Stormcrow: Book Two: Birds of a Feather

by N. C. Reed

  “And I'm sorry about earlier, too,” Tony continued when he realized Sean had nothing to say. “I was out of line.”

  Sean shrugged again, as if it were no matter to him one way or another, and kept eating. He could hear Tony fidget a bit further down the table but ignored it in favor of the plate before him.

  “I said I'm sorry,” Tony spoke louder this time.

  “I heard you,” Sean finally answered, not bothering to look up.

  “Well?” Tony demanded after another moment of silence. “Aren't you going to say something?”

  “I make it a point not to speak when I'm angry,” Sean told him flatly. “I make mistakes that way.”

  “I said I was sorry about that!” Tony insisted, his tone indicating that this should be enough to make everything all right between them.

  “And I said I heard you,” Sean nodded. “That doesn't make me any less angry at the moment. Soon as I'm done eating I'll be catching a ride back to the ship. You probably want to call sometime and tell the Captain whatever you're going to tell her, assuming you're going to tell her anything.”

  “Sean, man, don't be like that, all right?” Tony entreated.

  “You called me a liar,” Sean's voice was quiet, but hard for all of that as it cracked across the table. “You questioned my honor, and that of your sister. Butting into something that was absolutely none of your business, I might add.” He took the last bite from his plate and carefully chewed it, wiping his mouth on the silk napkin provided before taking a drink of water to finish his meal. That done, he stood rather abruptly.

  “At the moment, I couldn't care less what you think, what you say, or how sorry you are,” he said simply. “I stood by you as a friend yesterday, and by this morning all that was forgotten when you stormed into my room, assuming the worst of me without even bothering to ask. That's fine. It's your house, your prerogative. Mine is to leave and be shut of you.” With that he headed out the back way, through the kitchen, leaving his 'friend' shame-faced at the table.

  “I told you not to say anything,” Lucia's voice came from behind him and he turned to see her standing in the doorway, arms crossed, face marred in anger. “Told you to leave him alone or I'd make you sorry. And you still couldn't help yourself, could you?”

  “Lucia, this has got nothing to do with-”

  “Shut up,” his sister's voice was flat, cutting him off short. “It has everything to do with me, since you took it on yourself to butt into my life and try to dictate to me how I live and who I see. I'm not a little girl, Antonio. In case you missed it, I happened to grow up while you were gone. Years you were gone without so much as a postcard, and that's fine. You're a grown man, you have to do what you have to do. But don't think for a damn minute that I'm going to let you intrude into my business or my life now that you happen to come by for a visit!”

  “I was just trying to look out for you,” Tony's excuse sounded lame, even to him.

  “Right,” Lucia nodded. “Just trying to look out for me. Some things never change,” she sighed, shaking her head sadly. “You need to understand something, Antonio,” her voice hardened again. “I like him. I like him a lot. I know I don't know him that well before you bother saying it,” she held up a hand to forestall his comment. “That is completely beside the point. I still like him and regardless of what you think, or what he thinks for that matter, I am going to get to know him better and he's going to like it. You don't have a say in that, brother. None. So the easiest thing for you to do is accept it and move on. Got that?”

  “I got it,” he nodded. “It's just that he's not w-”

  “Antonio,” her voice took on a warning timbre. “I'll find out what he is or isn't on my own. Understand? And your opinion of him isn't going to be the same as mine. I love you Antonio, I do. Before you two found me yesterday I was wishing you were here because I knew I could count on you to get me out of trouble. Then, just like a genie somewhere heard me, you two saved me when I was sure I was dead. It was like somehow you knew I'd need you yesterday and you made your way here for me. But this doesn't concern you, big brother. Keep out of it. Please, don't make me tell you again.” With that she turned on her heel and was gone. Tony sat there for a minute, still reeling from a triple dressing down. He deserved it he admitted, but it was still a rough morning.

  “Every woman in my family,” he shook his head finally. “They're all on his side. How is that fair?”

  -

  “We still haven't heard from either one?” Meredith asked. Jessica had cooked breakfast and done a good job, but it wasn't Tony's cooking. No one said it, but even Jess was thinking it.

  “No Cap'n,” Faulks shook her head.

  “No ma'am,” Jessica echoed.

  “You can try their com units,” Lincoln offered.

  “First thing I did this morning,” Meredith admitted. “Nothing.”

  “Well, it's just one day,” Lincoln shrugged. “And, we aren't working at the moment. I'd be shocked to find out that Sean has left anything much undone in Engineering anyway.”

  “Ship is in good shape, Cap'n,” Faulks agreed with him. “I know me and Galen ain't always got along, but he's a first rate engineer and he don't let nothin' skate.”

  “I know that,” Meredith nodded. “I'm not. . .I just want to know what the hell is going on!” she didn't quite snap. “After what happened at the restaurant last night I just have a feeling the two of them are into something bad, that's all.”

  “I can't imagine anything the two of them can't get themselves out of,” Lincoln shrugged. “And honestly, if they can't, I don't see what help we'd be to them unless it's bail money,” he tried to joke but it didn't go over well.

  “That's not funny,” she told him, though she did smile slightly. “And I'm the first to admit this place has a lot to attract two healthy young men, but I think we all know that whatever they were into last night isn't entertainment related.”

  Heads nodded around the table. There was little doubt that the two of them had been into something that went beyond a good time.

  “I wouldn't be surprised if that 'gas leak' wasn't a result of their visit, either,” Meredith continued. “And again, just for the record, I'm not angry or judging. I'm worried is what I am,” she admitted finally.

  “We know, Cap'n,” Faulks offered.

  “We are too,” Jessica admitted. “I don't know what that was about last night, but you're definitely right that it wasn't anything casual. Tony rarely looks or acts serious, but he was dead set serious last night.”

  “What about Galen?” Meredith asked.

  “He always looks serious,” Jessica shrugged. “I think I've seen him laugh three, maybe four times since I've known him. Of course, he doesn't have much to laugh about, I guess,” she added after a few seconds. “I wouldn't be able to tell if he was any more serious last night than he normally would be.”

  “They could at least check in and let us-” Meredith began, only to be cut off by the buzzing of the airlock warning.

  “I bet that's them now,” Lincoln said, rising. The rest of the crew followed suit as Lincoln headed for the cargo bay and the airlock entrance. When they got there, Sean Galen was coming up the stairs looking no worse for wear.

  “Where's Tony?” Meredith asked. “And what have you to been in to?”

  “Good to see you too, Captain,” Sean replied dryly. “Tony was visiting with someone when I headed back. Can't say who, but I didn't ask. We just had something we had to look in to last night, that's all. Wasn't much, but we didn't want anything tied to the ship if it turned out to be more than it was, that's all.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that we distanced ourselves from you, like at the restaurant, so that if we ended up in trouble it wouldn't hit any of you,” Sean clarified. “We weren't sure how things would go. Turned out fine, though, all things considered. Everything is good so far as I know. What did you guys find out at the doctor? And congratulations on the
test, by the way,” he winked at Jessica, who blushed slightly but grinned equally brightly.

  “I'm officially a licensed pilot!”

  “I needed these,” Lincoln tapped his glasses. “And I have a small cataract that has to be removed tomorrow.”

  “So you don't have any permanent damage?” Sean asked, his face showing his pleasure at that possibility.

  “No, I don't, thanks to you,” Linc smiled. “I should be right as right can be in a week or ten days if everything goes well. Between the glasses and the surgery I should actually be much better off once I've recovered.”

  “That is just outstanding!” Sean beamed. “I'm happy for you, Linc,” he actually patted the other man on the shoulder.

  “Thanks, Sean,” Linc smiled back.

  “So is the law going to show up later looking for you two?” Meredith asked, trying to keep her tone light but wanting to get more information.

  “No, Captain,” Sean shook his head, still grinning. “No one will be looking for us. It wasn't that kind of evening.” Technically not a lie he figured, since the odds of the law actually being interested in them were nil thanks to Jerome Delgado's influence.

  “Well, we're going to be planet side for at least a week for Lincoln's surgery,” Meredith informed him. “Do you know of any major maintenance we need to hire done?”

  “No,” he told her. “If we're going to be cold that long there's some things I'll get done just because we have the time, but maintenance wise we're up to date. I'll do a few things ahead of time just to take advantage of our being on the ground though,” he added thoughtfully, clearly already considering what he needed to do. “There's no sense in wasting the opportunity.”

  “Will you need any help?” she asked.

  “I might need Faulks to help with the injectors, but it won't take long. I'll probably clear and clean them while we're cold. It takes about a day, day-and-a-half to get them all out, cleaned and back in, but most of that is the cleaning.”

  “We've done that before,” Faulks nodded readily. “Won't be no problem, Cap'n. Just let me know when you want to start, Galen.”

  “Let me change and we'll get to it now if you've got the time,” Sean said after a moment's thought. “I can get most of it done today and then when you get time tomorrow we can set them back. The alignment will take longer than anything else most likely.”

  “We'll be off ship tomorrow for most of the day for Lincoln's surgery,” Meredith reminded him. “If you think we'll need to be here, might want to wait.”

  “With Jess here we can manage,” Sean replied. “Unless you guys want us there for the operation. In that case we'll wait until day after tomorrow. We'll still have more than enough time.”

  “Nah,” Linc shook his head. “We may need help later on. I don't know what shape I'll be in once this is over and Mere can't really help me physically because of her back. But if I need one of you to help me get back we can call the ship.”

  “Well, if we get the injectors out today, Faulks can go with you tomorrow anyway if she wants,” Sean pointed out. “I won't need her help again until I'm ready to remount them. I can always do that when you get back or even the day after.”

  “I'll do that then,” Faulks said at once. “After last night, I'd prefer me or you one be with any of them anytime they're off ship.”

  “What happened last night?” Sean frowned.

  “He doesn't know,” Lincoln said. “I'd forgot all about that, but he and Tony won't know what happened.”

  “I would if you told me,” Sean said helpfully.

  “Come on to the galley then and we'll fill you in on our wayward waif's latest adventure,” Lincoln chuckled.

  “Stop calling me waif!”

  CHAPTER TEN

  -

  Terase Falcone was numb. That was the only word she would have been able to think of to describe how she felt had someone asked her. Two sons gone in one day, her chance at revenge gone along with them, and their payday lost along with the girl.

  Worse, the law would be looking for them now and so would the Delgado family. Jerome Delgado was a powerful enemy and he controlled a huge operation. He had soldiers to spare in looking for her and her boys, not to mention the influence he wielded with the city and planetary authorities.

  By her estimate, it had taken about two hours for a well planned and executed operation to go straight to hell.

  “Ma, what are we gonna do?” Sandy asked for probably the tenth time. “We can't just sit here,” he added when she didn't reply at once.

  “I know that,” she finally spoke, her voice cracking slightly. “We have to be careful though. We're still, and we're out of sight. We're not attracting attention. No one knows where we are at the moment so we can take time to plan. We need. . .we need to get off world,” she said, her voice screaming with reluctance.

  The last thing she wanted was to abandon her dream of restoring the Falcone name to its former prominence, but after yesterday's fiasco, that dream was pretty much dead.

  “You mean leave?” Terry was shocked.

  “That's what I said wasn't it?” Terase's voice was harsh. “You want to stay around here knowing that the Delgado knows who killed their people and took their daughter? Ain't losing Sonny and Jamie enough for you?” she demanded. “Or you want to stay around and lose even more?”

  “No, ma,” Terry shook his head. “I just. . .I ain't never thought of leavin' San Lucia, that's all. Where would we go?” he asked.

  “To the Rim,” Terase said at once. “We'll head out to the Rim. We got assets out there, some, and we can build an operation on a world the Delgado don't know nothin' about. We work, we build, and one day, when we're strong, we'll try again. If not us, then the next generation. You two will raise sons and daughters and we'll teach them and maybe one day, if we can't do it ourselves, then they will get revenge for us. For you brothers, for your uncle, for everyone.”

  “It may be ten years or a hundred, but we'll have ours back,” she swore. “This world will be Falcone territory again one day.”

  “How do we get there, and when do you want to leave?” Sandy asked. With Sonny gone, someone had to step up and he figured it might as well be him. Terry was a good guy and a good brother, but. . .he wasn't all that bright. While not truly handicapped, he was still thick in the head about some things, and slow sometimes to get the picture.

  Losing Jamie had hit Terry almost as hard as it had their mother, too. Terry and Jamie had been close, much closer than any of the rest of them, sharing a father where Sonny and Sandy both had different fathers. Terry would still be able to function, Sandy figured, but he would be much less useful than normal for a while as he adjusted to life without Jamie.

  “Always have a backup,” his mother told him. “I've got passage already booked on a small freighter that was holding for my call. I've got a half-dozen others willing to go along with us and they're loading what we're going to take with us even now while the three of us lay low. We've got resources, we've got man power. And we've got a base already to build on out on the Rim. Like I said, we'll start over, build, and one day we'll come back.” She stood suddenly and the two boys stood with her.

  “Make sure this place is clean and we don't leave nothing behind. We'll move once night falls. Ship will be ready to lift and waitin' on us. By this time tomorrow we'll be well and truly gone, on our way out.”

  “How long will it take to get there?” Terry asked.

  “About a month-and-a-half,” Terase admitted. “Plenty of time to make all the plans we need to and be organized when we set down. I've got a Drops operation out there already, and the ship's Captain will bring what cargo is ready back with him. We'll use that as a start, and build up our operation again. It'll take time and patience, but we'll get it done. Now get to it and get ready to head out.”

  “Yes, ma,” both said in unison and started gathering their gear.

  Terase looked out the window at the distant skyline of Porto
San Lucia. It had been her home since birth and leaving left a bitter taste in her mouth. Just as running did. But for now, it was all she had. She had to get clear and start over. She would need soldiers and resources and she couldn't get that here.

  But she would be back. She swore to herself that she would return to her home, one way or another.

  -

  Tony was at loose ends for the moment. As he had eaten breakfast he had considered what to tell the Captain, if anything. Her attitude towards his home world was poor enough as it was. Should she find out what all had gone on yesterday then it would be incrementally worse and she would probably want him off the ship. That was her choice of course. It was her ship after all.

  He had a sudden thought of buying his own small ship, or taking one of the family's. His father owned a number of small to medium shipping companies, most of whom shipped his own goods but also hired out on occasion.

  Could he, Tony, command a freighter? Working as a medic and a cook was one thing, but could he manage a ship as a business? Pay the bills, show a profit, manage a crew? He really didn't know. He was sure he could learn, but he'd never bothered to. Of course, he'd never had the thought of it until now.

  Maybe that was something to look in to, he mused. He'd be his own boss for a change. Of course, he could be his own boss right here at home too, now, couldn't he? He could come home, stay home, begin learning to take his father's place someday. Find a wife, raise an heir, continue the family name. . . .

  That thought sobered him. With Roberto gone and Luka deep into his work, it would likely be up to Antonio to sire a son to carry on the name. If he didn't, and Lucia took her future husband's name, then the Delgado name would. . .would pass away. That was a thought that had never once occurred to him. Never. With three sons, it had likely never occurred to his parents either. He wondered suddenly what his father was thinking this morning, with one traitorous son dead, another that probably didn't know what day of the week it was, and a third that never stayed in one place more than a day or two at a time.