by L S Roebuck
Skylar intended to remain with the living. He was a Hawk after all, the most cunning and lethal, the most elite of all Chasm ranks. He had a plan that would end Magellan, bring him the highest praise from the Chairman, and he would claim Amberly as his prize.
Surely, if I succeed where even the legendary Raven One has failed, the Chairman will not deny me Amberly, Captain Trigs thought. He detested the misandrist Macready and her favored position with the Chairman. He didn’t know why he was jealous; Kimberly was now a floating chunk of ice somewhere in deep space. He hadn’t seen the Chairman for nearly a decade, but he felt attracted to her ageless beauty after so many years. What did the famous American diplomat say, ‘Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac? But he knew he would never have the Chairman. Even entertaining such thoughts was blasphemous. Skylar chastised himself for having jealous emotions at all. Amberly will be prize enough. Jealousy leads to greed, which must be purged from humanity, even from myself, he thought.
He thought about that turncoat, Dek Tigona, who betrayed Chasm for the love of Amberly. What a fool Dek was, Skylar considered, to think he could beat the Chairman and somehow keep the Macready girl for himself. Still, as long as Dek lived, Skylar knew he posed a real threat to his success in destroying Magellan and winning Amberly’s heart. Of course, the latter would just be a bonus, because Skylar intended on possessing the daughter of Kimberly, the enemy of Chasm, as his own personal property. Amberly Macready had forfeited any right she had for self-determination, for life even, the instant she put a bullet in her mother on this very bridge more than two years ago. Skylar would be doing Amberly a favor asking the Chairman for the redhead. Who knows what horrors the Chairman would have for Amberly otherwise?
Skylar’s moment for glory had come.
“Snodgrass,” Skylar summoned the attention of his second-in-command. “What is the status of thrusters and spooling? I want to move as soon as possible. There is no telling what damage Chasm operatives could be doing back on Magellan. Speed and secrecy are essential.”
“I’m waiting on Chief Engineer Todum,” Snodgrass said. “He’s on his way to the bridge to coordinate final prep from here.”
“Jefferson, tell Duke Todum to double-time it to the bridge,”
“Yes, captain,” the VI responded over bridge speakers.
“Is the traitor Dek on board?” Skylar looked up at Snodgrass with a hard gaze.
“Yes, sir,” Snodgrass answered. “I saw to it personally. He’s been returned to solitary confinement. Well, I transferred custody to Sergeant Wong. I trust Wong properly booked Dek.”
“Trust is an interesting substance, XO,” Skylar said. Snodgrass detected an air of condescension in the statement. “Jefferson, please ask Sergeant Wong to report to the bridge.”
“Yes, captain,” the VI repeated. “And captain, all hands are now onboard. We have clearance from Fuentes Station to depart.”
A familiar voice that soothed Skylar’s anxieties broadcast over the bridge speakers. “Captain Trigs,” Amberly said. “Safe and successful travels. I’m jealous. I’d like to be going back home right now. Godspeed, sweetheart.”
“Mission Commander Macready, this is Captain Trigs. Acknowledged safe and successful. We’ll be back before you know it. All my love. American Spirit going radio silent.”
“Goodbye,” Amberly said as the wired transmission cut off.
“Mr. Snodgrass,” Skylar said, “take us home.”
As XO, Snodgrass handled issuing the myriad of orders to get American Spirit underway. The gangway and hard wire connection were retracted. Light thrusters were ordered. Inertia dampeners were brought online.
The ship was free and within seconds, the basic thrusters had already put nearly a hundred kilometers between American Spirit and the large asteroid, Sonnet.
Duke Todum arrived on the bridge.
“Duke, I’m glad you’re here,” Skylar said. “How are the sub-light spools doing?”
“We should be ready to begin acceleration to a cruising speed of .2c in about 10 minutes,” Todum said.
“Excellent work,” Skylar lauded Duke. “I know being promoted from mate to chief engineer in such a short amount of time must be somewhat overwhelming, but I am confident that as the engineer with the most experience on American Spirit, you are the right person for the job.”
“Thank you, captain,” Todum said.
Skylar produced an infopad and handed it to his chief engineer. “These are confidential vectors and approach speeds. Please execute them as soon as possible.”
Todum examined the infopad. He gave an are-you-crazy look to Skylar and then looked back at the infopad to make sure he hadn’t misread it. Skylar saw his apprehension. He waved the chief close to his chair, and the spoke almost in a whisper near his ear.
“Time is of the essence. We don’t know what is going on at Magellan. Don’t worry, Chief. I know what those orders will do, and clearly we are not going to allow that,” Skylar whispered reassuringly. “Additional orders will follow once we are halfway to Magellan. Everything will make sense then. But for now, keep this to ourselves. We don’t know who the mole is. She or he could be on American Spirit with us.”
“I understand captain,” Todum said. “You can count on me to keep this secret.”
“Of course, I can,” Skylar said. “Now go make it happen.”
Ramos was generally thought of as a kind, unassuming man. But he also had the ability to appear threatening. He was now exercising that skill on Sergeant Wong.
“I don’t understand, Wong, why would the captain countermand direct authorization from Mission Commander Amberly Macready? I don’t believe that he has that authority, do you?” Ramos said as he stood as tall as possible.
Wong cowered slightly. “Sorry, preacherman. I don’t make the rules; I just enforce them. Skylar said no one sees Dek until he has had a chance to debrief him. So, the captain isn’t being insubordinate, but rather we just have an administrative delay before you can see Dek.”
“Administrative delay. That sounds suspicious,” Ramos said. “I’d really like to talk with Dek. It’s been several months.”
“Listen, Dek’s fine,” Wong said. “I promise. Besides, why do you care so much about this traitor anyway?”
“No one is too far gone for God to forgive them,” Ramos said. “Which means no one is too far gone for me to forgive them.”
“I don’t think I could do that,” Wong mused. “I don’t think I can forgive Dek for the deaths of my friends. I can barely forgive Amberly.”
“So, I’ve heard,” Ramos quipped.
“Sergeant Wong, report to the bridge, double time,” Jefferson’s VI voice sounded over the ship intercom. Wong looked at Ramos and sighed. The Marine took off at a fast pace to the bridge.
“I’ll just wait here,” Ramos said, and sat down on a bench outside the brig reception area. Once he saw Wong was out of earshot, he pulled out his infopad and called Midas.
“Midas,” Ramos spoke quietly, “I’m worried something is wrong. Eli still hasn’t let me see Dek, and he’s been summoned to the bridge.”
“I see,” Midas said. “May be nothing. Still, let me come to your position. Where are you?”
“I’m in the brig lobby.”
“On my way.”
Wong arrived at the bridge and saw Snodgrass sitting in the command chair. “Where’s the captain?”
“Skylar said to meet him in the captain’s conference room,” Snodgrass explained. “That’s just pass the captain’s quart—”
“I know where it is,” Wong snapped at the XO, “… sir.”
Wong wondered if he was in trouble as he quickly walked down the executive officer hall. Perhaps Skylar, as a protective beau, was going to punish him for that when he drunkenly assaulted Amberly at Rick’s Cafe back on Magellan. Amberly herself had forgiven Wong, and even asked her to be her security chief. But perhaps her new love was not as forgiving. Out here, out of communication with Fuentes Station, Amber
ly was unable to keep Skylar from executing some form of justice.
Wong heard a strange tapping, like a busted steam pipe, that interrupted his thoughts. The sound stopped, and he made a mental note to tell engineer Todum to check it out. He now stood in front of the door to the conference room. I shouldn’t be worried, Wong thought. The captain is a good man, loyal to Earth and a reasonable public servant. Wong pressed the door chime, and the door slid open.
“Come in, Eli,” Skylar was seated at the end of the conference table. The room was dimly lit. “Take a seat.”
Wong did as he was instructed. “How can I help, captain?”
“I have very special request,” Skylar said. “But first you must promise me that you can keep this completely confidential. You may only discuss this with Mission Commander Macready once we return, because these are her secret orders.”
“I understand, sir,” Wong said.
“Amberly clearly has feelings for Dek, and she knows that those feelings could compromise the mission, and if I may be vulnerable to you, our upcoming marriage,” Skylar said, oozing faux authenticity in every word. “You and I know that North should not have given Dek clemency, and we should have executed him with Johnson and the others.”
“Yes,” Wong agreed. “I love North like a brother, but I was shocked when he let that tool Dek keep his life.”
“As was I,” Skylar agreed. “But we didn’t know about the continuing threat, about these Hawk agents. Dek could rally this crew against me, free our Chasm prisoners again, and then use the American Spirit to assault Magellan again. We must not let him.”
“Of course, captain,” Wong said. “You know that as head of security, my Marines will protect your –”
“No, no, my friend. You misunderstand,” Skylar put his hand up to stop Wong from continuing. “Amberly has ordered us to terminate Dek Tigona. She knew she could never do it herself, that it would be easier if we took care of this uncomfortable deed for her.”
Wong was stunned silent.
“Will you take care of Dek Tigona for us? Bring justice to the lost?”
“Yes, of course,” Wong regained his composure. “It’s just that…”
“You know in your heart it is the right thing to do,” Skylar said. “We can let Anderson, Jindal, Twig and the others finally rest in peace.”
“How and when?” Wong looked down at the table.
“Every moment Dek lives, the risk of him compromising our mission increases. Take him near an airlock, stun him, and send him on his way. Can you do that?”
“If I know I have your backing, I shall,” Wong said. “Skylar, your dedication to the home planet is inspirational.”
“I know where my loyalties lie, Eli. Report back to me when you have completed Amberly’s orders, and I will announce Amberly’s orders, and that those orders have been carried out, to the crew.”
Wong left the dimly lit conference room into the hall servicing the executive suites. He had wanted Dek’s head for so long, he was ready and willing to carry out the execution. He was glad that Macready had finally come around to see Dek for the evil person he was, but the clandestine nature of this execution made Wong uneasy.
As he made his way for the elevator that would take him to the brig, Wong noticed the knocking sound again. Some busted pipe can’t be good, he thought, as he pulled his infopad from an arm pocket and sent a maintenance report to Todum. Wong checked the charge on his stun gun as he entered the elevator.
Wong was surprised and frustrated to see both Ramos and Midas waiting in the brig reception. He ignored them and spoke straight with the Marine guard on duty. Wong had four Marines he knew were loyal to him and would not be tempted to support any coup attempted by Dek. These were the only Marines assigned to brig guard duty.
“Private, please bring me prisoner Dek Tigona,” Wong said, and then a little more loudly. “Captain Trigs wants to see him.”
“Yes sergeant,” the private replied and then he disappeared through the door into the cell bank.
“What does Skylar want with Dek?” Midas asked Wong.
“That’s classified,” Wong replied, looking away.
“B.S.,” Midas replied. “What, is he going to beat up Dek and warn him to stay away from his girl?”
“What does Amberly know?” Ramos asked calmly.
“Well, as mission commander, I assume she is privy to classified information,” Wong replied cautiously. Then he looked at Ramos. “Ramos, when Dek is brought out, you can have two minutes to speak with him. But not alone.”
“Great!” Ramos said, surprised that he was going to get to check in with Dek after no contact for these past few months. “But why?”
“Because, as you have pointed out before, Mission Commander Macready gave permission,” Wong said.
“And I am grateful,” Ramos said, rubbing his balding brown head. “But when will I have a chance for an extended conversation with Dek.”
“Preacherman,” Wong said, “You are a man of God, so I won’t lie to you. I don’t see any guarantees of you having an opportunity to have another conversation at all.”
“I see,” Ramos muttered.
The door to the cell block slid open, and Dek stepped out, wearing a smartly pressed khaki jumpsuit, his hands cuffed behind his back. Dek saw Ramos and smiled. The Marine guard pushed Dek all the way through the door.
The Marine pushed forward his infopad to Wong. “Transfer authorization, please present exposed skin.” The infopad did a nearly instant DNA scan from epidermis cells, and the guard’s VI replied, “Security Chief Wong’s identity confirmed. Transfer of custody complete.”
Wong looked at Ramos. “Two minutes.”
“What is going on?” Dek asked.
“We’re headed back to Magellan. Amberly made Skylar captain,” Ramos explained.
“Her new fiancé?” Dek asked.
“Yes. But that’s not the problem. Tight beams are down on both station and ship, and Amberly is worried that Magellan might have been compromised by a Chasm Hawk.”
“And she doesn’t want to use an open radio signal because it could tip off Chasm of our little operation?”
“Something like that,” Ramos said. “How have you been? I’ve been trying to get in to see you, but they have been keeping me away.”
“Well, I’m not going to lie to you–”
“Apparently, no one ever does,” Ramos interrupted.
“It’s been pretty rough. Having gotten this close to being back with Amberly again, and then realizing that she’s moved on. Drinking bitterness is tempting.”
“I don’t know if she ever did really love you, Dek,” Ramos said. “I feel like you should know the truth.”
“How do you know this?” Dek said, looking slightly distressed.
“I don’t have time to explain,” Ramos said. “But trust me.”
“Unfortunately, I believe the preacher is right,” Midas offered.
Dek looked at Wong for a reaction. “I don’t understand anything that goes on in that woman’s head,” the security chief admitted. “Time’s almost up.”
“I’ve been praying,” Dek said to Ramos. “And I think I am hearing God talk back to me.”
“The hope of a desperate man? Or someone who actually has slowed himself down enough to harmonize with the Almighty?” Midas offered.
“Midas, not now,” Ramos said, and then turned back to Dek. “Listen, keep praying. I am almost certain when we get to Magellan, they will execute the other Chasm exiles for the attempted mutiny. I don’t think I can do anything for them. Snodgrass and I will make a direct appeal to the governor and Moreno for clemency for you. Maybe God will move their hearts to mercy.”
“No. It’s my time. Maybe it’s best for me to go back to God,” Dek said. “I’ve made my peace with my sins. I’ve realized that Amberly had become my false idol. God had to take her away from me so I would realize it. If we wouldn’t have come back, I would have worshipped that redhead in absentia
all the way to hell.”
“Sweet Jesus,” Ramos looked hard into Dek’s blue-grey eyes. “You are a true believer now, aren’t you?”
“To live is to suffer for God, to die is gain,” Dek said. “Deep down don’t we all just want to see the face of God?”
“Don’t be in such a hurry,” Midas advised.
“All the same, Dek, we are going to work for your release,” Ramos said. “I’ve never been a big fan of the death penalty. I’m a fan of grace.”
“Let’s go,” Wong said stiffly, working to eliminate any trace of emotion from his voice.
Ramos suddenly embraced Tigona with a powerful hug. “Maranatha, Dek.” Wong tugged Dek out of the embrace.
“I will never stop praying for you, Ramos,” Dek called out as Wong pulled him into the corridor. “Or Amberly. Make sure she knows that.”
The door slid closed and Dek Tigona was gone.
Midas looked up at Ramos, and whispered so as not to be overheard by the Marine guard, “People lie to me all the time. I’m an expert at smelling falsehoods. Make no mistake. They are going to kill him. Wong is going to do it right now.”
“Are you sure?” Ramos asked under his breath.
“No. But let’s follow them and find out.”
“And what can we do about it?”
“Start praying we’ll think of something when the time comes.”
Dek looked across at Wong as they walked down past a series of life support system filters rooms.
“You know, Wong,” Dek said, “unless you guys remodeled the American Spirit over the last few months, we’re going away from anywhere where Skylar will be, unless he volunteered for recycler duty.”
“We’re not going to see the captain,” Wong said. “We’re going here.” He stopped them in front of the outer door used for disposing waste that could not be recycled.
“I see,” Dek said as he eyed the interior airlock door nervously. “So, this is it. Is this just your idea, or is Skylar trying to eliminate the competition?”
“This order comes directly from the Mission Commander,” Wong said. “I’m sure because of your past relationship, she wasn’t strong enough to oversee the deed herself. But no matter. The blood of many is on your hands. You deserve to die.” Wong keyed open the airlock.
