by DJ Morand
“Figures. Do you understand the parameters I gave you prior to loading you?” Abel asked.
“Statement: Observe and report directly to your neural link,” ADM’s intonation suggested pride.
“Good, at least you can follow those orders. I'll figure out how to remove the precursor later. Suffice to say I don't trust the crew I am taking onboard my ship. I want you to watch them and report anything suspicious. Understood?”
“Confirmation: Yes,” ADM replied.
“Great, begin silent operations now, answer to no one but me,” Abel ordered. “One more thing, keep an ear out for long range transmissions or anything from the TP-D Justice.”
“Confirmation: Affirmative,” ADM said.
The holographic display of ADM vanished and Abel noted that the console remained lit.
When we’re in space it won’t matter, he thought. While we’re on the ground it might look suspicious. Meh, forget it, he decided after considering for a moment and wondered if he really felt he needed to turn off the console lighting.
Abel turned around and exited the command deck. He kept the same basic design as the Kodiak. Familiarity was something he needed. After a short few steps he found the descent ladder to crew berthing. His foot hit the first rung and a loud clang rang from the metal on metal contact. Abel lamented the loss of his leg, but not more than he lamented the loss of his best friend. If he was honest with himself, which was not something he was particularly good at, he understood why he had made ADM in Zee's image.
The Atlas was slightly larger than the Kodiak due to the number of combat modifications. Abel had adjusted the forward canopy as well as the space available in crew berthing. Since he was going to be forced to spend his time with others onboard this ship, he didn't want to have to bunk with them as well. In the forward canopy he created his own private Captain's quarters. The captain's quarters were something he never felt he needed on the original URSA GS-I. He and Zee had built the vessel together and they both knew there would be no other crew.
As annoying as ADM’s precursor definitions were, Abel knew he would be just as capable as Zee had been. The AI was modeled after Quintarran nanite patterns, specifically his own and Zee’s. He had added a few of his own programming flairs too. In the end, ADM was more than just an AI. He was a completely automated spy, starship defense specialist, and an expert on dismantling EXO code. Abel was going after the EXO Prime just as he had promised Echo he would. He had not forgotten that it was the actions of Alek Vale - The EXO Prime - that caused the untimely death of his best friend.
Everything he had done the past year was towards this end; towards exacting his vengeance on the EXOs. Abel made his way across crew berthing and examined the interior of his ship. He missed the quantum locked chairs, but he knew Echo would approve of the more modest choices he'd made. The servers that lined the Kodiak had all been removed and actual crew stations were built in. However, Abel could override those stations through ADM if he needed to. He didn't trust Aurora Rigel or the Vald.
No one throws money and resources without expecting something in return, Abel thought.
While Aurora insisted that Abel share the schematics for the ship, he wasn't about to give away all of his secrets. The quantum locking magnetic strips he employed were still a conundrum to the Vald scientists and they weren’t aware of ADM. He couldn't hide the firepower, maneuverability, and the Warp-T drive. He assumed these were collateral enough for the assistance they offered, but he wasn't taking chances.
Notification, the text appeared in Abel's mind. It was the alert he had requested from ADM. Encrypted message received on long-range scanners.
Play message text only, Abel responded mentally.
Confirmation: Affirmative, playing back message now, Abel, this is Echo. Do not come and get me. I repeat, DO NOT come and get me. Stay away from-- end of transmission, ADM said.
“Flak!” Abel Cursed. Trace the last known location of the TP-D Justice, prepare a flight plan and exit vector.
Confirmation: Affirmative, ADM said.
Abel rushed back to the command deck, his mechanical leg clicked and whirred with the sudden change of movement. He scrambled up the steps to the primary command console. Abel took a seat in the command chair and adjusted it for comfort. Then he began to review the data ADM was propagating to the Transteel viewer.
“Disengage silent protocol,” Abel said.
“Confirmation: Affirmative. Hello Abel Cain,” ADM said.
“Hello Adam. So if I am reading this correctly Echo and the TP-D meshed out of system on Monday. This message is three days old!? Flakking shit!” Abel swore.
“Statement: Correct. The message was received via EFNF encrypted channel,” ADM said.
“Who else received this? Are there any other messages?” Abel asked.
“Statement: No one else received this particular message. This message was encrypted to URSA GS-I Kodiak frequencies only,” ADM replied.
“God ADM are you flakking dense? What other messages have come through from the TP-D? TO ANY CHANNEL!” he clarified.
“Statement: Captain Echo Shade sent a message to the True EFNF on Quintar IV. Alpha Base frequency,” ADM said. Abel thought he detected a bit of snarkiness in the reply.
“Adam, replay that message, full audio.” Abel said.
“Confirmation: Affirmative. Replaying last communication from the TP-D Justice,” ADM replied.
The Transteel filled with static until Echo's face appeared. Abel could see that he had bruises on her neck and she looked disheveled overall. Sweat covered her brow and gave a peculiar sheen to her light blue skin. Abel still thought she was beautiful.
“This is Captain Echo Shade of the TP-D Justice, we're on a collision course with Quintar V. There is no navigation, propulsion is out. Do not send help,” she said before the video went to static again.
“Flak!” Abel said. “Collision with Quintar V? The EXOs will destroy them.”
“Calculation: Percent of probable survival is point zero five percent,” ADM said.
“Shut up. Engage silent operations,” Abel snapped.
“Confirmation: Affirmative,” ADM said.
“I need a flakking crew,” Abel said to no one in particular.
* * * *
The pub wasn't exactly seedy, but it was still near the spaceport. Ivan Straught ate his meal in silence. His wife was resting in the hotel next door. The quality of the food and drink was not even up to the standards of EFNF rations. However, Ivan ate with enthusiasm. After the attack on his vessel he and Ima had nearly frozen to death. They had plenty of water, but it was frozen. They dared not to light a fire. Fire in a spaceship was a bad idea. So they huddled together for nine days. Shivering and trying to keep from freezing to death.
On the tenth day Ivan contemplated putting Ima out of her misery. She had never been a thick woman and the lack of fat on her body was diminishing with the little bit they were eating.
It’s funny, he thought. How little you want to eat when you’re so cold.
The door to the pub opened quickly and Ivan saw storm clouds approaching. The clouds made him think of the dark. He thought of the time on his ship once the power went out and how dark everything became. The thought made him shiver. The man in the doorway looked strikingly familiar. His confident stance and steely-eyed stare gave Ivan a different chill. He watched the man find a seat in the back of the pub. The seat afforded him a view of the entire room. Ivan felt uncomfortable and decided it was time for him and Ima to leave Quintar IV.
His ship had been towed back and refitted. The stipend from the EFNF to keep quiet about the events in the Doark System was enough to load out the Icarus. He had named the system based on his experience there. Ivan learned his lesson, though, he was done exploring uncharted space.
“Maybe I can find a supply running job to Eden,” he said aloud.
Ivan stood up and left the pub.
* * * *
Abel wasn't there to drink
or eat. He sat back and watched as the spacer left the pub. Abel frowned. Most of them were spacers, a few were locals. Abel wasn't interested in locals. Most civilians he had met couldn't find their way out of a box let alone handle calculations aboard a starship.
Abel didn't really know what he was looking for. He knew Aurora would have a small group of Vald with her, to observe and advise. That is how Aurora told it, however, Abel suspected it was less innocent and more nefarious. In the past he would have never allowed himself to be caught between a rock and a hard place like this, but he needed the Vald's resources, and he had been distracted by Aurora’s appearance. Needing resources meant he would have to put up with whoever provided them.
At least she is nice to look at, Abel thought. More so than some of these lot.
A large Quintarran pushed through the door. Abel guessed his height was at least three meters. Abel grinned. He stood up and walked over the Quintarran. He tilted his head up as if to say hello. The Quintarran looked down at him and scowled. Abel decided this alien probably disliked humans.
“Olleh, E ma Niac Leba,” Hello, I am Abel Cain. “E deen a werc, detseretni?”” I need a crew, interested?
The Quintarran stopped scowling, his face lightened a bit and he smiled, “Ouy kaeps Narratniuq!? Niac Leba!? Ti si doog ot teem ouy. E lliw nioj rouy werc. E ma delliks htiw resal sterrut. E ma dellac AaBee” You speak Quintarran!? Abel Cain!? It is good to meet you. I will join your crew. I am skilled with laser turrets. I am called AaBee. The Quintarran said.
Abel nodded and gave the Quintarran coordinates to the Atlas and advised him to be ready to leave within the day. Having found what he was looking for in this pub, Abel left and headed closer to the EFNF territory. The entire planet was technically EFNF governed, but the city was still sectioned off by civilians, spacers, and EFNF. It wasn't a conscious decision it was just the way people gravitated. Some ignored the impulse, he couldn't say he was really one of them.
* * * *
“There have been several reports,” the man was short and stocky. The dark mustache on his upper lip curled outward and twitched as he spoke.
“Keep tabs on him Major Faust,” Andromeda Clark responded.
The Transteel viewer in the military offices showed the background of the Destiny behind the Fleet Admiral. The image flickered and a moment later the short Major stood staring at an empty screen.
Major Faust turned and addressed his men, “You heard the Fleet Admiral. She wants Abel Cain watched.”
* * * *
The streets within the inner core of the city were more ordered and it was obviously the result of a military mind. Abel looked around and realized it wouldn’t take much to find his way.
I'm in the right place, Abel thought.
He found a pub near the edge of the EFNF borders. He figured if he was going to find able bodied men - or women - to man the stations on his ship they would have to be apart from the EFNF. He needed former EFNF soldiers, people who were apart, but still felt connected. Finding connected people was easy enough to do when the entire planet was protected by the presence of the EFNF. On the other hand, convincing people he was a legitimate bet is where he worried he might fail.
Most everyone on Quintar IV recognized Abel. He had been in the news when the Kodiak crashed, but then he had been bloody and dirty. He and Echo were celebrities of a sort. When Echo and the TP-D had become a lively topic, Abel chose to fade into the shadows. That was the way he preferred things. His movements in the EFNF territories would probably not go completely unnoticed. If word got back to the Fleet Admiral he might have trouble getting off planet.
Isn't that where Aurora comes in? Abel asked himself. If she comes through. The Atlas is built now, she might tip her hand. Won't she be surprised when the systems will not respond to her? Abel smiled.
“Hey! You're Abel Cain aren’t you?” A middle aged man said. His hair was thinning and he was starting to show a widow's peak.
“I am.” Abel said. “You are?”
“Artemis Songyoo,” the man said. “What are you doing in these parts? Word is the Fleet Admiral hates you. She doesn't like that you seem to be a free agent.””
“Well Andromeda will have to get over it,” Abel said.
Artemis laughed, “Well I can see why she doesn't like you.”
Artemis stepped close and took Abel’s elbow. He pressed his cheek to Abel’s and whispered in his ear, “She’s got people watching you. You got a ship off this rock?”
“As a matter of fact I do. Can you run a comm station?” Abel whispered back.
“Not precisely no, engineer myself.” Artemis said, still talking next to Abel’s ear.
“Just so happens I need one of them too. Know a good comm specialist?” Abel asked.
“Can't say I know of a good one, but I know one.” Artemis replied. He motioned for Abel to follow.
* * * *
The duo headed to a nearby pub. Artemis explained that he still had contacts within the EFNF even though he decided to sign off. As Artemis put it, The Fleet Admiral has gone loopy. The break with the Remnant was the last straw.
The former naval engineer explained that the Fleet Admiral had cut all ties with the Remnant and declared Quintarrans as outcast. Echo Shade’s warship the Justice was the last ship to have Quintarran crew members.
“She’s lost it son,” Artemis motioned towards the pub door.
The sign was blown out, but Abel made it out as The Blue Lagoon. They entered and Abel was surprised to find a room of Quintarrans, almost every man or woman had blue skin ranging from light sky blue to dark royal blues.
“The Quintarrans have little love for the brashness of humanity,” Artemis continued as they made their way through the front. “Except when it comes to you.””
Artemis led him past the front doors and around to the bar. Seated at the edge of the bar was a young man with his head down. Abel noticed he was human, or at least partially so. His crop of dark red hair stood in contrast to his light blue skin.
“God, Echo thought she was the only one.” Abel whispered.
Artemis nodded and whispered, “He's touchy about it. Doesn't really fit in anywhere.”
Abel nodded, he understood. Echo had expressed the same sentiment. Abel thought that perhaps her belief that she was alone in the universe lent to their separation. Maybe this young man could change her perceptions.
You're here for a crew man! Not some magic fix for your relationship with Echo, he scolded himself.
Abel took a seat next to the young man. He smelled strongly of hard Quintarran ale and he was snoring. Abel knew the stupor well. When you were drunk you could forget the woes of your life. He had tried it himself, but his nanites were too strong.
Abel pushed the kid's elbow softly, “Hey.”
The young man stirred, but he did not wake. Artemis gave a frown. It was obvious he had hoped the kid would be sober enough to talk with Abel. Abel had not given up yet, though. He kicked the stool out from under him.
“What the flak!?” the young man bellowed.
Abel caught him before his face hit the bar. His nanite enhanced strength and reflexes helped to hold the boy up.
“Hi,” Abel leaned in and spoke to the kid’s ear. “Name's Abel Cain. Captain Abel Cain. I hear you can run a comms station.”
“Yeah,” the kid said. “So what?”
“Well, I need a communications specialist and, well, you're a communications specialist,” Abel said. “Get my drift?”
“Uh... no.”
“What's your name kid?” Abel asked.
“Tee,” he said. “Thomas Tee.”
Abel looked at him, he had the same eyes as Echo, the same skin tone, even the same auburn hair. He could easily be Echo's brother.
“Well Tee, I'm getting off this rock. I need a decent comms specialist and I'm offering you a job,” Abel said. “Interested?””
“Uh … sure,” Tee hiccupped.
“Great, get yourself
sobered up and Artemis here will show you where you need to go,” Abel handed a spaceport chip to Artemis. “The chip has the coordinates and the hangar. Don't let anyone else get a hold of that. There are some others that'll be coming with us. Another Quintarran, calls himself AaBee. The others aren’t my choice, if you get my meaning.”
25: NEW CREW
Quintar IV - EFNF Alpha Base: Spaceport
2973 ESD - Friday, June 11th 08:00 hours
“Who are they?” Aurora paced across the command deck. She extended her arm and pointed towards the rear of the Atlas.
“My crew,” Abel puffed out his chest and put his hands on his hips. Aurora looked at him and huffed.
“Only three? The Atlas is supposed to crew at least six, including a co-pilot.” Aurora did the math.
“Three plus myself. You're my co-pilot, plus three chosen by the Vald,” Abel neglected to mention the AI he had installed, but he counted it as the one that set the balance in his favor.
“After all this time you don't trust us?” Aurora bent down as she said it. She adjusted the strap on her thigh which held her plasma pistol.
Abel assumed she had a twofold reason for doing so. First, it gave him a full view of her bosom. Second it left a silent threat of her weapon hanging in the air. Abel ignored the first and focused on the second. He swung his leg over the chair revealing his plasma pistol.
Two can play at this game, he thought.
“I'm not saying I don't trust you,” Abel said. “I'm just taking every precaution. What if you were to meet an untimely demise?””
“After everything we've done-”
“Right, everything you've done. What is that exactly? You got me materials, you fished a wreckage out I was content to leave in the ground, and now you're throwing a fit because I chose a few crew members? Tell me what you've done that says I can trust you. That says you don’t have an ulterior motive in all this,” Abel barked.
