by Gavin Magson
“There is one thing I would tell you before you shrug your mortal coil; I know about Sector Three. You don't have a body to go back to.”
Henry’s voice had returned, these the loudest screams he had produced all night. Henry's body thrashed against his shackles with renewed vigour as realisation hit him. He cursed and screamed some more, the noise bestial and more animal than man. Ajax stepped back and shot the pulleys above that kept the chains taught, hearing the sickening crunch as Henry's knees met the floor.
Ajax switched to his knife, moving around the screaming figure. One hand dragged back his head, the other flipping the blade to its serrate edge and feverishly hacked at Henry's throat. He was careful to avoid the artery, doing his best to prolong the execution.
Ajax did not know when the man finally died, Henry continued to spray blood whilst Ajax sawed through flesh until he met bone; he did not stop until the head came free. He turned it around in his blood-soaked hands and stared hard at the ruined death mask of Henry Steel. This time it was a real smile that Ajax wore.
Rowan did well not to blanch at the sight of Ajax, whose blood splattered face was set hard as he stared across the room at Ilya’s still form. Ajax crossed to the servant and found him visibly shaken by the bloodied spectacle before him. Rowan took several deep breaths which appeared to steady his nerves. Ajax knew he looked a mess, yet there was nothing he could do about his appearance right now; time was fast running out.
“How is she doing?” he asked.
“Better, her wounds have been cleaned and stitched; hopefully they will heal fast. These fresh wounds will eventually add to the countless scars Henry inflicted on Ilya, no doubt both mentally and physically. I take it that you have claimed your vengeance now?”
Rowan’s voice was surprisingly absent of any emotion when asking his question, as if he were merely commenting on the weather. Ajax had expected some form of resentment, not apparent indifference.
“Henry Steel is definitively dead, if that is what you are asking. I need to move her now; his implant will have sent a signal of his death, and I don’t doubt the police will be here soon enough. I don’t wish to add to the death toll by unnecessarily taking life. Are you coming with me?”
“No. I have stood by and let this man carry out some terrible deeds, it is my responsibility to clean up this mess. Take care of Ilya, she is a sweet girl who did not deserve any of this. Henry, on the other hand, deserved what you exacted onto him. I won't mourn his death.”
Ajax shook the man's frail hand, moving to lift the now dressed Ilya. Rowan pulled out a cloak from some unseen recess, handing it across to Ajax.
“Put this on, if someone spots you in the streets they will certainly alert the authorities.”
“Good thinking, old man. When I destroyed Henry’s backups in Three the police seemed more than happy to silence Henry’s employees I left behind, so don’t let them catch you. Good luck.”
It was a tight fit, but Ajax eventually managed to wrap the cloak around his broad shoulders, pulling it's hood up to obscure his face. Both arms reached under Ilya and gently lifted her, cradling her body close to his own. When Ajax reached the open doorway he turned to look back at Rowan, giving the man a final smile. Ajax stepped over the bodies he had left behind and headed for the staircase, finally content that he had Ilya safe in his arms.
Chapter 28
Ilya did not stir once as he carried her back to the aircraft, her breathing even and deep, face strangely relaxed. Ajax skirted around the bodies he left behind and was careful to not leave any boot prints whilst walking back through the orchard.
With a shimmer the aircraft came back into view, its rear hatch lowering to the grass below. Ajax could smell smoke now, a harsh chemical smell from the synthetic materials that were burning. He walked up the ramp and turned at the top, not surprised to see flickers of flame through the ground floor windows.
Ajax settled Ilya down in the seat behind Penelope, who did not flinch at the gore splattered appearance of Ajax.
“Did you complete Major’s assignment?” she asked.
Ajax nodded at the sack he had carried in, crimson blood already soaking through the thick material. “I took care of Henry and made sure he knew there was no coming back from this death.”
Penelope let out a chuckle, a brilliant smile washing away her stern expression from a moment before.
“Where to now?”
“The Haven Inn. Make it quick, we can’t risk being seen, even in your stealth craft.”
The flames were tearing through the mansion by the time it was out of view, though the red-lit sky could still be seen in the distance as Penelope set down her ship in a corner of the Haven's courtyard.
“Just remember, you’ve less than an hour before I have to take you back; do not be late.”
Ajax nodded at Penelope whilst he shouldered the cloak Rowan had given him. He pulled up the hood to obscure the worst of the blood before unfastening the straps keeping Ilya secure in the chair. It was easy to pick her up, her body thin and malnourished; he knew time in the Haven would correct that quickly. Ajax walked down the ships ramp and into the deserted courtyard, passing the familiar fountain and stopping only to admire Rowan’s handiwork once more.
The flames rose high in a great plume, this time a cloud of purple flame. Ajax was surprised he could even see the flames from so far, yet it did not stop him pondering what source of fuel had caused such a sudden and vivid explosion. He heard a sigh coming from the woman in his arms, which was the first sign of waking she’d shown.
Ajax strode on, reaching the Haven’s door quickly. It was difficult to reposition Ilya so that she was more secure, he had to move one arm under her whilst trying to wrap both of hers around his neck. Ajax struggled until something close to cooperation happened, Ilya not quite waking but shifting her own weight to help him. With his free hand Ajax could just pull open the Haven's door.
From outside he had seen a few lights still on in the dining room, a small relief considering just how late it was. When Ajax stepped inside he was thankful that the room was empty, there was not even sign of Sarah or Maria. Ajax turned to his right and spotted a familiar figure. He carried Ilya over to Sal's desk, the rotund man slumbering peacefully in his chair. A loud clearing of Ajax's throat finally woke the man.
“What? What do you want?” asked Sal, rubbing at both eyes before finally opening them. “Is that Ilya?”
“It is. I need to get her back to her people, are they in the tavern?”
The hood managed to obscure most of Ajax's face, though the light still reached his chin and mouth. Sal's expression changed as a part of his brain told him he knew this cloaked figure, but the man could not possibly be there. Sal's brain wisely decided not to press the thought.
“They've been back a few days, room seven on the first and nineteen on the second floor. Her captain is in the former, goes by the name of Duke. I hope you did her no harm, he is fiercely protective of the lass.”
“You don't have to worry about me. Thanks, Sal.”
Ajax turned on his heels and headed for the staircase, climbing it swiftly in his haste to reach his old friends. He could not imagine what their reactions would be and relished the surprised he was about to present them with.
Sal stayed at his desk, legs and arms stretching out as he tried to shift his considerable bulk. He had almost managed to drift back to sleep when a thought managed to make itself know: how did the stranger know his name?
“Shit, you can see the flames from here. Why hasn’t Aiko been in contact yet?” Greg said, craning his head out of the rooms only window to get a view of the mansions fire.
Duke paced back and forth, his knee so inflamed by the constant demand on it that he was left limping; Duke showed no signs of noticing his pain.
“I hate this waiting. Why couldn’t we go with her, there might have been something we could have done?”
“Don’t be stupid, Duke, if Greg can see that flames fro
m here then there is no way anyone could even approach the mansion right now. What we must do is believe that Ilya got out, that she is safe. Now sit down before you wear out the carpet.” Lev managed to hold his gaze with his captain, keeping his jaw locked to make sure the shorter man knew not to argue.
Duke relented under the intense stare, seating himself on the stool Aiko had used earlier. He leant backwards until the cool wall met his shoulders and closed his eyes, staying silent for several minutes.
“You okay, boss?” asked Lev finally, not liking his captains silence.
“I’m remembering Ilya and everything we ever did together.” He opened his eyes, turning his head to look at Lev. “I rescued her from a life not too far from my own upbringing, save that I grew up with nothing in the desert and she the slums. I still remember catching her with her hand in my pocket, trying to steal my father’s watch.”
Duke accepted the beer bottle Lev passed over to him, taking a long swig of the amber drink.
“Didn’t you beat her or something for that?” asked Greg.
“No, but I considered it. I grabbed this skinny arm and when I turned around there was this half-starved, filthy, scared child on the other end. She started swinging at me, kicking and punching with all the strength that she had. By the time I calmed her down she was exhausted and, once I got it out of her that she was an orphan, I saw to it that she was fed. I told her where I lived and that she could come to me for food anytime.
“I didn’t expect her to eventually move in, but I wasn’t complaining either; it made the chores a lot easier having another pair of hands. I do miss that house.”
“What ever happened to the place?” asked Lev.
“I couldn’t afford it any longer, and with the amount of time I was off world it made sense to rent out a room rather than a house. Ilya didn’t seem to mind, so long as there was food on the table. That girl sure could eat, especially for someone so thin. I- Who is that?” Duke asked, a quiet knock at the door interrupting him.
“Do you think it’s Aiko already?” asked Greg.
The old captain set down his empty bottle and struggled to stand from the stool, groaning as he did so. Every morning it seemed that little harder to get moving, his knees creaking and back aching. He walked passed Lev, who did not know whether to answer the door first or make way for his captain. When Duke reached the door he opened it part way before his movements froze.
“Fuck me.” Were the only words that could escape Duke’s lips.
“Who is it?” asked Greg. His answer came when Duke moved out of the way.
In stepped a cloaked figure, holding a sleeping Ilya easily in his arms. Greg moved away from the window, mouth opened wide in shock as the man crossed the room and lowered Ilya onto the vacant bed. She stirred a little, rolling over to curl into a ball as the figure pulled a blanket over her.
“Th-thank you for bringing her back to us. Is she all right?” said Duke, his companions still too tongue-tied and reeling from shock.
“Henry Steel beat her every day after he murdered Ajax. He flayed the skin off her back with a whip, humiliated the woman and made her suffer for sharing a single, drunken kiss. She is going to need more than just medical assistance, but close friends to help her through the pain and torment.”
“How do you know all this?” asked Greg.
Ajax pulled back the cloaks hood, a faint smile spreading across his blood smeared face at the three men's reactions. He wasn't quick enough to catch Greg, who feinted and fell backwards with a thud. Duke swore loudly, and Lev sat down on the floor, mouth agape.
“Ajax?” came the captains faint whisper.
“The one and only. You didn't think that death could truly stop me?”
“It normally fucking does. How?”
“You are the second man to ask that of me tonight, the first was Henry Steel shortly before I sawed his head off with a knife.” Ajax removed his cloak, revealing the blood and gore splattered dark clothing he wore beneath. None of the men seemed anymore shocked for seeing his bloodied clothes, though they appeared to be far too distracted by him being alive to notice much more about Ajax.
Ajax remained standing and silent, surveying the room before him. It had all the hallmark characteristics of a Haven room, and he loved every single detail of it.
“I was brought back from the grave by a man called Major, somehow his staff were able to keep my body alive long enough for it to be repaired.” his hands gestured to take in the bloodied mess before them. “I don't really understand how it was all possible, but I am very much alive and real.”
“Never before in my life have I ever had better reason to believe in a higher being. My prayers have truly been answered, you have both been returned to me.” Duke managed to regain his feet from the stool, though a little unsteadily. He walked over to Ajax and embrace the bloodied man. When he pulled away there were tears streaming down Duke’s face. “Join us for a drink, just like the old times; I’d like to forget about the last toast we had in your name.”
Ajax’s hesitation and sudden change in expression was enough to raise the captain’s suspicions, a quizzical look on his face as he tried to read the change in Ajax.
“You haven't got us both back. A condition of my revival was that I serve Major in his unit, for how long I do not know. He wanted Henry dead for his own reasons, thankfully I was able to save Ilya and reap my revenge.” Ajax pulled a tablet out of his pocket, checking the time. “I have a little over forty minutes before I have to return to his military base. We had best not waste what little time I have.”
“Agreed. Sit yourself down and have one of these, seven months is far too long to go sober.” said Duke, the grin plastered across his grizzled face one of few real smiles since Ajax's death.
Greg soon recovered from his feinting spell once beer was suddenly involved, only a sore head troubling him as he collected two chairs from his room so that the four of them could sit together. The crew had limitless questions for Ajax, the best way to answer them was to tell everything he knew.
Ajax told them what little there was about his death, how Henry had tricked Ajax into thinking Ilya needed him. They were all shocked by the abuse that had been going on for months, and a great sadness touched the three men as realisation hit that they had done nothing whilst a friend was in need.
Duke told Ajax all about what had happened since his death. He started with the funeral and wake, how Sal had opened his function room and provided free drinks, a highlight in Ajax’s eyes. They had spent a long time mourning their loss, all the while angered that Ilya had not tried to get in contact.
They told Ajax how it had taken an age for them to come to terms with his death, only when they finally acknowledged that Ajax would not want them to sit around moping did they return to mining ore. The Illicit Jane had gone on two voyages since the funeral, and Ajax's timing was impeccable; they had only made dock a few days ago.
“I feel as if there is something going unsaid about your expeditions in search of ore.” said Ajax, his eyes failing to make contact with those of the crew.
“Is it that obvious?” asked Duke, opening another bottle of beer to join the collection in front of him. “Obviously we all thought you dead, and the silence from Ilya was hardly motivating. When we set off my intention was to resume our search for Tenebris, which is the same ore found buried in the asteroid your ship had managed to anchor to. Instead, because of the upgrades your donation bought, we found a far more sought out ore called Nigrum.
“A rational man would have tried to sell it on Konar, for it would still have fetched a handsome sum; I was not thinking rationally at the time. We instead went in search of Troy, a haven for smugglers, exiles, and every form of law breaker. Troy operates free trade with the Believers, something that Konar has no tolerance for. Simply knowing a person who has fled a Konarian planet for refuge in Troy can be a lengthy prison sentence.
“The ore sold well, very well, and we even found some passe
ngers who Troy’s king paid handsomely to take back to Konar with us. It was the most profitable voyage I have ever been on.”
“I won’t press you for more details, I don’t want to potentially get any of you in trouble simply for knowing what it is you’ve done. I’m glad that your business is doing so well. The fact that these Believers everyone keeps telling me of are involved sounds risky enough.
“There is something I need to ask you, it’s about the ship you found me inside. Apart from the camouflage system, did you salvage anything else that was not later recycled?” asked Ajax.
Duke scratched at his chin, a tough feat considering how much beard was in the way. It took the captain a long time to answer as he consulted his memories.
“There was something else,” he said at last, “I remember Ilya finding a cabinet full of… well, I don’t truly know what exactly. Ilya thought them to be weapons, but they were like nothing we had seen before. They should still be on board my ship, I thought it best to keep them in case they were worth something. I think that we might still have some data chips taken from the pilot’s cabin, though we never had success in reading them.”
Ajax had got more than he bargained for. The camouflage system may come in handy later, though the weapons were a tantalising thought; it was a pity he had no means to smuggle them down to the planet.
“Could you do me a favour? Keep everything where it is on board, don't try moving anything through the space docks. If I can figure out a way I will collect them soon, hopefully after I return from whatever task it is Major sends me on. There is something else I've been thinking about; have you heard anything off Aiko?” he asked.
Greg's expression changed quickly to one of a grin.
“Funny you should ask. If you’d shown up a day earlier, I would have said that we haven’t seen nor heard from Aiko in months. She showed up an hour or two ago to scare the life out of us; we knew a lot of what you told us of Ilya and Henry. I’m surprised that she hasn’t called yet, Aiko left for the mansion once her team found it in flames.
