An undiscovered planet with boundless treasure, hidden for two thousand years, and it just so happened to be the legendary origin point of the entire human race?
Please. I wasn’t your everyday sucker, not like the rest of these fools. I could already see where they were leading me, trying to convince me of some grand lie, just so they wouldn’t have to pay me what I was owed. Help the cause, they’d tell me, but I was no stranger to money schemes. Maybe they really did believe all of this. Maybe they were all good people. But I wasn’t about to give up my fee for the betterment of mankind, even if it was all true. I had a debt to pay off.
I sat in my bunk, sucking on a piece of candy, replaying the events on Epsilon as they had happened. I thought about Lex as she’d sat in that chair, and the ancient machine that sparked to life, revealing a line of dots from one end of the galaxy to the other.
Bullshit, I thought, lying back and scratching my nose.
“Excuse me, sir,” said Sigmond, his voice coming on over the speaker in my room.
“What is it, Siggy?” I asked.
“We are nearing the end of the final tunnel,” he explained.
“Thanks for the heads-up,” I said. “Tell the cult to grab their shit and get ready.”
“You have a way with words, sir,” said Sigmond.
Siggy wouldn’t say it exactly like that. I knew he’d ease up on the vulgarity. He always did. But sometimes you just have to express yourself, even when no one but you can hear it.
I slid out of the bed and got to my feet. “Can’t wait to get this job behind me, Siggy. The sooner we get paid, the sooner I can get my debt squared with Fratley.”
“Of course, sir. I know how you hate getting involved with other people.”
“Are you getting a tone with me?” I asked. Despite only being an A.I., Siggy understood me. Maybe it was all the time we’d spent together or the fact he was built to adjust to his owner’s personality, but he knew how to mess with me the way a friend would. He understood my limits.
“I would never dream of such a thing,” he said.
I touched the button next to my door, then waited as it slid open. “Just remember, we don’t have time to be hospitable. We have to get that money and hightail it straight to Fratley. The sooner, the better, lest I lose this boat and everything in it, including you.”
“I’d rather not have that happen, sir.”
“You and me both.”
As I made my way through the ship, I could hear Sigmond telling each of the passengers what was about to happen. They scurried about, trying to gather their things, filling the ship with commotion.
I entered the cockpit and took my seat. It had taken us two days to return. To my surprise, it felt like we’d only just left.
The ship trembled, a sign we’d emerged from the tunnel. I glanced out the nearest window to see the darkness of space, stars in the distance.
Bending slightly, I tried to see if I could spot Arcadia.
As it slowly came into view, I imagined my account filling with credits. Fifty thousand. One hundred thousand. It would all depend on how much I could squeeze out of that council. These people were a gold mine.
Fred had asked me to stay with them for another job once this was done, but I still hadn’t decided. If I took the work, I’d have to leave and return later. I couldn’t let the debt stand for too long. Not if I valued my life. As soon as I could, probably later tonight, I’d go straight to Fratley and give him his money.
The edge of the planet floated across the glass, growing as we neared.
Something was different now, I noticed. The once quiet world of Arcadia now had several ships waiting in orbit.
I stared at them, curiously. Were they a part of the trade shipments Fred had mentioned? No…they didn’t match the design. These were sharp, triangular vessels. Green flames in white circles had been painted along their hulls.
They were ravager ships.
My skin crawled as I stood there, balking through the glass. What the hell were ravagers doing here? Why would they go after a worthless religious group? Were they—
Before I could finish the thought, I felt the entire floor drop, thrusting me against the wall. An explosion shocked the ship and an alarm rang throughout the corridors.
“Sigmond!” I shouted. “Cloak us and get us the fuck out of here!”
“Right away, sir,” he answered.
Abigail came running out of her room from the other end of the lounge. “What was that?!”
“We’re under attack. There’s a fleet of ravagers out there,” I said, pointing in the direction of the planet.
“Ravagers?” she asked. “What did you do?”
“Me?” I scoffed. “What makes you think I did something?”
“Sir, the cloak has been activated, but I’m receiving a hail,” announced Sigmond. “Should I accept?”
“Throw it on speaker.”
Lex joined Abigail in the hall. “What is it?” asked the girl.
“Nothing,” said Abigail. “We’re handling it.”
“I’m handling it,” I corrected.
“Sir, the channel is
open. You are receiving, but we are not transmitting,” said Sigmond.
“Let’s hear it,” I said.
A second later, a familiar voice came through the ship’s speaker. “Jace Hughes,” said the man I knew as Fratley. “It’s about time you showed up. I’ve been waiting.”
* * *
Fratley was the last person I expected to hear on the com today. I still had some time on the clock before my debt was due. What the hell was he doing here?
“Jace,” said Fratley, his voice echoing through the entire ship. “Talk to me, you old thief. You think you can hide with the cloak I gave you? You ought to know better than that.”
“Does that mean he can see us?” asked Abigail.
“I don’t know,” I muttered.
“Jace, you done me wrong. You done me so wrong,” said Fratley. “Owing me money is one thing, but you killed two of my men back at Galdion. Did you think I wouldn’t notice it was you? Then you come out here to the Deadlands, trying to hide from me. That’s a coward’s way, Jace, but what should I expect of a man who came asking for a cloak, of all things.”
I felt my chest sink. “Shit,” I said, pressing my knuckles into the wall, cracking them.
“Now, you know I’m a fair guy, Jace. I ain’t one to hold a grudge, but you owe me a heaping pile of credits and I need ‘em bad,” said Fratley. “You shot down two of my ships, but I’ll let it go if you’re willing to pay up twice what you owe. You following me, Jace? You hear what I’m saying?”
“That piece of shit,” I said.
“One hundred thousand. You got that much in creds?” asked Fratley.
“Sigmond, start transmitting,” I ordered.
“Yes, sir. Just a moment,” said Sigmond. “Go ahead, sir.”
“Fratley, it’s me,” I said.
“Ah! There he is!” exclaimed Fratley.
I took a breath. “How you been?” I asked, trying to sound relaxed. “I was just on my way to talk to you. Thanks for saving me the time.”
“Does that mean you have my creds?”
“I’ve got a bit, but not everything. That kind of money takes time.”
“That’s not what I need to hear, Jace. I was hoping to have a good day today, but you’ve gone and disappointed me already. You killed my men, blew up my ships, so now you owe me for my loss. Don’t try to weasel your way out of it, either. I’ve seen the holos. I know that was you at Galdion.”
“Fratley, let’s be reasonable,” I said. “Those two ships attacked me when I was leaving the planet on a job. A job, I might add, that I had to take in order to pay you back. Besides, they fired at me first. What was I supposed to do?”
“I’ll tell you one thing, Jace. You don’t shoot down my fighters. That’s what you don’t do,” said Fratley.
“How about I pay you twenty-five thousand now, then get you the rest later?” I asked. “I’m working a job and about to take another. I can pay you with interest when they’re both done.”
“Oh, now that’s what I like to hear. You know, Jace, I had one of my fighters following you for a while. I had to make sure you weren’t running out of the Deadlands, trying to get away.”
“You followed me?” I asked, remembering the slip tunnel from before and how it hadn’t closed immediately.
“You know it’s just business, Jace,” he said. “But don’t worry. I saw where you went. Some abandoned planet with a bunch of old ruins. I figured you must be pulling an escort job. I can respect that. But…” He paused, and I heard him lick his lips. “I gotta ask you, Jace. Were you working for anyone on this planet? Because that’d be pretty unfortunate.”
“Why? What’s it matter?”
“Oh, Jace, you poor bastard,” said Fratley with a laugh. “I’m sorry to tell you, but I was getting impatient, sitting around here for you to come back. I sent my boys down there already, and man, they’ve been busy killing. Been busy killin’ all day!”
My eyes widened as I slowly looked at Abigail. Her mouth was open and she appeared horrified, ready to say something. I pressed my finger to my lips and, to her credit, she kept her composure, at least for the time being.
I took a slow breath, trying to keep my head. I knew Fratley was a piece of shit, but murdering a random group of civilians was something else altogether. “Fratley, call your men off. I need those people alive. It’s the only way you’ll get your money.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Jace. You see, we came out this way looking for you, but we’ve been waiting here a while and my men need a chance to cut loose. You know how it is.”
Lex looked up at Abigail, about to say something, but the nun motioned for her to stay quiet. The two of them stared at me. “Fratley, if you let them die, how am I supposed to pay you?”
“I guess you can’t,” said Fratley, laughing a little. “Boy, ain’t you in a predicament? I’d hate to be in your sorry ass shoes.”
“Goddammit,” I muttered.
“Tell you what, Jace. I’ll give you a few more days to collect what you owe. Just go murder some folks and steal what they got. That’s easy work for a guy like you, ain’t it?”
“Sure thing, Fratley. I can do that.” I had no chance at salvaging this situation. The best thing I could do was agree to his terms and run like hell.
“Good man. Now, you mind telling me what you were doing for these priests? What kind of work did they have you on?”
“I glanced at Abigail and Lex. They stared back at me with terrified expressions. “I was asked to make sure the way was clear for a trip they wanted to take. I was coming back to pick them up.”
“Too bad for you,” said Fratley. “Maybe next time you’ll work faster.”
“I will,” I agreed, sounding complacent. “Anyway, I’d best get going if I’m to pay you what I owe. One hundred thousand credits, I think it was.”
Fratley laughed. “Right you are, Jace! Oh, but before you do, I’ll have to ask you to wait a few minutes. My boys need to search that piece of shit ship of yours.”
“Search my ship? Come on, is that really necessary? I don’t have anything here. All that’ll do is slow us both down.”
“Call it punishment for making me wait,” said Fratley.
Shit, I thought. If he finds Abigail and the others on here, he’ll kill them just to fuck with me.
“Expect a boarding party in ten minutes,” said Fratley. “And Jace, you better not try to fuck with me again. You understand?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I said, looking out the window at the fleet of ravager ships.
The speaker clicked off. “The channel has been cut by the other party,” said Sigmond.
I looked at Abigail and Lex, standing there together. Behind them, Fred, Hitchens, and Octavia were waiting, all their eyes on me. They must have been standing there the entire time, but I hadn’t even notice them.
“The—the church…” muttered Fred. “Are they…?”
“Don’t think about that,” I told him. “There’s no time for grief right now.” If Fratley discovered any of them on my ship, he’d kill everyone just for being in my proximity. He wouldn’t care.
Goddammit.
“This is because of us, isn’t it?” asked Hitchens.
I grabbed the doctor’s satchel from the couch and tossed it at him. The bag hit him in the chest, but Octavia managed to sweep it up. “Everyone, grab your shit, and I mean everything, and come with me.”
“Are you turning us over to them?” asked Abigail, her voice far steadier than the rest.
“Don’t be an idiot,” I said. “They’d kill you, and probably me, too.”
“So, what’s the plan?” asked Octavia.
I walked over to the wall near the cockpit door, then tapped my knuckles against the metal. “See this?”
“The wall?” asked Fred.
I nodded. “Siggy, open it.”
“Right away, sir.”
Just then, the metal on the wall transformed, sliding back into itself, r
evealing a hidden storage area that extended beneath the entire lounge. “Store your shit and get ready for a tight squeeze.”
“What is that?” asked Abigail.
“Most call this kind of thing a smuggler’s bin,” I said. “Today it’s your salvation.”
“I’m not certain I can fit,” said Doctor Hitchens.
“I’ve got another spot to put you,” I assured him. “I use it for the bulkier goods. Now, quick, get every single bag you’ve got and bring it here. We don’t have much time.”
Everyone raced to their rooms, returning momentarily, one at a time with their luggage. Even Lex had a small package in tow, although she didn’t seem anxious, much to my surprise. “You good, kid?” I asked.
“I’m hungry,” she answered. “Can I have some more tomato soup?”
I smirked. “Tell you what. You do what I say and you can have your fill in a few hours. Sound good?”
She smiled. “Okay!”
We stuffed as many bags into the wall that we could fit, while still leaving enough room for Abigail, Lex, and Freddie. The three of them crawled inside, maneuvering around the luggage and squeezing beneath the floor beneath us. They laid on their backs, staring up at us through the cracks in the flooring. “Everyone comfortable?” I asked, tapping where I was certain Abigail’s face was watching.
“We’re all set,” she responded in a muffled voice.
I gave Siggy the order to close the wall. “Don’t say a word until the ship is clear.”
“We understand,” said Abigail.
I turned to Hitchens and Octavia. “Now for you two.”
The three of us went quickly to the cargo bay. “In here?” asked Hitchens.
I nodded. “Siggy, if you’d be so kind.”
The hidden door slid open in the back, behind a series of crates. “I’ll need some help moving these,” I told the two archaeologists.
The three of us hoisted one of the boxes out of the way, which took longer than I expected. When we’d finished, I could see the strain in Hitchen’s face. He was already sweating profusely, breathing like he’d run a marathon. The fat doctor leaned against the box, but I pointed at the hiding spot. “No time to stop. Get in there and don’t say a word. You understand?”
