The Return: The Conglomerate Trilogy (Volume 1)

by William S Frisbee Jr

  “I will do it,” Leonessa said. No hesitation. She was a real combat leader, her personal comfort and safety was irrelevant.

  “You need to get some rest,” Luke said.

  “I’m okay,” Leonessa said, putting her shoulders back and trying to hide her physical and mental exhaustion. She didn’t fool Luke. She was probably as stubborn as Elena had been.

  “Bullshit,” Luke said. “You aren’t going anywhere until you’ve had at minimum eight hours of sleep and a full meal. I would also like you to visit medical as well to make sure there is not long term physical damage.”

  Leonessa nodded.

  “Aye Commander,” she said and turned to Nelson.

  “I’ll take you to your quarters,” Brita said stepping forward and smiling. More of the crew came out.

  “Amanda?” Doc said coming forward and staring at Amanda. There were tears in his eyes.

  “Dad?!” she said, her voice cracking, Leonessa turned to look at Doc.

  “My god!” Doc said. “You’re alive?”

  Amanda ran and slammed into Doc hugging him.

  “I’m so sorry,” Doc said. “I thought. . . .”

  “Don’t be,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

  Luke raised an eyebrow. “You know each other?”

  They stood there hugging for several seconds.

  “This is my father,” Amanda said.

  Luke nodded.

  “What are the odds?” Luke transmitted to Nelson.

  “Calculating the odds will make my head explode,” Nelson said. “YOU calculate the odds.”

  “I think Amanda can escort you to your quarters,” Luke said and waved the others forward.

  “I’ll be on the CIC if I am needed,” Luke said as Jeeves took over assigning droids to escort people to their quarters.

  Did Topa Suresh know about Amanda’s father too? He would have some very pointed questions the next time he met the Topa. There were too many coincidences here.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  On the CIC

  Luke made it to the CIC and looked at Nelson.

  “The Topa have got to be screwing with us,” Luke said.

  “Or they want to prove something,” Nelson said standing up to look at Luke.

  Luke racked his rifle and helmet then sat back in his chair to stare at the view screen.

  “Any word on the missing crew?”

  “Funny you should ask,” Gray said over the intercom.

  “Doing an analysis on the Tonkan it appears they are genetically similar, which means they belong to a mercenary clan. A little investigation shows it is the Kassak clan which has a couple bases on the planet.”

  “Tonkan are mercenaries,” Luke said. “They aren’t the kind to take initiative. I want to know who they are working for and why they would take humans.”

  “We might check zoo’s specializing in exotic animals,” Nelson said.

  “Or slave traders,” Luke said. “Shit.”

  “A good possibility,” Nelson said. “Unique slaves would fetch an impressive price. It appears there are about sixty-thousand slave trader associations on Bizzen.”

  Luke scowled. It was an unpleasant aspect of Conglomerate society that there was a slave trade. Many people of New Alamo argued it was a sign of decadence and decay in Conglomerate society and Luke would agree. Convicted criminals were enslaved, but then the list of crimes was broad in some areas, and while some empires opposed it, others did not. None of the nations he knew of embraced slavery, but it was tolerated in so many areas.

  Sixty thousand slave trader associations were a lot and meant Bizzen might be a slave-trading hub. It was interesting this information had not been prominent in any reports.

  “Get me a list of the more powerful slave traders who hire Tonkan mercenaries and would have access to the Patrol data net. The Tonkans didn’t just stumble into Leonessa’s crew, they were pointed.”

  “Aye, aye Commander,” Nelson said.

  “Any sign of a Soma?” Luke asked Gray.

  “Not a peep,” Gray said. “Some Brazat aboriginals tried to sneak past, and we let them. Beyond that, we have seen nothing intelligent. It is like a tomb down here.”

  “Copy that,” Luke said. “Let me know if anything changes.”

  “Aye, aye Commander,” Gray said.

  “Jeeves?” Luke transmitted. “How are the Jupes coming along?”

  “They have been processed through medical,” Jeeves replied. “Nothing serious and those wounded are healing well now. Mostly stress, anxiety and malnutrition, but physically they will recover. I would say most of the real damage is mental.”

  “Acknowledged,” Luke said. “Keep me posted.”

  The CIC door slid open and Jeremy came in. There seemed to be a bounce in his step.

  “Good evening Commander,” Jeremy said sounding way too cheerful as he took his station.

  “How’s it going?” Luke asked, looking him over.

  “Good Commander,” Jeremy said.

  “So that was Amanda’s father?” Luke asked.

  “Yes sir,” Jeremy said with a smile.

  “Why are you smiling,” Luke said raising an eyebrow.

  “It’s her father,” Jeremy said. “What are the chances, really?”

  “Yea,” Luke said. “That worries me.”

  Jeremy turned to look at Luke with his eyebrows raised.

  “You think it is some alien trick?” Jeremy asked.

  “No,” Luke said sitting back and sighing. “The chances are against that. The chances are against us encountering other humans this deep in Conglomerate space. Something strange is going on. The Topa sent us here with no time schedule, to find something in the middle of nowhere, and this happens.”

  Jeremy looked at his board, his brow furrowed.

  “Whoa,” Jeremy said looking back at Luke. “Things aren’t adding up.”

  “Yea,” Luke said turning back to his screen. “That’s what bothers me. We left a month ago, before the crew of the Shrike entered the wormhole. We were given some very specific coordinates and look what we found?”

  “You think the crew of the Shrike is your Soma? But how would the Topa know they would be there?” Jeremy asked. “Wow. Is this usually what you deal with?”

  “Suresh said ‘she’ so I’m inclined to believe it was someone specific,” Luke said.

  “A ship can be a she,” Jeremy said. “Maybe the Topa knew the Shrike was coming and would most likely use that port.”

  “Except the Shrike couldn’t land in atmosphere and our meet point was deeper under the port,” Luke said.

  “Why aren’t you with Amanda and her father,” Luke finally asked.

  “She needs time alone with him,” he said. “That’s part of the reason she wanted to be a mercenary and explorer, so she could find a way back to him.”

  “Really?” Luke asked, maybe he should investigate a little more. Why did his apprentices want to be mercenaries?

  “Why are you here?” Luke asked.

  “Amanda is,” Jeremy replied beginning his search of the Bizzen net.

  Luke was quiet. “Do you know why Brita is here?”

  Jeremy shook his head. “I hadn’t asked her yet,” he said.

  “Hmmm,” Luke said going back to his own searches. It would be easier to concentrate on simpler things, like finding four lost spacers who were being hidden on a planet of trillions.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Another Formal Dinner

  “No dreams or nightmares,” Musashi asked when Luke entered the dojo. Luke glanced at Brita who was already there and practicing with a pair of rag dolls.

  “No,” Luke said. “I slept good.”

  “I’ll mark my calendar,” Musashi said. “This is a first.”

  “Stuff it,” Luke said and Musashi smiled.

  “What will it be today?” Musashi asked and Luke shrugged.

  “How about I give you a break?” Musashi said and Luke relaxed preparing f
or combat.

  “Arm or leg?” Luke asked sizing up the rag dolls and not letting Musashi out of his sight.

  Musashi chuckled, “Not like that.”

  “Liar,” Luke said not falling for that old trick.

  Shrugging, Musashi went back to watching and advising Brita. Luke did his stretches and light cardio exercises watching Musashi and his rag dolls, which would attack as soon as Musashi considered him ready.

  * * *

  “Formal dinner at eighteen hundred,” Jeeves transmitted to Luke.

  “What do you mean ‘formal’,” Luke transmitted back. “I’m the Captain of this ship and I didn’t approve a formal dinner. I’ve worn my formal uniform one too many times this decade.”

  “Thank you,” Jeeves said. “I’ll be in your quarters to help you prepare beforehand.”

  “What about the crew of the Shrike?” Luke asked. “Are they going to wear their rags?”

  “Of course not, sir,” Jeeves said. “We have been able to manufacture dress uniforms and other clothing for them.”

  “Have they completed their medical upgrades?” Luke asked.

  “As much as they can,” Jeeves said. “It appears the Jupiter Alliance technology has not advanced as far as we would have expected. Based on the technological level of New Alamo they have progressed little.”

  “There is a lot we can do for them?” Luke asked.

  “Without a doubt,” Jeeves said. “Now I expect you to be in your quarters at seventeen hundred. I will not tolerate any tardiness, sir.”

  “Fine,” Luke said. “I’ll be there a quarter after.”

  “Very good sir,” Jeeves said and Luke suspected the droid had expected Luke’s response. Jeeves seemed to like having people onboard the ship and being busy.

  “I remember a time when I was in charge,” Luke muttered returning to his searches, sending out another e-mail for information from a potential information broker, but it was hard to keep the smile off his face or the bounce out of his step.

  * * *

  Luke stood outside the hatch at eighteen hundred ships time. He looked good in his full-dress uniform as he stared at the door. He had fought so many battles, he had faced death so many times, and he had wanted death for so long. The Leonis Ultio had always been empty of human voices, of human footsteps, of people. Inside were many people, and he had butterflies in his stomach.

  The door was standard hull metal. It had the side profile of a lion as the emblem on the door. The emblem was everywhere on the ship. It had been one of the few demands he made on the designers. Lioness had been Elena’s call sign.

  Now he wondered why he had done that. To honor her? To remind himself how much he missed her? So he would never forget her? Was it time to change?

  ‘What the hell?’ he asked himself standing there staring at the door and the emblem. One more step and it would open for him and he would have to face many people in a social environment. People would try to relax and enjoy themselves in his presence and he was supposed to help them and enjoy their company. Dinner was a time honored social tradition among humans. It was a time to relax and talk about things other than business, a time to eat, tell stories, and listen. He hadn’t attended a formal event since before Elena had died. Without her he couldn’t stand to enter the room. He had never been to a social event without her there to help and shield him.

  “It is another kind of battle,” Musashi said softly. Luke turned around and looked at the droid who had snuck up behind him. He was polished black with a shiny black harness. Even Musashi was dressed up as if for parade.

  “I’m not ready for this,” Luke said. “I’m used to being alone.”

  “You are never alone Commander,” Musashi said.

  “I’m not ready for this,” Luke said and motioned at the door. “Not yet.”

  “You can walk in there on your own two feet or I will throw you in there and onto your ass, bloody and bruised,” Musashi said softly. “You know my preference and you have been anti-social for too long. Solitude is not getting you over Elena.”

  “It has been too long,” Luke said bracing his feet. “I’m not ready for this. Too many people, too soon.”

  “It is another challenge,” Musashi said, taking another, more menacing step toward Luke. “Do you want the others to see us fighting?”

  Luke looked at Musashi.

  “Do you think you intimidate me?” Luke said ready for Musashi’s attack.

  Musashi smiled. “You know I am more brutal when I don’t think you are trying hard enough. You can go in there unless you are too weak.”

  Luke recognized the taunt.

  “Are you scared Commander? Too many memories? Too much human interaction? Too many reminders of what you lost? It has been forty-five years. That is enough time.”

  Luke glared at Musashi as he came closer.

  “This may be one of your more difficult battles,” Musashi said. “The enemy is yourself. Which one of you is stronger and which is weaker?”

  Musashi walked past Luke and entered the hatch sensor range. The doors slid open and everyone looked at the doorway to see Musashi entering with Luke behind him.

  For a second Luke was stunned and imagined he had the deer in the headlights look as everyone looked at him.

  “Attention on deck,” Musashi barked out and everyone stood at attention, waiting for Luke to enter.

  Luke cursed himself. Musashi had outflanked him and taken him by surprise.

  Strolling in as if he just arrived, Luke looked around. This was not a command situation requiring he take command and give orders, but he could act like it.

  “Carry on,” he said before the pause became awkward. He nodded to Leonessa wearing a Jupiter Alliance dress uniform. She looked magnificent, as did Brita in her dress uniform, like Luke’s but minus the excessive, in Luke’s opinion, medals. Jeremy and Amanda were also there talking with Doc. Unlike Luke and Brita, they were wearing naval dress whites. Burke was deep in conversation with Scotty, Luke’s droid engineer. Felix was sitting in a corner watching everyone.

  There were quite a few of Luke’s sentient droids in attendance and it looked odd. Many of the Shrike crew had found friends in the droids, which was puzzling to Luke at first. The large number of droids in the room relaxed him though since he had been intimately familiar with the programming and focus of all them. They were his crew and his friends, even if they were not human.

  Nelson approached Luke.

  “Good evening sir,” Nelson said and Luke cocked an eyebrow. Nelson shrugged. Luke was not used to such formality from his droids.

  “What’s going on?” Luke transmitted to Nelson.

  “What do you mean?” Nelson asked.

  “Why all the droids?”

  “We are your crew,” Nelson transmitted. “We are here for several reasons. First to support you. Second to help keep the crew of the Shrike from overwhelming you and third because we are curious. We don’t have many visitors and as odd as it sounds we like humans.”

  “You never go into battle alone, Commander,” Musashi transmitted. “Whether you like it or not, we have your back.”

  “Thank you,” Luke said. When he looked in their direction most of the droids nodded to him. It helped.

  Leonessa and Brita approached him.

  “This is a magnificent vessel and crew, Commander,” Leonessa said.

  “Thank you,” Luke said. “I’m very proud of them.”

  Leonessa looked at Nelson.

  “I can’t believe how human they are,” she said.

  Nelson smiled pleasantly and said, “I don’t know if that is an insult or compliment.”

  “Definitely a compliment,” Leonessa said. “You are a wonderful, thinking person. Loyal, intelligent and capable.”

  “Thank you,” Nelson said and gave her a short bow.

  Leonessa looked at Luke. “What you have done is incredible,” she said. “What is New Alamo like?”

  Luke smiled. Nelson winked a
t him.

  “It has come a long way,” Luke said, not sure where to begin, mostly because he didn’t know. Every waking moment he had spent on New Alamo he had been planning on how to get away from it.

  “We are making use of, and improving on some of the technologies the Topa have licensed to us,” Luke said. “There is a lot going on. To be honest I spend most of my time away, but perhaps Brita can provide more details since she is good friends with the Prime Minister?”

  Brita smiled at Luke and Leonessa.

  “I just received a notification of a Topa vessel that has entered the system and is coming in this direction,” Nelson transmitted with a look of surprise on face.

  “Incoming transmission,” Nelson said aloud. “From the Topa vessel.”

  “Patch it through,” Luke said. “Excuse me please,” he said to Leonessa and Brita.

  “Friend Luke,” Topa Suresh transmitted. “May I join you?”

  “This is not the best time,” Luke transmitted back, wondering how he could punish the prick.

  “Please?” Suresh asked.

  “Crap,” Luke said aloud and then transmitted. “If it is urgent.”

  A blue shimmering curtain opened not far away and Suresh stepped through. Everyone else stood still, motionless, staring, unsure if they should run or attack.

  “Thank you, friend Luke,” the Topa said, ignoring all the stares. All conversation in the room stopped as everyone stared at the Topa. Felix stood up and came over to stand between Luke and Leonessa

  Suresh looked around and smiled with his little mouth and then his eyes fell on Felix where they stayed for what seemed like a very long time. His smile remained frozen, and the silence got awkward.

  “I seem to have disturbed a social gathering,” Suresh said tearing his eyes off Felix. “What is the occasion? A wedding?”

  “Just dinner,” Luke said nearly growling.

  Suresh’s eyes fell on Leonessa.

  “Most excellent,” Suresh said. “You found her. Congratulations. I wasn’t sure if you would.”

  “You have some explaining to do,” Luke said walking up to the Topa and looking up. The Topa towered over him. Luke was used to towering over people.

  “I just notified Gray he can begin withdrawing to the ship,” Nelson transmitted.