“What?” He slid out into the hall and grabbed onto the guide bar to pull himself along, ready to hurry back to the bridge.
“Haddan Caderi is planetside. He's involved, but we don't know how, yet."
* * * *
Bain chose not to land the Star Arrow until he knew more about the situation. He went planetside in the Leaper shuttle with Herin and Rhiann and wore civilian clothes. Fengrath's authorities were more likely to believe he was Lin's kinsman and had a right to inspect Sunsinger if he wasn't wearing a uniform. Explaining the Scouts would waste too much time, anyway.
The port authorities tripped over themselves to be helpful when Herin identified her ship and requested landing clearances next to Sunsinger. When Bain and the sisters stepped out of their shuttle, they had only a hundred meters to walk to reach the ship.
A ring of green-uniformed guards surrounded Sunsinger, with long dart rifles resting on their shoulders and ready for use. Bain stifled a whistle of appreciation for that measure. It put a whole different feel to the situation with Lin and Sunsinger. There was more to this than Herin and Rhiann had told him—or else something had happened since they left to fetch him.
“Captain?” One of the guards broke position and stepped out to meet Herin. He looked rumpled and sweaty in the early morning light, as if he had spent several shifts in a row standing guard duty.
“Greetings to you, Lieutenant.” Herin nodded to the fair-haired, sunburned man. “This is Bain Kern, kinsman, apprentice and heir to Captain Lin Fieran."
“Why weren't you with your kinswoman?” the guard growled, glaring at Bain as if Lin's disappearance were all his fault.
For half a second, that rocked him. Bain almost believed it. Then he started to grin. This man obviously didn't know Lin very well, if he thought she needed someone to protect her. Bain smothered the grin before it did more than twitch his lips. Anything dangerous and powerful enough to take Lin against her will would have been too much for him, too.
“I would have been, if I had known how little respect she'd have on Fengrath,” Bain said, keeping his tone cool and his face calm.
The guard rocked back on his heels, as if the words had been a physical blow. Then his expression softened.
“That wasn't a good way to start.” He shrugged, and Bain realized that was all the apology this man could make. “I'm Lt. Colwayn. If you're her kinsman ... you're probably mine,” he finished, with a weak smile.
“Oh—you're one of the Spacer children's descendants.” Now Bain understood a little. If Lin had come to him and told him he had the potential to be a Spacer captain, and then vanished before she could tell him more, he would have been upset, too.
“Alleged descendants,” Herin said. “May we go on board now, Lieutenant?"
“Not quite yet.” Colwayn shrugged and looked away. “I'm sorry, Captain, but we have our orders."
“When I left, I told the portmaster I was going to fetch Captain Fieran's closest kinsman.” She jammed her fists into her waist and leaned over, seeming to tower over the man though she was only a few centimeters taller than him. “It was agreed when I brought Bain Kern back here, he would be given immediate access."
“Yes, Captain. I know. But since you left, we've been given new orders.” The guard captain actually shivered.
“From whom?” Herin's voice could have frozen water.
“From me, actually,” a rich, baritone voice called from across the landing field. Footsteps rang out in the morning quiet.
Bain turned, and saw a group of men step around another grounded ship and approach Sunsinger. They were all armed, all dressed in black pants and calf-high boots and loose scarlet shirts. Their leader wore his jet-black hair long, held in place with a headband of braided silver cords and beads. He wore a long ceremonial knife at his waist, besides the beam burner at his waist and the multi-dart in the holster across his chest. His olive skin and piercing black eyes, his wide shoulders and height made him stand out among his companions who were all a head shorter at best.
“Haddan Caderi,” Bain said. He glanced at Herin. Her eyes widened a little, then she looked to him and nodded and pressed her lips tightly together. That was her only visible reaction to the man who had held her and Bain and Rhiann prisoner at one time, and then tried to romance her, just to get a monopoly on Leap-ship commerce.
“He's no kinsman of Captain Lin's,” Rhiann said. She stepped up on Bain's other side and spread her feet a little, as if bracing herself for a fight.
“I never claimed to be,” Caderi said. He smiled and bowed grandly to them as he came to a stop three meters away. “However, my father courted her and she was a frequent guest in our home. Out of everyone on Fengrath, I am the one person who knew her and her ship the best. Until you arrived,” he added after just a moment's hesitation.
Bain didn't doubt that moment of hesitation was a calculated insult.
“So you took that as authority to block me from going on board Sunsinger?” Bain said.
“No, I took it as authority to protect her property and home, and preserve the scene of the crime until someone better suited arrived to take over the investigation.” Caderi bowed again. “Lieutenant, I can verify this is indeed Captain Fieran's apprentice and heir. I would suggest you give him all the help he asks for—before he asks, if you understand what I mean."
“Yes, Master Caderi. Of course.” Colwayn actually shivered again. Bain wondered who the man knew, to be made leader of the spaceport guards when he couldn't stand up to intimidation very well.
Then again, the Caderis were a force to be reckoned with, no matter whose authority they pretended to obey, no matter which solar system and governmental system happened to be in power. Fengrath was known to be a semi-illegal shipping port. What couldn't be passed through other, more careful and law-abiding ports could go through Fengrath with little question. The people of Fengrath took care of their own and let the rest of the universe go its way. By a strange quirk of fate, both the Commonwealth and Conclave left it alone to fend for itself.
The Commonwealth was still recovering from the Mashrami war and couldn't spare the massive amounts of manpower and other resources necessary to root out the organized crime web firmly in place on Fengrath if it became an official part of the Commonwealth.
The Conclave didn't consider Fengrath economically viable if they took their nominal control. Both sides left it alone and Fengrath thrived.
Bain wished now something had been done. He had no one to resort to. His most powerful ally here was Haddan Caderi. Even the universal respect and awe for Leapers took second place to Caderi. Right now, Bain didn't know if bringing in the Scouts would do more harm than good or if the people of Fengrath would even care.
He told himself not to think too far ahead or too deeply. The important thing was to get inside Sunsinger, assess the damage, and formulate a plan for identifying and finding the ones who bombed the ship, damaged Ganfer and took Lin.
“I'm going in,” he said and headed for the ship. He stepped around the guards and no one made a move to stop him. Bain heard footsteps behind him and knew Herin, Rhiann and Caderi followed.
He refused to climb up the chain link ladder still hanging from the closed hatch to the bridge. Lin's kidnappers had come down that ladder. He refused to put his hands where they had touched. He led the little group to the cargo hold airlock. His fingers remembered the keying sequence before he could consciously think of the right numbers and symbols.
The door slid aside with a hard, dull grating noise and banged slightly when it stopped. Bain paused a moment, waiting for something.
He wanted to hear Ganfer welcome him home to Sunsinger, Bain realized. That wasn't going to happen. Not until someone investigated the damage to the bridge. Bain knew at that moment, he would be the one to repair Sunsinger. He knew the ship the best, after Lin. She wouldn't want anyone else's hands on the workings of her ship.
Still, it gave him an odd, invaded feeling to walk the short d
istance across the crate-packed cargo hold from the airlock to the access tube and up to the bridge and not hear Ganfer's voice. The automatic lights flipped on after he had taken five steps—more proof of Ganfer's absence. The other three followed silently behind him. When they reached the open hatch of the access tube, Rhiann took a few quick steps and caught up with him. She twined her fingers through his and squeezed hard and didn't let go of his hand, even when they reached the bridge.
Bain wasn't conscious of Rhiann holding his hand as he stared at the tangle of wires, the cracked and burned crystal boards, the warped metal, burned cloth and melted plastic. He could barely breathe for the acrid thickness of the air. Whoever had found Sunsinger after Lin was kidnapped had sealed the ship so quickly none of the fumes from the explosion had escaped. Bain thought that if he touched something, anything in the wreckage, it would still be hot.
There were three bombs, he realized after a few seconds of staring at the blackened dents with impact burn rays like dark suns. One bomb set in the middle of the control panel, the second in the access bay leading to the central circuitry boards for Ganfer's systems, and the third at the bridge hatch. The control panel was a loss. He could tell that from one look. It would have to be replaced—there was too much to repair. The hatch leading outside closed, but the metal and the thick plastic seals around the door were either melted or warped to the point that the airtight seal was gone.
The access bay to Ganfer's systems was the only questionable point, and the most important one to consider. Bain took a few steps across the scorched bridge floor and stared at the buckled metal panel, eight centimeters thick. What would he find if he got it open?
Bain swallowed hard and gently tugged his hand free of Rhiann's comforting grip. He didn't meet her eyes. He couldn't look at anyone, and almost wished he could be alone to take this next step.
The bomb blast had totally destroyed the series of electro-magnetic and manual locks on the panel. Bain entertained a theory that whoever had bombed the bridge had been trying to get into the crystal input boards for Ganfer's systems, not actually destroy them.
When he finally got the panel open, Bain stared for a long, painful moment at the burned, melted, twisted contents inside. The entire first layer of crystal boards were useless. He doubted they could even be sold for scrap, certainly not for spare parts. There probably wasn't a single strand of data left in any of them that was usable.
“Bain?” Rhiann whispered.
He ignored her and reached in with both hands to yank out the damaged boards. Two handful of boards splintered in his grip. He dropped them to the deck and they spattered and chimed when they hit like bits of useless glass. When she touched his shoulder, he twisted free and reached for another handful.
“Leave him be,” Caderi said.
“But—"
“He needs to do this. It's either try to salvage something or go tearing through the port with weapons blasting."
Bain felt slightly nauseous to realize Caderi understood exactly how he felt. He didn't know if it was a good thing that he and the pirate had something in common.
Something in common besides concern for Lin.
“Not that I understand at all what he's trying to do,” the man continued with that infuriating, superior-sounding chuckle.
“Ganfer is in here.” Bain grunted with the effort of pulling out his third handful of crystal boards. These tried to stick. He felt sharpness slice into his fingers, the sting and then heat of blood, but he blocked the feelings and kept yanking.
“What do you mean, Ganfer is in there?” Rhiann demanded “If he was—if he was still alive, he should have contacted you by now. He certainly wouldn't let you pull his boards apart."
“These first two layers are his interface with the ship,” Bain explained.
He stepped back so the light could hit the inside of the access bay. The next layer of boards had damage spots on them, spatters of black from heat that had penetrated the first layer, or bits of melted metal and plastic, shards of crystal that had splintered in the blast and flown inward.
“That means he can't control doors or life support or help fly the ship—or watch us or talk to us or monitor our condition,” he said. Bain stared at the tiny pocket of damage he could see in the next layer.
“But he's still alive in there?” Herin said.
“His personality and memories and everything that makes Ganfer Ganfer are deep inside. For protection."
“So once you get deep enough, and repair his interface with the ship, Ganfer can tell you what happened and who took Lin?” Caderi asked.
“It had to be someone she knew, or they wouldn't have come up to the bridge. Lin doesn't let anyone into the ship she doesn't know or trust or like. Ganfer would know them, too. He'll even have a record of what they said to Lin. Maybe we'll know if they argued, or if they tried to trick her into something and she caught them, or...” Bain shook his head.
Two more handfuls of damaged, useless crystal boards fell to the floor.
“What can I do?” Rhiann asked.
“We'll need backup evidence,” Herin said before Bain could even think about answering.
“What?” Caderi's voice had a touch of laughter.
“Whoever was here left traces of themselves. Lint from their clothes, flakes of skin, hair, footprints. If we gather it up and save it, we can analyze it and then use it as support evidence when her kidnappers are caught."
“Don't you think Lin's word will be enough?” the man demanded.
Silence. Bain paused, his hands full of crystal boards. Nearly half of the next layer of boards was exposed. There was very little damage beyond the first glimpse he had. He should have felt overjoyed at that discovery, but Caderi's simple question brought up possibilities he hadn't wanted to consider.
“Whatever they wanted from Lin, she won't give it to them, even under drugs,” Bain said. “Certainly not under torture. After a while, they'll realize that. If they're desperate enough to protect themselves, they'll kill her."
“You're giving up,” Caderi growled.
Half a second later, he sprawled on the dirty floor. Bain knelt on the larger man's chest, his hands around Caderi's throat. A streak of cleared floor in the burned wreckage showed where Caderi had hit the deck on his back under Bain's flying assault and slid nearly three meters.
“Scouts never give up,” Bain growled back. He tightened his hands, just for a moment. It felt good to see Caderi's eyes widen in genuine panic and confusion. He let go of his throat, but stayed kneeling on the man's chest. “We face facts and we work harder because of them."
“Scouts,” Caderi muttered. “What are those?"
“That's a good idea, Captain,” he said, ignoring his fallen opponent entirely. Bain got to his feet. “The Star Arrow has the right kind of gathering equipment in the science section. I'll send for my crew before we go any further."
“Am I going to get an explanation, since everyone else seems to know what you're talking about?” Caderi demanded after he got back to his feet.
“My ship is the Star Arrow. My crew are Scouts. We're a new force in the Commonwealth.” Bain spared a thin-lipped smile for Caderi, then tugged back his sleeve to reveal his wristband communicator. “Lissy, this is Bain."
“We're here, Commander,” Lissy responded, her voice coming clear and soft from the tiny speaker chip in the band.
“Bring the Arrow down. We need some of the science equipment."
“Ah ... Commander, we're not really rated for that section of the ship yet."
“We have to be.” He swallowed hard. “Lin's been kidnapped, and someone damaged Ganfer and Sunsinger pretty bad to get at her. The six of you are going to gather and analyze evidence while I repair Ganfer and get his help. We don't have much time left before they hurt her, or worse."
“Understood. Starting atmospheric entry procedures now."
Bain waited until Lissy broke the link, then lowered his hand. He tugged his sleeve back d
own to cover the wristband and finally looked at his companions.
“You have all the help you want from me.” Caderi flashed him a tight, nasty smile. “Even the help you don't really want, but whatever you need to get Lin back alive."
“What price?"
“Lin has always been a friend of the Caderis. She has accepted us and not tried to change us or use us. That is a rare kind of friendship, no matter where you go in this universe.” His smile faded to a stern look that should have made Bain uncomfortable—but not this time, with his worry and anger for Lin making him hard inside. “I want vengeance for the harm she has already suffered. My ‘price', as you insist on calling it, is the right to deal with her kidnappers as I see fit, once they are in custody."
“I can't do that. Our ideas of justice are complete opposites."
“Yes, I know that. Perhaps if Lin had been my mother, I would agree with you. But she refused to marry my father and so she isn't my mother, so I see the universe in a totally different light. If Lin is dead, I will have all their heads, Bain Kern, and there is nothing you can do to stop me."
“You might be surprised,” Bain whispered.
Caderi went pale, staring with widened eyes at him. For one tight, ready-to-shatter moment, Bain actually believed he had frightened the powerful, arrogant man.
“Whether you believe me or not, I want Lin safe and free and I will use my own resources to their fullest to get that. Don't you think we should work together, instead of competing with each other?"
“Yes, we should. But if you'll excuse me, Master Caderi, my ship is coming in to land and I have to clear it with the port authorities."
“Of course.” Caderi bowed. “We'll talk later.” He nodded to Herin and Rhiann, then turned on his heel and stalked off the bridge.
Bain waited, listening to the hollow thuds of the big man's boots on the flooring, all the way down the access tube to the cargo hold and out the open airlock.
“You think he's involved with Lin's kidnapping, don't you?” Herin said softly.
“People who are guilty often make more noise about justice and revenge than the victims do,” Bain said. He felt very cold and tired and alone. When Rhiann took hold of his hand again, he managed a smile for her. He nearly didn't feel the hair-thin cuts on his hands from the broken crystal boards.
Scouts [Sunsinger Chronicles Book 10] Page 5
