Fire and Steel

by Gavin Magson

  “That is down to you. Ideally once you can stand and aren’t at risk of splitting the wound open. If you are in a rush, I could organise a gurney and have you taken by hover to the Haven. It would be best to do this at night, to avoid prying eyes.”

  “If you can organise transport please get me the fuck out of here. Not that I don’t enjoy hiding in a dark room whilst sleeping on a slab for a bed, but I would really appreciate something a little more comfortable under me.”

  “I’ll see what I can do, give me a few hours. I’ll also pack you some sachets that I want you to have applied to your back, only one per day; the contents will temporarily increase your rate of healing but be warned that an overdosage would cause more issues than forgetting a day. Don’t shout if you need me, send the girl; no need to take unnecessary risks now.”

  Johnson opened a bottle of rattling pills and placed four within a small paper cup, next to which was a glass of mostly clear water. “Take these, they’ll relax your back and help dull the pain. I’ll see you in a short while.”

  Duke didn’t turn to watch the man leave, knowing to do so would bring a fresh wave of agony. Carefully he moved his right arm, extending it until he could reach the paper cup that offered relief. Duke brought the cup to his lips, titling it back until the four pills landed on his tongue. He dropped the cup as he tried to place it beside the glass, a fresh wave of pain causing his arm to spasm. Duke was quick to grab at the glass, spilling most of it on his face and chest whilst attempting to pour it into his mouth. He managed to swallow before a raking cough caused Duke to sit up slightly, the pain of which left him weeping.

  Duke laid back on the bed, allowing his body’s contracted muscles to slowly release. He could feel his heart hammering at his chest, causing Duke to take short, sharp breaths as he tried to focus on anything but the pain. Slowly the sharp pain receded, and with it the tension in his muscles. His breathing levelled out and Duke allowed sleep to take him.

  “Fat bastard can really sleep.” joked Greg, the icy stare of Ilya his just reward.

  “Can you blame him? How about we splice open your back and skull, perform very invasive surgery, and then stitch you back together? I’m sure you’d soon have a natural affinity to Duke and agree his sleep is justified.” said Ilya, a bite to her tone.

  “Calm down you two, otherwise I’ll take more pills until you can’t wake me for a month.” Duke’s voice was quiet and weak, though he managed to open his eyes and allow himself a grin at his gathered crew.

  The little light that had seeped around the dark sheets to aid in illuminating the room had drastically reduced and Duke realised that the sun must have set for the night. With what light the lamp provided Duke could see that both men had forgone shaving for several days, leaving them far less presentable than he remembered. Ilya had changed clothes, gone was the bright skirt and thin jacket, in their place was a thick, dark jacket and trousers to match.

  “Did you have time to shower, Ilya?” Duke asked.

  “I did, and it was wonderful. I’m so happy that you’re awake, Johnson kept telling me to go home but I wanted to be here when you came around.”

  “You didn’t need to worry about me, I’m too stubborn to die. Thank you for looking after me, Johnson told me how you didn’t leave my side and kept me hydrated. You make me wish that you were my daughter, you make me so proud.”

  “There have been enough tears shed recently, don’t go making me tear up here.” said Ilya, fanning at her eyes as they began to glisten. “I don’t need to share your blood to think of you as my father. Now, how are you feeling about the idea of moving back to the Haven? Tonight, preferably; I don’t fancy another night’s sleep on that floor.”

  “I’ve barely been awake since the surgery, but I already know I desperately want to go home. If I can be moved, I am all for leaving tonight.”

  “Excellent. I’ll go tell Johnson.” replied Ilya, swiftly disappearing from his sight.

  The door opened and shut somewhere to his left, the sound of light footsteps barely filtering through the closed door momentarily.

  “I didn’t want to ask this in front of Ilya,” Greg spoke quietly, his eyes watching the door. “How long are you going to stay on Konar before you make your way for Troy?”

  “Not long, it all depends on how quickly I can recover and get back on my feet. Johnson thinks I can fly as soon as I am walking again, so long as I avoid hyperspace. I’d have to take the long route to Troy, we are talking several months and probably a few long stops on planets along the way.”

  “Could you guess? Days, weeks, a month?” asked Lev.

  “I don’t honestly know, I haven’t even tried to stand yet. Maybe four or five days, depending on if the supplies Johnson sends me home with can deliver on his promises of accelerated healing. Anyway, why are you two asking? Are you counting down the time until you’ve gotten rid of me?”

  “No, Duke; it’s Ilya’s birthday in a week’s time.” answered Greg.

  “Shit! How could I forget that? Why didn’t either of you say earlier?”

  “I thought you’d remember, strangely enough. When you opened up about the full extents of the surgery I thought it best not to bring up her birthday, it wou-” Greg stopped mid-sentence as footsteps and talking briefly preceded the rooms only door opening.

  Ilya stepped through, over each shoulder was slung a large bag bulging with its contents. A gurney rolled into the room behind her, Johnson pushing it into position alongside Duke’s bed.

  “I’m told that my patient is feeling particularly brave and homesick that he is eager to be moved tonight.” said the physician.

  “I think there was a little more push than desire to jump at play. I’m sure you’ll be happy to see the back of me.” replied Duke.

  “You’ve been a fine patient, Duke, and I do wish you all the best with your recovery, but I’d be lying if I said I was happy to stay here when your money will buy me considerable land on Vax Seven. Kel is itching for us both to make a life together, and I’m far too scared of the woman to leave her waiting.”

  “I understand. So, how are you proposing I get onto that gurney? I don’t think I am strong enough to make the move on my own.”

  “It’s simple, really. If you two men,” Johnson grabbed the corners of the bedsheet closest to the gurney, handing one each to Greg and Lev, “hold these, and wait until Ilya and I are in position.” Ilya moved around to the opposite side of Duke, taking up a corner beside Johnson. “We will all lift together, and you two men can slide Duke until he is resting on the gurney. Don’t rush, his weight divided between us won’t be difficult to manage. On three, everyone.”

  Johnson counted slowly to three, in unison each corner of the sheet was lifted, slowly raising Duke’s body until he was just and so above the beds surface. The older man groaned in discomfort whilst Greg and Lev stepped backward, his body moving across until it was lowered down onto the stiff surface of the gurney.

  “Excellent, almost perfect.” said Johnson as Duke let out several quiet whimpers.

  The physician stepped around the vacated bed and moved the gurney such that he could reach the straps either side that hung under the sheet. Wrapping the off-white sheet around Duke allowed Johnson to secure three thick straps around Duke’s chest, waist, and legs, which he tightened around him until Duke was unable to even free a hand from his sides.

  “Ilya, can you tell your hover driver to pull up round the front? Once they are in position we can wheel Duke out and load him in.” said Johnson.

  “Hover? I’m glad that I’m not getting pushed back to the Haven.” Duke chuckled at his joke, which no one acknowledged.

  He could hear snippets of Ilya’s conversation somewhere in the room, though what little Duke could make out didn’t interest him; he was all too fixated on the bottle of relaxants left behind on the bedside table.

  Johnson followed Duke’s gaze and let out a loud tut before pacing around the bed to retrieve the bottle.

/>   “I can’t blame you for thinking about nothing else. Here,” Johnston poured out two pills into the palm of his hand, which Duke opened his mouth for the physician to drop in; Duke swallowed them before Johnson had chance to produce the bottled drink from his jacket pocket. “I can’t give you a larger dose than that, six throughout a day is already considerable enough that your kidneys are going to be heavily taxed for it. Ilya knows your dosages and has been shown how to change your dressings, though she didn’t seem to need teaching. No alcohol, no fucking, and no drugs other that the ones I’ve prescribed you.”

  “I’m not stupid enough to go against that advice. How long until the hover is here?”

  Ilya’s voice answered, still too far away for Duke to see her. “Aiko is lending us one of Rine’s hovers, she said that they should be with us in a couple of minutes.”

  “Best get Duke close to the front door in preparation then. Someone grab the bottom rail and lead the way.” said Johnson.

  Duke’s view mostly consisted of the underside of Johnsons chin, his pale skin thinly covered with tufts of wispy beard hair, the odd sight amusing him. He stared upwards at the changing ceiling as he was dragged out of the room, the gurney shaking violently as its wheels clattered over the door sills. Those around him laughed quietly as he cursed them out for not being more careful, but there was no improvement in his comfort.

  A brief reprieve was offered when they came to a stop and Duke allowed himself to untense, expecting a long rest whilst he awaited the hover. Instead another door opened, a cool breeze across his bare feet suggesting the door to be external. Once more the gurney shook as it passed through a doorway, the wheels rattling as they juddered over the poor road surface.

  “We’ve got to bump you into the back of the hover, Duke. There’s no sugar coating this, you are going to feel a lot of discomfort during the move.” said Johnson, his half smile worrying Duke much more than the words he spoke.

  Before Duke had chance to mentally prepare himself the gurney rammed into something solid, the front wheels folding up and striking the underside of the board he was strapped to. Lev’s face appeared by Johnson’s as the men hitched the front of the gurney up enough for the other set of wheels to be folded away, this time not causing Duke anywhere near as much pain. With a final push Duke was in the hover, his view of the night sky now replaced by the privacy windows and roof lining of the hover.

  “Good luck, Duke, and take good care of those wounds. It was a pleasure to work on you.” said Johnson.

  Duke tilted his head so that he could see the man, surprised that Johnson seemed sincere about his words. He smiled at the sight, though Duke wasn’t too sure why he did.

  “You’ve given me the chance to see out my life with a woman I have never stopped thinking about, and for that I could never thank you enough. Enjoy your retirement, and the company of your assistant. Be seeing you.”

  The door behind his head closed with a thud, repeated twice more as his crew clambered into the hover. Duke did not see Johnson wave, and wouldn’t have been able to return it even if he had. The hover’s turbines rumbled into life, so close was he that Duke had no hope of overhearing whatever conversation was going on past his feet.

  For several minutes the hover moved through the streets of Sector Four, winding its way along several smaller streets which formed the older areas of the sector. Duke was thankful for the experienced driver, for there were no sharp turns or harsh deceleration to jar him. When the hover finally came to a stop he was almost unaware of it.

  The turbines powered down and Duke could now hear the doors open and close, followed by the noise of Lev’s boots as the tall man paced around to the hover’s rear. The door behind him opened and Duke was greeted with Ilya’s warm smile, with only a hint of a mischievous thought glinting in the woman’s eyes.

  “Why do I get the feeling I am not in on whatever joke you have in your mind?” asked Duke, watching the smirk grow as Ilya planned her answer.

  “I’m just wondering how you are going to react to the stairs, since you obviously were in discomfort being wheeled through doorways.”

  “Damn, I hadn’t thought about the stairs. How are you three getting me up there?”

  Duke was made to wait for his answer as the gurney was dragged backward, the wheels both front and rear lowered until he was once more being pushed along uneven ground. He could see the back of Greg’s head as the man had opted to turn towards the Heaven whilst pulling the gurney, Lev behind Duke’s head pushing.

  “Don’t forgot to thank Aiko for me.” called Duke before they had moved too far from the hover.

  “There’s no need, I can hear you. I’m always happy to help.” replied Aiko, walking away from the driver she was conversing with to now stand beside Ilya.

  The two women watched Duke being manoeuvred into position by the inn’s door, his quiet muttering and cursing reaching them even from across the courtyard. When Ilya turned to face Aiko, she was surprised to see a genuine smile on the woman’s face; Ilya had rarely seen her look happy.

  “You seem in good spirits tonight, Aiko. Is the sight and sound of my captain’s pain perhaps a source of amusement?”

  “It is. I haven’t had much reason to smile for too long, but tonight I feel a kind of peace that begs for me to be happy. I hope that Duke makes a speedy recovery, I’ll have to come visit again once he is more mobile.”

  Ilya’s warm expression changed, a sudden sadness in her eyes that hadn’t been there a moment ago. Aiko waited, not wanting to push the woman into an explanation.

  “Tonight might well be the last you see of Duke. He has decided to retire off world, the surgery has obviously been a wakeup call about his own mortality. There’s a woman he had to leave behind many years ago, when his mother was sick and none of her other siblings would take care of her. I think he intends to make a fresh start with her. I want to see him happy, but I can’t fight this feeling that I’ll say goodbye for the last time soon.”

  “I think I understand. You don’t want to be without him, but you care about his happiness and can’t make up your mind whether to smile or cry?” asked Aiko.

  “Something like that. He’s been such an important part of my life for a decade, or more, and I would lose a teacher, a father, and someone to confide my thoughts and fears in. Thank you for helping us tonight, Aiko; I don’t think we could have kept his transport secret without you.”

  “It was nothing, really. I’m happy to see you are doing well, especially after what Henry… well, I don’t need to tell you. I’m just so relieved that he’s finally gone.”

  Ilya watched as Aiko’s eyes glistened, the threat of tears realised as they rolled down her cheeks, streaking her makeup. Ilya stepped forward, wrapping her arms around the taller woman and embracing her. Ilya found herself tearing up too, overcome with the other woman’s emotions.

  “He took so much from us all.” said Aiko, her words a struggle as she choked back her tears. “I didn’t truly believe Henry’s death would ease this pain he caused, but I’ve found some form of peace, and with it a loss of purpose. Without Ajax what am I to do? He’s dead and nothing I do is going to change that.”

  For a long time, they stayed where they were, the tears eventually subsiding. At last Ilya pulled away, keeping her eyes locked on Aiko’s.

  “Ajax was never a man that would want others to cry over him, I tried my best to focus on that each and every time Henry told me about what he did to Ajax. You had a life before him, and I know you’ll have one after too. When I can’t avoid my mind wandering to thoughts of him I like to think that, for as long as we remember him, Ajax Frost still lives on.”

  Chapter 37

  Jerry looked up as a sequence of taps rattled the hatch far overhead, three in quick succession, a short pause, two taps spaced apart, a final pause, then three once more. He lowered the shotgun he held upwards, relaxing a little as the agreed secret knock was utilised.

  Miles had not stirred, his quiet
snoring going uninterrupted. Leaving his leader to his rest Jerry slung the shotgun back around his shoulders and began the climb up towards the hatch. He stopped once the camera lead was within grasp and inserted it into the tablet he retrieved from a pocket. Jerry wasn’t surprised to be greeted with an image of Rex, though the figures behind him weren’t expected.

  Jerry loosened the hatches restraints and pushed it upwards slightly, until Rex lifted it from his side, opening the hatch fully. Bright sunlight reflected from anything metal Rex carried, causing Jerry’s eyes to water.

  “Took your damn time, we’d thought you had deserted.” chastised Jerry, beginning the climb down as Rose appeared into view.

  “Got to make sure our new recruits made it here safely. I might have had some fun along the way, but I can’t be blamed for that.” Rex kept his voice low, since sound carried so well within the underground pit.

  Once Rex was the last person aboveground he stepped through the hatch, lowering it with caution and securing the restraints once more. He stayed on the ladder for a while, using his tablet to view the camera feed of the surrounding area. Rex waited until satisfied that no one had followed him back to their hideout before detaching the cable and climbing down to join the others.

  “A dumb camera you can’t remote into is some seriously old tech, have you guys not got the credits to spring for something a little less last century?” queried Rose.

  “Remote cameras can be easily scanned for. That’s not to say that a dumb camera can’t, it just makes the process far more time consuming. Anything electronic can give out a detectable signal, but it is important that we do our utmost to remain undetectable by Boden’s men.” answered Jerry.

  As Rex stepped off the ladder he moved around the huddled figures, attempting to find space in the cramped quarters. Despite being careful in his movements Rex could not prevent himself from nudging Miles with the tip of his boot, causing his leader to rouse.