by E. P. Wyck
“I have some solemn news to share with you. I will no longer be the Commander of the Dawnbreaker.” Gasps cascaded across the room, “Please keep it quiet.”
After the crowd had quieted Aleksandra continued, “I believe that I have failed to properly lead you and allowed for gendercide to take foot on our ship.”
“How is that possible?” a crewman asked.
“I am not sure. I am going to relinquish my command to Kali. She has qualified on every station on the bridge. The Triumvirate Maximus sent her here on their orders. She has every authority to assume command of this vessel.”
“No, she doesn’t!” someone shouted.
“I agree, she’s crazy,” another said.
“I understand how you feel. I ask that you put those feelings aside. There is more,” Aleksandra said.
She waited as the crowd settled and said, “Our stasis system has been sabotaged. We have an electrical crew working on it right now. We’ve successfully freed one man, and I believe the others will be freed as well.”
“What do you mean freed?”
“The stasis system has been rigged to either fail or explode. Either option would kill those inside stasis pods. They’re effectively imprisoned in stasis.”
“Glad I didn’t go in stasis. I thought I had bad luck staying awake for this boring trip,” somebody said.
“I know all of this is hard, but I have another piece of news to share. Someone, somehow, managed to transmit a message to those in stasis saying the males would never take another breath.”
Several people started talking among themselves, soon the whole room erupted in conversations. Aleksandra knew they needed to talk it over before she continued.
The roar of the crowd continued to grow however, before frenzy could set in Aleksandra said, “Listen up!” as loud as she could. Some of the chatter stopped, she added, “Quiet!” and the room almost fell into silence.
After a few more moments, nobody talked. “Commander, if I may?” Kali said.
“Please,” Aleksandra said with a sigh of relief.
“I turned down Aleksandra’s offer of command initially. I knew you’d all be unhappy to have something that important change in the middle of a crisis. I know what it is like first hand to experience loss.”
Kali paused and looked a few of the crew directly in the eyes, “I know everybody knows the stories. The girl who killed everyone, right? I kill first and ask questions later. Well, that’s not who I am anymore.”
Kali continued after a short pause, “I have learned from good people in those pods that I am more than that. That there is more to life than that. I have learned from people on this crew.”
Kali looked directly at Novalie and said, “That despite the fact that rage surges up inside of you, you have a choice. You make the choice. Nobody else does. You have someone in your midst that is trying to kill you.”
She paused to let that sink in. She continued saying, “I want to stop them. I have dedicated my life to stopping the gendercide at all costs. Why do you think I have such a ruthless reputation? I don’t want any of you to die.”
Kali continued, “I want each of you to live long lives and spend many days among your friends and especially your family. I am going to personally find who did this.”
“How?” someone shouted from the back of the room.
“I am going to sequester the females first. I expect all females to report to a single area and they will remain there until further notice. Bruce will establish guards at all exits. Food will be provided,” Kali explained.
“That’s never going to work!”
“You can’t do that!”
“You have no right!”
“I have rights, and you don’t have the right to take them away!”
Kali endured several more outbursts. She believed they needed to release their frustration before she reasoned with them. “Is there anything else you have to say?” Kali asked.
“Yeah, I think this is a dumb idea, and you’re going to get us all killed!”
“Anything else?” Kali said. She waited several minutes allowing the crowd to settle. As she waited, the crowd had already begun to segregate. “Look around you. This is your crew. Do what is best for them.”
“You know, half of the stations will be unmanned if you lock us all up.”
“Yes, I know that. I will handle that. You handle staying calm and following my instructions. You will all go to the quarters designated by Bruce and his team,” Kali instructed.
Bruce stepped up and said, “I need all of the females regardless of class to follow me.” Bruce headed towards the exit. While the crew meeting took place, guards took posts at each door along the route to prevent stragglers from sneaking off course.
“Aleks, I need you to keep them calm for me. I’ll try to wrap this up as quickly as possible,” Kali said when Aleksandra walked by.
“Of course, I’ll keep them in line for you, Commander,” Aleksandra said.
“Oh, that sounds nice!” Kali mused.
“Nova, wait!” Kali said, chasing after her.
“I understand why you’re doing it but don’t you trust me?” Nova said.
“Of course, that’s why I need you to be my eyes on the inside. Tell me what goes on in there. Who lashes out, who seems the most worried to be in there, you know? Can you do that?” Kali asked.
“Of course,” Nova said, walking away.
_ _ _
Royce and his crew worked tirelessly trying to cut the power to each of the different stasis pods. Junior members of the electrical crew assisted and learned so they could spread out and get more done in less time.
Eventually, all the pods no longer received power. “Hey, Dominus?” an electrician called.
“What?” Royce said.
“What about those?” they said, pointing above.
“Oh,” Royce stared at the many racks of stasis pods that hung from the ceiling, “How did we miss those?”
“I don’t know, but you said that if we move them that thing explodes and we will probably go with it.”
“You’re right. We have to tell the Commander,” Royce said. He called the bridge and said, “This is Royce from electrical, I need to talk with the Commander.”
“She’s not on the bridge right now.”
“Where is she?”
“Some crew meeting. I don’t know,” the voice on the bridge’s side of the call changed.
Royce recognized the voice as Kali’s, “What’s going on Roy?”
“Kali, is that you?”
“Yes.”
“Well, we’ve cut power to each of the pods we can reach, but it looks like there are a lot of pods still suspended we cannot reach. I need to talk with the Commander.”
“You’re talking to her,” Kali said.
“You’ve commandeered the Dawnbreaker?”
“Not exactly but I am in command now. I’ll be down shortly. Don’t move the pods,” Kali instructed.
_ _ _
Aleksandra moved with the crowd, following along like any other member of the crew. The odd sensation of no longer commanding the ship coursed through her.
She tried to let the feeling pass, but it continued to linger. She felt free, but somehow trapped. How did she feel both so poignantly, she wondered?
The female crew members started filing into the quarters they’d stay in until the investigation concluded. She walked to a nearby piece of furniture and plopped down. Completely unlike a commander. It felt good.
“What are you smiling about, Commander? I mean Aleksandra,” someone asked.
“Oh, nothing. You have no idea how much pressure command is. I haven’t felt a sense of relief like this in years,” Aleksandra said.
“You’re relieved that people under your command are dead and dying?”
“Don’t take my comments out of context,” Aleksandra said.
“Then put some context in your comments.”
“You know, I care f
or all of the members of the crew. I am relieved that I no longer assume that responsibility,” Aleksandra explained.
“I can see that,” said Novalie.
“You would say that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Novalie asked.
“You know what it means. You and your best friend are over here enjoying life while everybody else is worried about their well-being and that of their friends.”
“I am worried. I have friends in those pods. I was almost in one of those pods,” Nova said.
“But once Kali was clear to stay awake you no longer had to go into stasis, convenient.”
“I don’t think you want me to believe what you’re implying,” Novalie said.
“You’re right, I think you’re delusional and you can’t see that you just turned our ship over to the enemy!”
“The enemy? Are you kidding me? That Seraphim has lost her father to the gendercide. She is not the enemy. She will go to any means necessary to safeguard her crew. You are now her crew. You should think about that.”
“Ladies!” Aleksandra said in her command voice, “I think this conversation is over. Have a seat and enjoy some time off.”
Both huffed and walked away. Aleksandra watched the rest of them trying to discern anyone that may look like a conspirator. Everyone seemed to keep to themselves.
Nothing looked out of the ordinary. Bruce walked in, “Ok, who wants to go first?”
“Go first for what?”
“Interrogation,” Bruce said. The room remained quiet with no one moving, “Don’t all volunteer at once.”
“I’ll do it,” Aleksandra said.
“You’re not on the list, Commander,” Bruce said.
“You don’t have to call me that now, Bruce.”
“OK, well you’re still not on the list. So, no volunteers?” Bruce said.
“I have nothing to hide,” a Seraphim said, moving through the crowd and headed towards Bruce.
“Ok, let’s go,” Bruce said, escorting her out of the room.
Aleksandra stood up and walked over to Novalie, “Come over here.”
Nova followed Aleksandra to a rather unpopulated corner of the room and said, “What is it, Commander?”
“Oh, will you stop that!” Aleksandra said.
“It’s a habit, don’t shout. We don’t want to draw attention, right?”
“Right, anyway, what did Kali say to you?”
“She said she wanted me to be her eyes.”
“I agree. So far what do you see?”
“Well I don’t know... the Seraphim from over there, she seems pretty agitated. I am not sure if that’s 'cause she's part of it or just a hothead.”
“I think right now whoever is behind it, is playing it cool. Not trying to stand out. I mean they’ve lived among us for nearly seven months hiding their deception, what is a few hours in here?”
“A few hours? You think this will be resolved in a few hours?”
“I think we’re stuck in here until they figure who did it, and I think Kali will manage in a few hours. She’s smarter than people give her credit for.”
“I get that, but I think it’s less about smarts and more about the fact that people are deceptive.”
“You’re right, but she’s used to it. I think she’ll see right through them.”
“But how does she prove it? It isn’t like we have video evidence. Just a single person saying they heard a woman’s voice say they were going to die.”
“Maybe we should get recordings of the voices of all of these people here and have him identify it. If others who wake up corroborate his story, then we can nail them.”
“That just may work. How are we going to do that?” Aleksandra said.
“Well, I think we should have it done during the interrogation. Maybe make that the only part of it.”
“What if we have the guy who was revived listen in on the interrogations and he can say yes or no?”
“That may work, but how do we get word to her without them knowing?”
“I may be on the list. I can volunteer to go for interrogation,” Nova said.
“I think that is our best bet. Except what if you’re not on the list?”
“We’ll have to figure that out when we get there. I don’t know otherwise.”
Aleksandra and Novalie waited, watching women who waited in the room with them. Several of them sat alone, avoiding eye contact with others. A few chatted with friends as though nothing happened.
Chapter 24
“Attor, do you have a moment?” Eve shouted after him.
He slowly turned and said, “What is it, Eve?”
“I was wondering if you had any idea who may be behind the gendercide. I know we’ve talked about this in the past, but it is accelerating so fast I am getting concerned they may be successful.”
“Well I don’t know where this is coming from, but reports are indicating that it’s not going to work.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, they’re asking women to kill their mates and children.”
“I am hearing that they’re making pacts to swap. Sort of an, ‘I’ll kill yours if you kill mine.’ deal. I think they’re going to turn the tide and I am hoping you, being our Razian Triumvir, may have an idea about it.”
“What does being Razian have to do with it?”
“Well, I just hear the rumors that Razian females are leading this so maybe you’ve heard whispers of who may be in charge.”
“I don’t like where this going, Eve. Are you implying something?”
“Oh no, of course not,” Eve said, noticing how quickly Attor became aggravated.
“So, what are you getting at?” he barked at her.
“Just that you’re essentially the head of the Razian people, and maybe due to that you’d have some insight about who may be leaning towards the gendercide among your people. I am sure each nation has gendercide fanatics among them.”
“What would you have me do, Eve, turn on my people? Lock them up? Humiliate them? I am their Triumvir, not their enemy.”
“The other side of that same coin is you’re their Triumvir, not their friend.”
“Fair point. However, unless you have something concrete to ask me I expect that you leave this to the security officers who are investigating this.”
“They’re not getting anywhere. I am getting tired of them never turning up anything.”
“Same predicament. What do you think a low-level security guard is going to do if they catch their friend, sister, mother…” he paused, “committing some gendercide related offense?”
“I see your point. How do we stop this then?”
“I wish I knew. I know I am fairly insulated as a Triumvir, but don’t think it hasn’t crossed my mind that I may eventually be a target of those crazies,” Attor said.
Eve looked into his eyes, and she didn’t sense genuine fear. Did he just lie to her? She wondered.
“I bet. I guess I won’t waste any more of your time. Sorry to bother you.”
“Don’t mention it,” Attor said, walking away.
Eve walked back to her office and on the way in she told her assistant to have the Dominion who accused Attor and Kyneska to be released.
“I am not sure he is right, but I don’t know that he is wrong,” Eve thought aloud as she walked into her office.
“Who is right?” Kyneska asked.
The sound of her voice startled Eve, and she said, “Don’t do that!”
“Do what?”
“Scare me like that. My heart is racing!”
“Sorry.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to you,” Kyneska said.
“About?”
“You and Egil.”
“What about?”
“When he couldn’t be with you in public how did he handle it?”
“It was frustrating, but we managed.”
“I mean, did he mistreat you?”
“No, never. Why?”
“Just curious. I guess this whole intermingling thing is still new to me. Sorry, that’s not really why I am here.”
“Oh?” Eve said, pretending to be busy with other things.
“I think we need to do something significant about the gendercide. I almost wonder if your daughter was an effective deterrent and her no longer being in play has caused things to accelerate.”
“I’ve thought so myself. I even recently talked to Attor about it.”
“Oh, what did he say?” Kyneska said with a raised brow.
“He just said that people enforcing the law are quite possibly looking the other way when loved ones commit gendercide crimes. I can’t say that accounts for everything, though.”
“What do you think is going to happen? Are we talking war in the streets?”
“I hope not. I took great pride in drafting and enacting our treaty. I can’t say I want to see war so soon. I don’t think that is war, though.”
“What do you mean it is not war?”
“Well, generally I see war as an instrument to settle a difference about something. One party wants this land, or that natural resource, or whatever,” Eve explained.
“I get that. I just wonder, do we allow it? I think to go against it at this point may be counter to what the people want.”
“That’s a debatable question. I am sure male Seraphim and Cherubim would say we need to act and prevent it. I can’t say that people would go on the record to say they support it. They’ve technically committed murder, a crime punishable by death.”
“What if we offer some sort of amnesty to get them to confess and maybe round them up and get them to change their minds?”
“Well, I don’t know if amnesty would work. What you’re saying almost sounds like hypocrisy you say amnesty, then lock them up.”
“That isn't really what I mean. I mean they can go free when they renounce the gendercide.”
“And if they say they renounce it and kill again?”
“I mean, I suppose that could happen, but it is a risk I think we should take. Might save some lives. I have male friends and family I don’t want to see killed because of this.”
“Me too. I’ve lost almost everything.”
