Far From Home: The Complete Second Series (Far From Home 13-15)

by Tony Healey

  "He's definitely one of a kind, I'll give him that," Jessica said. "So, I guess this is goodbye for the moment. I'm not sure how this will play out now. I'd imagine the Admiral will want to arrest Kerrick first before he does anything official. We'll remain in orbit regardless. You might even see us, if it's a clear evening."

  Her Mother held out her hands. Jessica took them, and it occurred to her for the first time to wonder if they shared the same hands. She looked down. Yes, there was a resemblance. Her Mother gave her fingers a firm squeeze. "I'll look for you."

  Jessica smiled. "Bye."

  "Bye Jess."

  58.

  The shuttle settled on the hangar deck, the servos whining as they balanced its weight to keep it level. The great hangar doors closed and the shuttle's occupants waited while atmosphere flooded the bay.

  "So, what now?" Hawk asked.

  Jessica sighed. "I'm not sure. That's the truth. All I can do is wait on Admiral Grimshaw, see what happens with Kerrick. Until then, I think we should stay here, protect Doctor Kingston at all costs. She's the one witness whose testimony will see that man behind bars for good."

  Gentry cleared his throat behind her. "War. That's what all of this boils down to."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Their business is war, dear Captain. So when the war with the Draxx ended, they started looking for the next enemy. Now they have it. The Namarians. It's all in the service of keeping war – wherever it is and whomever it is with – going. Keep the machine they're all so very used to from stopping for good," the Doctor said.

  "I daresay you're right," Jessica said. "There must be quite a few who were secretly saddened by the end of the Draxx war. I can honestly say, however, I myself was not one of them."

  "No, no, I do not believe you were, anyway. I was just speaking my mind, is all," Gentry said.

  "Kerrick must be the architect of this. Turning a long-forgotten race into the latest 'Union's Most Wanted.'"

  "Quite true," Gentry said. "Or perhaps he too has a Master. Someone holding the puppet strings."

  "But who?"

  "Captain, if I knew that . . ."

  She waved a hand at him. "I know I know. Dumb comment, yes?" The green light flashed from inside and the door opened, lowering a short ramp to the hangar deck plating. Jessica hardly gave it enough time to settle before she'd walked down it and off, away, toward the rest of the ship.

  *

  "Captain!" Chang bounded forward the moment Jessica stepped through the doors of the Defiant's Command Deck. "We've got a situation."

  "Calm yourself, Commander. Slow down," Jessica said sternly. She looked around. "What's the problem?"

  Chang took a deep breath. "Something you should hear."

  She gave Rayne the nod, and a pre-recorded message began to play on the overhead speakers.

  "This is an official statement from the office of the Vice President," it began. Jessica found the nearest seat and settled into it. "We have just received word that one of our biggest talents, Admiral Grimshaw, was killed less than two hours ago. While the investigation is in full swing to ascertain precisely what happened, we do have several key facts. All of which points to the culprit behind the death of one of our own officers."

  He paused for effect.

  "Captain Jessica King, currently wanted for theft of Union property and treason, is believed to be the terrorist behind the Admiral's death. She and her co-conspirators will be found and punished to the full extent of the law. So I ask you all now. Whatever information you have, however small, please come forward. Help us to protect the Union and its citizens by apprehending criminal Captain Jessica King and her crew . . ."

  "That's enough. Shut it off," she said weakly. Suddenly it felt as though all the strength had drained out of her. Jessica looked down at the floor.

  Complete silence surrounded her.

  Admiral Grimshaw . . . killed? It didn't seem possible. Her ally, on his way to arrest a corrupt influence within the Terran Defence Force itself. Killed. Murdered, most probably.

  And now she'd been framed for his death? It was the ultimate betrayal.

  But one thing occurred to her, as cloudy as her mind was in that moment. Now she knew the puppeteer pulling all Kerrick's strings. The Vice President himself.

  "Captain, what're we going to do?"

  Good question, Banks, Jessica thought. Our only ally is gone. Kerrick and the VP have framed us for Grimshaw's murder, coloured us as reckless saboteurs and assassins. What do we do?

  "I need to think. Clear the room," she said, pacing. "Give me a moment."

  They all filed out to give her some space. She waited for the door to close behind them before looking up at the viewscreen display. Their side of the planet turned toward sunset now. The storm was in full swing, directly over the facility. Blasting it, she knew, with enough sand to bury any ship to the point it'd never fly again.

  Jessica closed her eyes. Tried to think.

  I don't have long, she thought. I don't have long at all.

  *

  They waited for her to speak, their expectation hanging on what she might tell them, their hope for what was to come depending on whatever she decided.

  "I run," she said. "We stick with the plan. You tell them I tricked you into coming, and then I deceived you. I stole a ship and left. You have no idea where I went."

  "Captain, there's got to be another way," Chang said.

  "Yeah, come on, we gotta think of somethin' else," Hawk agreed. "Ya'll be hunted one side of the galaxy to the other."

  "I've made my decision. We knew it would go something like this. I didn't expect the Admiral to be killed, that's for sure. And I didn't think, not in a million years, that it would be me put on offer for his death, either. But, this is what's happened. I have to deal with it. As for the rest of you, however . . . you do not."

  The Chief stepped close. "All due respect, but yes we do. I'm coming with you."

  "Chief . . ."

  "We stand together."

  "It's all very good, but it might mean death," Jessica warned. "If we're caught, they will do everything they can to push for a public execution. Mark my words."

  "That's not happened in two hundred years," Gentry said.

  Jessica's eyebrow rose. "Well Doctor, there's always a chance to make exceptions. Especially for the galaxy's most wanted woman."

  "What will you do?"

  "Attempt to clear my name, set everything right. Clear the Union of corruption. Show others that our leaders are not putting the people of the Union first, but the Union itself before anyone. Pushing forward a new war, setting free a new enemy into known space and manufacturing a new kind of soldier to fight their new war for them," she said, shaking her head. "Grimshaw didn't agree with it. If Del were still here, he wouldn't agree with it either. I must show Kerrick for what he is. Make him answer for causing all of this."

  "So who stays and who goes?" Banks asked.

  "Commander," Jessica said to Chang. "You are staying here. And you Olivia. I guess the same goes for you, Doctor Gentry and Doctor Clayton."

  "I'd gladly go with you, Jess," Clayton said. "You know that."

  She smiled at him. "I know, Doctor. And I'd gladly have you with me. But you'll be more help this side of things."

  "Please let me go," Gentry said. "I'm up for an adventure."

  She couldn't help but laugh. "Doctor Gentry, you never cease to amaze me. But no, I'm sorry. I could still use someone with their finger on the pulse. Someone who can provide me with accurate, reliable data if I need it. I hope you both understand this."

  "Yes," Clayton said. "Of course."

  "I guess . . ." Gentry said, looking away, visibly upset.

  "Ya know we'll be comin'," Hawk said, his arm around Selena.

  "Wouldn't miss it for the world. I've always liked the idea of an outlaw lifestyle," Selena said.

  "Okay. What about you, Eisenhower? I'll leave the decision in your hands," Jessica said.

/>   He sighed. "If I were twenty years younger, I would. But now? I don't know I'd be much use."

  She stepped forward, took him by the shoulders, planted a kiss on his cheek. The Master At Arms blushed, cherry red.

  "Bless you," she said, a wide grin on her face.

  "Well if I'd know there'd be kissing . . ." Eisenhower quipped. They all burst into laughter, Jessica among them. It seemed bittersweet to have them there, one last time, and be able to say goodbye to those she might never see again.

  "How about you, kid?" Hawk asked Banks.

  The helmsman chewed his lip as he considered.

  "The decision is yours," Jessica told him. "If you stay, you will have a bright future ahead of you, I know it. Don't turn your back on a good thing."

  He looked at her, eyes wet. "Captain, it's been an honour. But I can't walk away. I think I have to stay. I'm sorry."

  "Don't be, Kyle. You'll make Captain yourself on day, mark my words. Don't ever regret doing what you thought was right. We each have different paths," she said. "This is mine. The Chief, Hawk, and Selena are going to walk the same path. The rest of you will take another. But perhaps . . . just perhaps . . . though we walk a different route, we're still headed the same way. And I take that to mean that one day our paths will cross, will bring us back together. It's that hope I'll hold onto. It's that hope that will keep me going."

  "I wish it were different, Captain," Chang said.

  "So do I," Jessica said. "So do I."

  59.

  "You know, it's weird. I came on this mission to get some kind of vengeance," Meryl said as they walked along the corridor together. "And yet it's not so black and white as I thought it'd be."

  "No, you're right. But don't think we won't make Cessqa pay for what she did to Del, Chief. She will, one day. But for now, we have to deal with the corruption that let all of this happen. In fact, the corruption that manipulated it into happening," she said. "Kerrick and the Vice President hold as much of the blame for Del's death as Cessqa does."

  "I know," Meryl said bitterly.

  They reached Jessica's quarters. "I'm going to grab some things. I suggest you do the same. Unfortunately I've had to leave a lot on the station. Anyway, meet you in the hangar bay in, say, fifteen minutes or so?"

  "Sure," the Chief gave her arm a gentle pat, then left her to get her things. Jessica walked into her quarters and packed as many civilian clothes as she could into a carryall.

  She pushed her uniform tunics to one side, her eyes alighting on the one with Del's bloody handprint across it.

  I shouldn't take this, she thought. It needs to be left.

  She scooped up the few pictures she had in frames, data tablets, several bottles of booze that had been gifts. One of them from Del. She stopped, held the bottle in her hand, looked down fondly at it. She remembered when he'd given it to her. It made her chest ache.

  "Memories," she whispered, surveying the quarters that she had called home for a long time. "Dust on the wind."

  She packed the bottle, checked around for anything she might have missed. There was nothing overly sentimental she thought she should take along with her. Jessica made to leave, then stopped at the threshold. She turned back, dropped her bag on the floor, walked to the bed. She got down on her hands and knees and felt around beneath the frame. Her hands found the book she'd stowed there and she pulled it out, regarding the cover.

  She remembered the day Singh had given it to her as a birthday present.

  "What's this?" she asked.

  "A present. Isn't it your birthday?" Singh asked.

  She took the gift from him, started to open the wrapping. "You shouldn't have."

  "Well, I have, so just open it," he said with a smile.

  She pulled it out. A book. "Great Expectations by Charles Dickens," she said, looking it over. "You know, I don't believe I've read it."

  "It's a classic. Hard to find these days, actually."

  "What's it about?"

  Singh smiled. "It's about many things, Jessica. You'll find out just what when you read it. But overall, the book is about how life lives up to your expectations of it. Not everything works out the way you thought it would. That's life."

  She laughed. "It all sounds pretty deep."

  "Well," he said with a shrug. "It's not really. I have to confess that I bought it more as a reminder than a book."

  "A reminder?" she asked. "A reminder of what?"

  "That although things sometimes don't pan out the way you wanted them to, always appreciate what you have. Make the most of it. Life . . . it goes so fast. The worst you could do is be unappreciative of having your orbit of this life. Whatever comes, know that it was always out of your hands. Fate had other plans. You simply went along for the ride and did your best, regardless of your expectations."

  Jessica stroked the front of the book cover with her thumb. Several tears splashed down its front, and she wiped them away. She looked up, tried to fight it all back. It was time to leave. Time to move on. Earlier that day she'd seen a change in the weather. Something about to happen. Something beyond her control.

  "Time to go along for the ride," she whispered on her way out the door.

  *

  They filed into the Captain's yacht one by one, bidding farewell to those staying behind as they went. Jessica entered the craft last. She hugged each one of them in turn, coming to Commander Chang last.

  "Well this is goodbye," she said and drew her in for a strong embrace.

  "Good luck Captain, it's been an honour," Chang said. "How long shall I leave it until I call you in?"

  "Give me an hour. Then tell Kerrick what happened here."

  The Chief appeared back in the doorway again. "Sorry, I almost forgot. Chang, do me a favour will you?"

  "Anything," Chang said.

  "Tell Belcher and the others that I'm sorry. And that I'll miss them, even if they're the dirtiest, smelliest bunch of engineers I've ever had the misfortune of working with," she said with a grin.

  "I will, Chief," Chang said.

  Clayton came up the line. "Jess, about before . . ."

  "Old history," Jessica said. "Forget it, Doctor. I have. Thanks for everything. I always appreciated it."

  "Find a way of staying in touch," he told her. "I mean it."

  She saluted him. "Yes sir."

  With one final glance back at Commander Chang, Ensign Rayne, Kyle Banks, Dr Gentry, Dr Clayton, and Eisenhower, Jessica went inside and hit the door controls. The ramp receded into the ship, the door slid down and she stood there staring at nothing. "Goodbye," she whispered.

  60.

  Kingston waded out into the storm, wrapped in heavy clothing, her face covered by a fine mesh that protected her from the dust and silicate swirling about on the wind.

  Jessica stood within the open hatch of the yacht, her eyes narrowed against what was attempting to blow inside. Kingston carried two bags, and she moved hurriedly up the ramp. The moment she was inside, Jessica closed the hatch again.

  Her mother removed the mesh around her face.

  "Told you the storms were bad."

  "I believe you now," Jessica said. "Did you leave the message I gave you?"

  Upon arriving back there, Jessica had gone back inside the facility along with Hawk. There she'd explained to Kingston everything that had happened. And she'd left a data tablet containing a lengthy message, should the right person come looking for her.

  "Yes. It's with Caise," she said.

  "Him? Is he the right choice?"

  "Believe me, he may be soft, but he's the most trustworthy person I've ever known. I'm confident he'll do the right thing," Kingston assured her.

  "Good. I'll trust your judgement."

  "Mother knows best, Jessica," Kingston said. She picked up her bags and brushed past, a half smile on her lips.

  "Sure," Jessica said.

  61.

  They watched the captain's yacht rise through the darkening atmosphere of Zac'u, headed back in
to space.

  "This will be our last farewell," Jessica said over the comm.

  "I wish it weren't Captain," Chang said.

  "There is no other way," Jessica said. "And I'm not the Captain anymore, Lisa. You are."

  Lisa shook her head, though Jessica could not see it. "You'll always be my Captain."

  Silence for a moment, then, "I have left a message at the facility. Should anyone friendly come asking. It's in the hands of Doctor Caise there. Please remember that."

  "That codfish." Gentry remarked at the rear of the room.

  Chang ignored him. "I will. Good luck."

  "Thanks," Jessica said. "We'll need it."

  62.

  Hawk turned around in the pilot's seat. "So, uh . . . where we goin' exactly?"

  "Off the grid," Jessica said.

  "So . . ."

  She swallowed. "There's a planet called Steria. You'll find it in the nav system records. It was never settled properly, though there was a brief attempt at a colony for a time before the place was abandoned."

  "Abandoned? Why?" Selena Walker asked.

  "It was too extreme. Steria is quite unique, in that while it has a breathable atmosphere, one side of the planet is forever covered in shadow, the other baked by the sun. It is literally a world of night and day. The colony was somewhere in the middle. 'Twilight Town' or something. That's what they called it. But it never worked out," Jessica explained.

  "So I guess there's huts, and the like, all just sittin' there," Hawk said.

  She nodded. "Exactly. No-one will think to look for us there."

  "Sounds good to me," he said, returning to the helm console to input their destination.

  They passed by the Defiant. Jessica watched from a nearby viewport as she slid past. "Will we ever see her again?" she asked quietly.

  No-one offered an answer – for there was none to give. Suddenly everything seemed so uncertain, so up in the air. Jessica felt a single tear break free, roll down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly, before anyone could notice.

  Goodbye, she thought. Then their little ship went to Jump and the Defiant was gone.