Dubious Heroes: a novel

by Nicholas Blue

  "Maybe so", I said. "Still, I don't think we did a helluva lot toward helping the AIs get their freedom. The UP still isn't granting them rights."

  "Give your AI friends a little credit", Mac said. "They have a plan of their own, and I doubt they're done. From their point of view, a much weaker UP will be a lot easier to deal with."

  "So we won", Eng said. "Kind of."

  "More or less", I said.

  "So, what now?" Cozi asked, looking over at me.

  "Find a ship, and make yourselves scarce", Mac said. "Like I said, give it a year or two."

  "We can probably get one of the cargo ships here spaceworthy", I said. "Might take us a week or two, though."

  "It's a start", Eng said. "What will you do, Admiral?"

  "What I have to do", he said. "I'm sending the Bismarck back to Triton, as I'd promised I would. I imagine the Erebus will hitch a ride back with them, too, but that's not my call, they're free agents. I'll have them drop me somewhere, and I'll eventually make my way back to Luna, and with the newsnets in tow, I'll turn myself in to the UP authorities. Once I do that, I suspect my days will be pretty much planned out for me."

  "Is there no other way?" Kyra asked. "We could go off together; I can protect you, you know."

  "I don't doubt that for a second, sweetheart", Mac said, looking even more dejected. His green eyes met hers, then he looked away. "You know I can't do that, much as I'd love to. Something awful and tragic happened, and it was my fault. I wouldn't be any different than most of the people I've spent my life fighting, if I didn't take responsibility for this. I've always told you to stand behind the things you do, the decisions you make. It's time I did that. In the long run, this will work out. You'll all be okay."

  He rose, and the others stood as well. Kyra walked over and hugged him. When they parted, both had tears in their eyes. I shook his hand firmly, and might have blinked away a few tears of my own. More handshakes and hugs followed.

  Finally, our goodbyes said, Kyra and Mac entered the little airlock. When she returned three minutes later, he was gone.

  Scott and the crew of the Erebus also paid a visit to say goodbye; they'd be returning to Triton with the Bismarck, as we'd thought they would.

  A few hours later, both ships were gone. Vassily landed the Defender of the Crown by the control center, but we'd already scattered across the moon. We needed to get a ship up and running, preferably before someone noticed we were there.

  I was aboard a little freighter called the Water Lily, which I assumed was some sort of plant or flower, trying to coax a life support unit into operation. If it worked, we'd yank it out and install it into another ship, which had working drives, but little else. Cozi and Lola had troopers in a dozen different ships, engaged in what was essentially a big scavenger hunt for parts.

  Vassily clumped into the Water Lily's habitat module, in his spacesuit, and looked around at the mess I'd made, access panels casually discarded around the room.

  "Where did you learn to work on an LSU?" he asked, via his suit radio.

  "Here", I said, as the unit lit up for about the fifth time, ostensibly working. "About an hour ago."

  "You get any air in here yet?" he asked. I checked the display before me.

  "Yeah, about five hundred millibars", I said. "It's damned cold, though."

  "Cold is nothing to a Russian", he said. "You've heard of Siberia?"

  "Vaguely", I said, which was true. "Lot of absolute zero weather there, huh?"

  "Very funny", he said. "It's cold enough." He popped his helmet release. The suit wouldn't have opened if the conditions hadn't met certain minimum parameters. Even though the suit could display the outside conditions, the manufacturer had still put in the idiot-proofing. I didn't really see the point. It wasn't the kind of mistake an idiot would make more than once.

  I removed my helmet as well, and cautiously sniffed the cold, musty air.

  "Reminds me of the air on that mountain", I said, taking off my gloves.

  "Hopefully that was fresher", Vassily said, as the LSU died again.

  "Fucker", I said, as I punched up the diagnostics on the display screen. "You here to help, or just to supervise?"

  "Neither", he said, as he stepped to one side, flipped a switch on the breaker panel, then touched the reset switch on the screen. The system hummed to life again. He looked over at me and grinned.

  "Smartass", I said.

  "I think it is time for us to be leaving", he said. "My crew is anxious to see New Britain again, as am I. We've been gone for a long time, da?"

  "It has been", I said. "Do you have someone back there?"

  "I do", he said. "A wife, two kids."

  "Jeez", I said. "I didn't know."

  He shrugged.

  "I didn't say", he said. "Have to maintain my bad reputation."

  "A woman in every port", I said, smiling. You go through a lot with some people, and find out you still don't really know them.

  "One or two", he said, smiling back. "Maybe. Tell anyone the truth, and I will be very sorry to have to space you. Da?"

  "Da. Your secret is safe with me", I said. "I'd never have put you in some of those situations had I known you have a family."

  "I know", he said. "Not the way to run a ship; worrying about someone who isn't there. Besides, the things we've been doing only make our home safer for those we care about."

  "True enough", I said. "So, this is goodbye, I guess."

  "Not if you'll come with us", he said. "We get that freighter working, and we'll take you back with us. Maybe get you a proper ship again."

  "It's very tempting", I said. "I'm not sure how welcome we'd be, though."

  "I spoke with Urbano", he said. "He said that Her Majesty would very much like to see you. Big parties, even a parade, maybe. No shooting or arrests, this time. After all, you're heroes."

  "Please", I said. "Call me whatever you like, but not that. While I would love to see New Britain again, it may be awhile. You'll still have your parades, whether we're there or not. You've earned at least that much."

  He shrugged.

  "Maybe", he said. "Where will you go, if not with us?"

  "I don't know", I said. "Maybe we can visit in a few months, but I don't think we can be there right now. Please tell Queen Deirdre and Urbano that the offer is much appreciated."

  I wasn't in much of a mood for gaiety. Not to mention, showing up for parades and celebrations when you're supposed to be dead was probably not a good idea, even if it was all the way out in Tau Ceti Three.

  "I'll tell them you said so", he said. I knew he hadn't really expected us to join him, but he was obligated to make the offer, anyway. He also knew that New Britain would be a lot safer if we didn't show up there. He continued. "You'll stay in touch?"

  "We will", I said. "You owe me some vids of your family, anyway."

  "Come see them in person", he said, as he thumped me on the shoulder of my suit. "If you get a chance. And take care, for a change."

  "You do the same", I said. “Dosvedanya.” We shook hands, and he closed up his suit again.

  Godspeed, Captain Vostock, I thought, as he clapped me on the arm, then turned and left. As he exited the room, he turned, gave a little wave, and was gone.

  I sighed, and put my gloves and helmet back on. I had an LSU to disassemble.

  I was still taking the stubborn LSU apart, when I heard a knock on the bulkhead, behind me. I didn't exactly jump, but that was mostly due to sticky shoes holding me in place. I turned to find Kyra standing there, watching me.

  "How long have you been standing there?" I asked.

  "Awhile", she said. "Do you know what you're doing?"

  "Why does everyone always ask that?"

  "Probably because it doesn't look like you know what you're doing", she said, smiling.

  "So, are you here to help, or just heckle me?"

  "Neither", she said. "But, now that you mention it, the latter does sound sort of fun."

  "Ha
ha", I said. "So why are you really here? I thought you were rounding up supplies for the freighter."

  "I was", she said. "Apparently there's some sort of a problem. Cozi needs to see you."

  "He couldn't just call me on the commlink?"

  "He could have", she said. "Is there still air in here?"

  "I dunno", I said. "What's your readout say?"

  "Says it's cold, but otherwise fine." She popped her helmet, and removed it. I did the same with mine. Obviously, she wanted to talk, without having to use the suit radio.

  "So", I said. "What's really up?"

  She studied me for a moment, before speaking.

  "I just wanted to let you know that once we leave here, I'll be with you", she said.

  "I sort of assumed you would be", I said. "You're my security officer, and I can't think of anyone else I'd trust with the job."

  "I didn't mean it that way", she said, actually blushing. "Not with you as crew, but with you.”

  "I'm confused", I said.

  "No, you aren't", she said. "You're just dense. What I meant is that, um... if you aren't otherwise engaged, um... oh, fuck it. Figure it out for yourself."

  "Commander Kane", I said. "Are you propositioning me?"

  She scowled at me.

  "So it would seem", she said. "Any chance of you just forgetting I was here?"

  "None", I said, smiling. "You know, you kinda suck at this."

  "Congratulations, you noticed", she said.

  "Only because you don't suck at anything else, not that I know of", I said.

  "Thanks", she said. "So..."

  "So, I am honored that you will be with me, and I look forward to whatever that entails."

  "It entails you having sex", she said. "With a real person, this time."

  "Ouch", I said. "You know how to hurt a guy. Before we go that route, though, I have one question for you."

  "Such as?"

  "How do you feel about me?" I asked.

  "We really have to have the feelings talk?" she asked. "You know how I feel. If I didn't feel that way, I wouldn't be standing here."

  "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I know", I said. "But, I want to hear you say it."

  "Bite me."

  "I said it to you", I said. "I'll even say it again. I love you."

  She frowned at me again.

  “Oh, alright", she said. "I love you, too. Happy now?"

  "Ecstatic", I said, still smiling. "Now, about all that sex you were talking about... privacy is at something of a premium, at the moment."

  "Plenty private, right here", she said.

  "Now?" I asked, looking around at the room littered with LSU parts.

  "Sure", she said. "You don't look that busy."

  "Hell, I'll always make time for that", I said. "My only concern is in removing my nice and toasty spacesuit. It's fucking cold in here. Wouldn't want anything to freeze up and snap off, you know."

  "I'm pretty sure I have just the thing to keep it warm", she said, smiling wickedly at me, as she slid out of her suit.

  She was right.

  Chapter 51

  The Defender of the Crown left for home a few hours later, substantially reducing the population of Phoebe. Until we could get a ship working, we were stranded, though with the local facilities, at least not incommunicado. Once I'd gotten back to work, and removed the LSU from the Water Lily, I had a couple of Cozi's techs come pick it up. After they arrived, I left, walking back over to the control center, enjoying the scenery along the way. The rocky, barren moonscape, littered with craters and detritus, was as close to resembling home as I'd seen in a while.

  I arrived to find Kyra already there, watching Cozi and Boo discuss something. I had an idea that this was the problem she'd mentioned.

  "What now?" I asked.

  "Drive problems", Cozi said. "The star drive on the cargo freighter keeps crapping out when we run diagnostics on it."

  "So, there's no working star drive on it", I said. "I thought you told me the drives were fine on that ship."

  "I only checked the ion pulse engines, and the ramjets", Cozi said. "You can't test a star drive, but I still should have run the diagnostics on it."

  "In his defense", Boo said, "Star drive problems are pretty rare."

  "Which doesn't change the fact that everyone is working on a ship with no star drive", I said.

  "True", Cozi said. "Unless we pull one from another ship, which Boo says in a bad idea, but... I don't see another option."

  "So, we have the head scientist of Dark Energy Corporation standing right here, telling us something is a bad idea?" I asked. "No offense, but I'd be inclined to agree with him, Coze."

  "It isn't that you can't swap one out", Boo said. "It's whether or not it will work properly once we've done so. I don't have any of the software or equipment I'd need to test it. If I had my things, I could probably just as easily fix the one already there. All of my stuff is in the Revenge, at the bottom of that lake. Anyway, without my stuff, we won't know if the drive is any good until we actually use it."

  "Personally, I'd rather not", I said. "Even thinking about it gives me the creeps. In this case, I don't believe Boo is being overly cautious."

  "So, we have a problem", Cozi said.

  "Where's everyone else?" I asked.

  "Last I heard, Eng is on his way over", Cozi said. "Lola and Donovan are probably still on the other side of the moon, stripping ships there of their consumables."

  "I don't think there's a need to put this to a vote of the officers", I said. "Personally, I'm not transiting with a star drive we don't have complete confidence in."

  "Neither will I", Kyra said.

  I heard the airlock cycle, and a minute later, Eng came into the control center. I gave him a recap of the situation.

  "The star drive on the ship we picked may or may not work", I said. "As star drives go, that's as good as being broken. Boo says he can't fix it, or even check it, since he doesn't have his gear from the Revenge. Nor can we just swap one out, willy-nilly. Which leaves us traveling through space at a snail’s pace. I know we need to kill some time, but come on, there's gotta be a better way of doing it than that."

  "There's not another ship we can get working?" Kyra asked.

  "None of sufficient size", Eng said. "We still have a fairly large crew."

  "Which is another thing we need to talk about", Kyra said.

  "Yes, they are a problem", I said. "We can't just pull into port somewhere, and cut them loose. They're supposed to be dead, like us."

  "I'm already hearing some grumbling", Kyra said. "If we keep them sitting around for too long, we could have a problem."

  "Say we keep them employed, preferably someplace far away from Earth", Eng said. "I wouldn't think we'd have much of a problem."

  "Probably not", Kyra said.

  "So, we're stuck with them", I said. "And, they're stuck with us. Which does nothing to get us off of this rock."

  "We could always... liberate ... another ship", Eng said. "Iapetus isn't that far from here."

  "Um", Boo said, "Before you go the, ah... pirate route, again, I might have a solution. There is some risk involved, though."

  "Riskier than swiping another ship?" Cozi asked.

  "Possibly", Boo said. "But in a different way. I'd have to let someone know I'm alive, but I don't believe there would be a problem."

  "Well, I don't have a problem with your trying", I said. "If anyone else does, speak up." No one said anything.

  "There you go", I said to Boo. "Give it a shot. Do you mind if we hang around and listen in?"

  "Not at all", he said. "You should stay off camera, and be quiet, though."

  "No problem", I said, as he sat down at a console. We all shifted around the room, so the vidcam wouldn't pick us up.

  "Gabana", Boo said.

  "Yes?" the AI answered.

  "Can you connect me with this code?" he asked, as he punched it into the touchscreen.

  "I'll try", she said. "On
e moment, please."

  Boo sat nervously, watching the screen.

  "I'm sorry, sir", she said, after a few seconds. "The Speedlink net is telling me that the address you gave me is a secure one. It won't accept an anonymous call."

  "Damn", Boo said. "I forgot about that. If I use my name and location, the call will go through, but it will be logged in the system, then."

  "Gabana", I said.

  "Yes, Doon?"

  "Please let the Speedlink AI know that it's me who needs this call to go through, and that I don't want there to be any log of it, anywhere."

  "Yes, sir", she said. "One second... okay, the call is going through."

  I wasn't sure how long the AI's would continue to put themselves at my beck and call, but as long as they did, I'd keep on taking advantage of it.

  "Onscreen", Boo said. Kyra tapped a vidscreen in front of us, and the image from Boo's was echoed onto ours. A thin-faced man appeared, bleary-eyed, his sandy hair tousled. He rubbed his eyes, then put on a pair of eyeglasses. I looked over at Boo. The family resemblance was obvious. So was the man's annoyance.

  "What?" he said, scowling at the screen. "Who is... Jean-Michel?"

  "Hi Charles", Boo said. "Sorry to wake you."

  "We were told you were dead", Charles said. "Killed when those pirates you were with were shot down, on Earth."

  "Well, no, that isn't the case", Boo said. "Obviously. On the other hand, it would be very useful, at least for right now, if everyone continues to believe that. At least for a while."

  "Well, it's very good to find that you're okay", Beaulieu said. "We were devastated by the news of your possible death."

  "I can imagine", Boo said. "On the other hand, if they ever got around to officially declaring me dead, you'd finally have those shares you want. Then again, you'd have to learn all the mathematics you never bothered with."

  "Neither thought crossed my mind", Charles said smoothly, though his face told a different story. "My concern was only for your well-being, Boo."

  "Thank you", Boo said. "I've always appreciated you doing what you do, allowing me to do those things I like to do, undisturbed."