by K A Bledsoe
“I must say, Quinn,” said his father. “You are an even better actor than I ever thought you could be. But then again, I haven’t really seen you working since I am usually on the ship.” Now he gave Lenore an almost accusatory look, as if she should have known he was acting.
“Yes, well, you were very convincing, Quinn. And I really didn’t think you were able to think and adapt that quickly in a dangerous situation so credit goes to you for that. But there’s one more thing I need to say.” His mother gave him a stern look. “You disobeyed my orders, put yourself and your sister in extreme danger, and…” she paused. Quinn lifted his chin, determined to take his deserved punishment.
“And we owe you our freedom. Both of you. Thank you, my clever children.”
She stood and held her arms out. Chairs slid back or fell over as the other three rushed into a family embrace.
***
A heavy tread in the corridor outside the lounge made them all break apart. Quinn went to right his chair while Allison grabbed a couple of plates. Bondle came huffing around the corner, his face bright pink.
“If I keep climbing these ladders every hour, I will either be in shape or passed out by the time we get to Reese.” He looked up, appearing surprised that anyone was in the lounge. Diarmin hid a chuckle. Bondle had been muttering to himself since they came back aboard, concentrating on his vaccines and in a constant state of worry.
“I am so glad you are here, Captain,” he said as he shuffled to the table. “I would like to contact Reese right away, or rather the prime planet Reesling.”
“I’m sorry,” said Lenore. “But we can’t transmit while in transspace. Why the urgency?”
“Well as you know these samples are very close to their limit so I want everyone to be prepared. They must be purposed as soon as possible, or I will have to start the process all over again. It’s not like Mill can start another—” An anguished look drew his eyebrows together, but he shook it off. “If I can get even a few of these to work, the government will extend the facilities for mass production. That’s why I need medical staff standing by so we can have the best chance.”
“As it happens, we were just discussing the course change coming up in two hours,” she said.
Diarmin kept his eyebrows from raising. They hadn’t talked about it at all, but he stood beside her, ready to support any story she concocted. The kids were doing the dishes, but he could tell they were listening intently.
“Ah, so I can talk to someone when we transition, yes?” asked Bondle.
“Actually, that’s what we were planning to inform you,” said Lenore. She gestured to the table and all three sat. Allison brought over a plate of snacks for Bondle and Quinn a drink so they just sat in the other chairs. Bondle didn’t look at anyone else but absently started eating while waiting for Lenore to continue.
“We are concerned about someone who may still be after the cargo,” she said. “So that means that we are going to change course in record time. Transitions usually take anywhere from fifteen minutes to a few hours. But I don’t want to be in real space for more than sixty seconds, preferably less.”
“Then I won’t be able to talk to anyone.”
“No, but there will be time to send off a message. You have a little more than an hour to compose exactly what you want to tell them. I would also like to send a brief message warning about possible ships following us in, so be sure to send a copy to a government official, as high up as you can, preferably military. We need them to be ready in case any ships are waiting to waylay this one.”
Bondle’s eyes widened at this comment as well as both kids’. Diarmin had been considering the problem but hadn’t had time to talk about it with Lenore. He knew he should be concerned at her telling Bondle without a family discussion beforehand, but it was too late to argue now.
“I understand, Captain. I will go write as succinct a message as I can.” He stood and both kids urged him to take the food with him. He absently grabbed the dishes and disappeared into his cabin.
“Good, that’s taken care of,” Lenore looked at everyone. “Now, let’s head to the bridge and figure out how we are going to handle that transition as well as our arrival at the planet.” She smiled at Quinn. “All of us.”
He grinned back and Diarmin felt his spirits lift, even though danger still awaited them all.
Chapter Forty
Despite the tensions on the bridge, Allison couldn’t stop smiling. The entire family was working harmoniously again, the troubles, if not completely gone, at least mostly solved. Allison felt they would be fine as long as they were together.
“Time to transition?” asked her mother.
“Five minutes,” she replied at the same time her brother did. They grinned at each other then put their attention back at their usual stations.
“Okay let’s go over this one more time, just to be sure,” said Lenore. “Diarmin, you bring us out of transwarp and Alli will send the messages. I will scan for ships while Quinn will make sure his navigational setting will work.”
“I have two alternatives if something comes up,” said Quinn.
“Double checking that everyone is strapped in tight,” said Diarmin. “I plan on a hard bank the second we come out.”
“The message is ready to go. Both sections,” Allison added.
“Acknowledged.” Lenore pressed a key. “Strap down, Mr. Bondle. This may get rough.”
“I am, Captain,” came a voice through the speaker.
“Estimation of time it will take to change course?” she asked even though they’d discussed this twice already.
“A few seconds to verify our position, another few to figure new course and the time to get us there,” said Diarmin. “Forty-five seconds to a minute.”
“Good.”
“Sixty seconds to transition,” said Quinn.
Everyone sat tense, as the countdown got closer to zero. Allison verified the message was ready and also prepared herself to perform whatever scans she could in the few seconds they had before slipping back into transwarp.
“Five…four…three…two…shift,” said Quinn.
Immediately the yacht banked hard to port as well as down. An energy beam lance narrowly missed the ship, proving Diarmin’s guess correct.
Allison ignored the viewscreen to do her job. “Shields up. Message away!” She started to collect whatever data she could.
“First and third courses blocked,” said Quinn. “Course two is clear.”
“Acknowledged,” said Diarmin. “You might get one shot off, Lenore. Time to transition…fifteen seconds.”
“Forget the shot, just go.”
The ship shook as it took weapons fire on the shields.
“Shields stable,” said Lenore.
“Hold on,” said Diarmin. He took the ship into a steep ascent, curved to port again and then accelerated, pressing the family deep into the seats. Allison couldn’t help looking at the viewscreen as a missile headed straight for them. “Here we go!”
The starfield disappeared, taking the threatening missile with it as the yacht slipped into transspace. The family all sighed in relief simultaneously.
“Fifty seconds. Not bad, Dad, considering there were at least two ships, ready and waiting for us,” said Quinn.
Allison checked the data she had gotten from her scans and turned to look at her mother. By the look on her mother’s face, she had similar information as Allison. Her mother’s head came up and eyes locked with Allison’s. Her tiny nod told Allison that she could tell the others her findings.
“Actually,” she said to Quinn. “There were six ships.”
“Six?” Quinn said, eyebrows rising like the squeak in his voice.
“So that means…” Diarmin trailed off as if he didn’t want to finish that sentence.
Lenore finished it for him.
“It means that they are stepping up their game.”
“They?” asked Quinn.
“You’ve probabl
y guessed, but I am sure that Alli’s data will confirm what I suspect. Those were the Xa’ti’al.”
***
Silence reigned on the bridge for several moments. Lenore’s breathing was loud in her own ears as she was trying to settle her churning stomach. Her fears weren’t for herself but for her family. She’d felt that way since the moment Kurla had mentioned that the Xa wanted her alive but family dead. She’d come to some difficult decisions in the past few hours, one that only solidified with how many ships were actually lying in wait.
“Kids. I need to tell you something.”
Quinn and Allison turned in their seats, looking expectant. She was very glad that the anger was gone out of Quinn’s eyes, but she was sure it would be back at some point. She took another settling breath then realized she was stalling so she simply started speaking.
“Your father and I have discussed this before and though we haven’t talked about it in these last hectic hours, I am sure we are still on the same page.” She glanced at Diarmin who had the same expectant look. “Quinn. You were correct in that we have never told you everything and also correct that it was to protect you both. But now, not only do we feel that you are ready to hear the story, with all that’s happened, it is a must. So.”
She stopped and took another breath but couldn’t bring herself to look at her kids. “When all this is over and we are again safe, your father and I will tell you our stories.” She looked at Diarmin again. His lips had tightened but he nodded at her. “Everything. The good, the bad, and even things you might be too young to understand. You need to know why we made the choices we did and how it shaped our lives. And then yours.” She cut herself off, rambling because she didn’t want to say the next line. She hadn’t discussed this with her husband because her decision had been made moments ago. “After you hear everything, if you think it would be best, I will return to the Xa’ti’al in return for your lives and safety.”
Both children burst out with denials and comments. Lenore held up her hand and they fell silent again.
“Don’t argue now. Wait until you have heard the entire story. You may change your minds.” She tried to grin and lighten the mood. “That is unless it is all made moot in the next few hours.” She turned her grin to Diarmin but the blank look on his face made it disappear from her lips.
“I’m going to check if our passenger and cargo survived all the hubbub,” he said, unbuckling himself from the chair.
Lenore almost held out her hand to stop him but, as she had told the kids, now was not the time. As Diarmin headed down the ladder, she removed her restraints as well, trying not to regret her words. She felt like she had to say what she said now, in case the worst happened when they got to Reese.
At least now, even if I don’t get the chance to tell them everything, they know that my intentions were good.
“Quinn. Time to the planet?”
Quinn turned back to his board but not before Lenore saw a hint of some emotion return to those eyes. She didn’t think it was anger but couldn’t tell what else it might be.
“Four hours.”
“Good. Let’s discuss what exactly we will do when we get there.”
Chapter Forty-one
Diarmin trudged back to the bridge. He had been trying not to think about the last thing Lenore had said to Quinn and Allison. How could she even consider going back to the Xa’ti’al? Did she forget all the reasons she left? Maybe telling the story to the children will remind her. He was also trying to not regret agreeing to it. What would the kids think when they learned who he used to be? Firmly he shoved the doubts back. They all needed to be at their best for the next hour.
As his head popped through the opening, all heads turned to him. Lenore opened her mouth but Diarmin beat her to it.
“I figured Mr. Bondle should be on the bridge when we arrive. That way he can talk to whomever is in charge.” A tip of his head indicated that Bondle was right behind him on the ladder.
“Good idea,” said Lenore. She stood as Diarmin took the command chair. “Mr. Bondle, how did the cargo do during the transition?”
“The cargo is fine, but I got rather shook up.” He glanced at all of them with a sheepish look. “I am afraid I had to take the rest of the nausea medication to calm my stomach.”
“Well, we are hoping the end of our trip will be less challenging.” She indicated her chair for him to sit.
“Ah, no. Don’t give up your seat for me.”
“Mr. Bondle. Regulations are that all passengers must be strapped in for transition,” she replied. “Don’t worry. I’ve done this many times.” She arranged herself next to him and, using a switch under the science console, raised it so she could access the board while standing.
“Time to transition?” asked Diarmin, trying not to be concerned at his wife not being strapped down. But if it got rough, he needed to be firmly in his chair to pilot and neither of them wanted the kids unrestrained.
“Ten minutes.”
“Exact coordinates?”
Quinn punched a few buttons and the information scrolled across the screen.
“That’s awfully close to the planet,” said Diarmin.
“We thought that it would be best to get the cargo delivered as soon as possible,” said Allison.
“I understand,” he answered, knowing the truth was that the less time being open to attack.
“My message requested that the ship be allowed to land at the primary medical facility instead of the space station,” said Bondle as he fastened buckles and straps. “They have a landing pad on the roof that is not large, but if all other vehicles are moved, you should have no trouble landing with antigrav. It would take too long to transfer the cargo from the station.”
“Very well,” said Lenore as Diarmin nodded. “You should know, with the message I sent attached to your own, I requested an escort, military-grade if possible.”
“We have a small standing security force, but they should be enough to deter pirates,” he replied. Apparently, he didn’t see everyone’s exchanging glances. “Did you give them a description of your vessel?”
“Yes, as well as our identification specs so they won’t fire on us as we enter their space.”
“Good.”
The group fell silent again, working diligently at their posts. As the minutes wore on, the tension rose significantly.
“Thirty seconds,” said Quinn. Instead of counting aloud, he put the timer in the corner of the viewscreen. Eyes shifted between consoles and clock.
Diarmin’s hands hovered above the pilot controls as the countdown approached zero.
“Transition,” said Quinn. The screen resolved to show a planet exactly in front, close enough to see blue and white swirls, yet far enough away to not cause problems with gravity. But their attention was not on the lovely planet but the two ships directly in front.
“Ah, good. Those are our sentry ships. I will make contact for landing—”
He never got to finish that sentence as an orange light surrounded their ship. The wrenching lurch told Diarmin that they were now held in a tractor beam.
“Reese sentry ship,” said Lenore. “This is Captain Nora Fleming. We are on an emergency medical mission that you should have been made aware of. What is the meaning of the beam holding my ship?” She covered the microphone and gave a loud whisper to Allison. “Find a way out of that.”
Allison nodded as a return message came through.
“Captain Fleming. My orders are to take you to the correct coordinates.”
“My pilot is more than capable of landing. Release my ship.”
“It’s true,” Bondle chimed in. “The pilot is an excellent one.”
“I have my orders.” The line cut out.
“Is this standard?” Diarmin asked Bondle.
“Not at all. I have never heard of sentry ships using their tractor beams for anything other than towing disabled ships to the space station.”
“If our shields were up,
I could change the resonance pattern to disrupt the beam, but they latched on too quickly,” said Allison. Her fingers were flying over her keyboard as well as two pads propped up on either side. “I am attempting to hack in for the command codes.”
“Do it fast,” said Quinn. “The course they are taking us on leads away from the planet.”
“I can’t contact the planet. They’re disrupting communications,” said Quinn. "And our weapons won't activate within the tractor beam's field."
“Let’s try this then,” said Diarmin. “Hang on tight!”
He put the yacht on maximum reverse and the orange light flickered but held fast. As a slight pulse indicated a switch in the beam, he slammed the yacht hard to starboard.
“That’s weakened the hold,” said Lenore. “A couple more punches and we won’t need weapons.”
Tugging the ship in every direction threw everyone around, but Lenore held fast to the console and kept standing. The last pull was straight up, then the orange light was gone.
Diarmin said, “Raise shields” only half a second before Allison yelled, “Shields up.”
As the yacht pulled away, a blast rocked the ship.
“Concussion missile,” said Quinn. “Energy weapons firing as well.”
“How dare they!” said Bondle who was gripping the arms of the chair. “Let me speak with them, Captain.”
“I don’t think they are listening,” said Lenore. “And I don’t think these are your people.” To her family she added, “The second ship is closing and firing their weapons.”
The ship shook again.
“Those are energy weapons,” said Quinn. “Three hits, the starboard shields are down to half strength.”
“Well, they can’t hit us if they can’t catch us.” Diarmin took the ship into a dive then looped around.
“Firing,” said Lenore.
“Minimal damage,” said Quinn. “Their shields are just too strong.”
“Working on it!” said Allison, fingers still flying.
“We only have two missiles left. We will have to make them count when Alli gets the shields down.”
