by Rachel Aukes
Throttle pushed to her feet, unsteady in her first steps, and then moving more smoothly across the floor. She’d exaggerated her clumsiness and weakness earlier. While she was in no way ready to jog, she felt somewhat steady on her feet now.
When she reached Lily, the little girl took Throttle’s hand while clutching a teddy bear in her other arm. They walked down the empty hallway. She’d never been outside her room, and was counting on Lily to know where she was going. After several turns, Throttle was exhausted. Her legs burned at the unfamiliar use, but she pushed through. If they failed, she’d be dead by morning. Walking required all of Throttle’s concentration and strength, and kept them at a slow pace, giving Throttle far too much time to begin doubting the escape plan.
“Qelle? Lily? What are you doing out past curfew?” a male voice called out behind them.
Throttle froze.
Lily looked over her shoulder. “I’m hungry. Qelle’s getting me a snack, Mugsy.”
“All right, but be quick about it. You know your father doesn’t want you out and about after curfew.”
Throttle exhaled, and they continued down the hallway. In the dim light, she could vaguely resemble Qelle from behind, with the dark hair and Qelle’s gown. But if anyone got close, it’d be obvious she was no Qelle.
They reached the kitchen without running into a guard. The light suddenly dimmed. A feminine figure rose from behind the counter. Throttle tensed.
“We need to hurry,” the woman said. “It won’t take them long to realize something is up.”
“This is Bree,” Lily said. “She’s coming with us.”
Throttle nodded at the other woman, who returned the motion. Bree was dressed in a skin-tight dress with a deep neckline and high slit. Wearing too much makeup, she looked like every other prostitute in Devil Town.
Bree pulled out three breather masks and handed them out. “I have a cab waiting.”
They put on their masks and rushed forward. Throttle tripped when she tried to walk faster, and Lily tried to steady her. Bree grabbed Throttle’s other arm, and they headed out the back door.
Sure enough, an auto-cab sat outside. The trio piled into it. Throttle let out a sigh as soon as her weight was off her legs. Bree used her wrist comm to pay, and the cab pulled away from the curb.
Throttle looked at Lily. “Did you get the device?”
Lily frowned. “No. He carries it on him. He never puts it down.”
Throttle forced herself to not look disappointed. “It’s okay. You did good. You did a very brave thing back there.”
Lily hugged her bear. “I just want to feel safe.”
Bree wrapped a protective arm around the girl. “You’ll be safe from him soon.”
Throttle didn’t voice her thoughts. Axos was obsessed with Qelle—at least the visage of Qelle—and Lily was the only true remaining piece of Qelle. Not to mention his only daughter. She doubted he would ever quit searching for Lily.
When the docks grew near, Throttle felt hopeful. The stationmaster had the authority to shut down all cabs within Devil Town. That Axos hadn’t, meant he didn’t yet know of their escape. She didn’t relax until the cab stopped and they exited. They couldn’t be locked inside.
The trio hustled onto the dock, with Bree assisting Throttle. Excitement built within Throttle as they entered dock Hilo, the same dock she’d landed on when she’d first arrived on Spate. Would the Gryphon still be there? She craved to be behind the pilot panel again.
“It’s in bay Nine,” Bree said through her breather mask.
Disappointment lurched. The Gryphon was in bay Two, but bay Two now sat empty. What had happened to it? Had Axos already turned it over to the CUF? The Gryphon had been her legs for nearly her entire life. Knowing she was well and truly separated from it felt akin to Axos turning off her implant.
Bree pointed. “There it is.”
Throttle saw the small ship, and bit back her disappointment. It was a Chital model, too small to even have been christened with its own name. Chitals were small cruisers, one of the cheapest ships one could buy. Its small navigational engine would have to work hard just to break out of Spate’s atmosphere. If the CUF chased them, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
At this time of night, the dock stood nearly empty. They came across a couple of dock personnel who were busy working on a ship a few bays down.
When they reached the Chital’s ramp, a guard from the bay next to theirs noticed them. “Bree? That you?”
As he headed toward them, Bree patted Lily’s shoulder. “Hustle inside, sweetie.”
Bree let go of Throttle and walked toward him.
“What are you doing on Shane’s ship?” He wagged his eyebrows. Making a lascivious expression wearing a breather mask made him look foolish. “Having a little rendezvous, are you?”
She gave a sensual shrug. “You know how he likes to try new things. He asked me to meet him here, so here I am.”
“You naughty girl,” the man said. When he noticed the little girl running up the ramp, he stomped toward Bree and grabbed her by the neck. “What’re you doing with Mr. Wintsel’s daughter?”
Bree couldn’t speak, since she was being choked. She kneed him in the groin and he dropped her. She lay coughing on the ground, trying to push herself up.
He stayed bent over for a second or so, giving Throttle time to close the distance. When he returned to full height, he glared at Bree. “I’m not done with you.” He turned toward the ship. He was so focused on Lily that he ignored Throttle.
Big mistake.
She hit him square in the temple. The man dropped instantly, and she fell on top of him. Spending a lifetime in a wheelchair had given her upper body strength few women possessed, but using her legs would take some practice.
Bree picked herself up and pulled a photon gun from his holster. She took a step back, pointed the gun at him, and fired.
At such close range, his chest cavity became a burned black hole. Death was instantaneous.
Bree glanced at Throttle. “Trust me, he deserves worse.” Then Bree assisted Throttle up the ramp and into the ship. As Bree helped Throttle into the pilot’s seat, she held out the ship’s keycard. “I hope you’re as good as your reputation.”
Throttle took the card and slid it into the panel. “Don’t worry. I could fly this piece of crap with my eyes closed.” The systems came to life. She threw Bree a quick glance. “I’m guessing I shouldn’t ask how you got the keycard?”
Bree jut out her chin. “Shane sleeps like a rock after he finishes.”
“Oh.” Throttle turned her focus back to the ship. “Make sure you’re both buckled in tight. This model isn’t exactly known for comfort.”
She opened the comm channel.
“Dock control, this is Chital…” She had to look down at the panel to read its N-number. “…Myr-Five-Five-Bravo-Five-Four. Ready for departure.”
“Chital Bravo-Five-Four, launch approved. Launch commences in sixty.”
As the countdown numbers flashed in the upper right corner of her panel, Throttle ran full system checks. Several indicators flashed yellow. Throttle pursed her lips. Shane had been neglecting maintenance on his ship for way too long.
At ten seconds to go, she fired up the engine.
When the countdown hit zero, dock control reported, “Chital Bravo-Five-Four, launch upon your command.”
“Dock control, launch Chital Bravo-Five-Four. Have a great day.”
The dock’s launch system shot the Chital upward at seven Gs, and the trio was thrown back in their seats. Throttle could handle thirteen Gs, so she had no problem maintaining manual control of the nav engine.
The ship vibrated and sounded like it was going to fall apart as it flew upward through the Spaten atmosphere. Hold together, hold together, hold together, Throttle thought to herself as she looked at the space above them for any signs of CUF ships.
When the Chital broke through the atmosphere and entered the calm blackness of space, th
e ship’s vibrations smoothed out, and Throttle exhaled and patted the panel. “Good job.”
She pulled up the scalar chart and scanned for CUF patrols, finding one four thousand clicks off her stern. Far enough away it couldn’t have a visual, but close enough it could run them down if needed. She would’ve preferred it to be twice that distance out.
She turned to her two passengers. Bree had her eyes closed and still clenched her armrests. Lily had her eyes wide open as she stared open-mouthed out into space. She still clutched her teddy bear.
“How’re you holding up, Lily?” Throttle asked.
The girl turned to her, and for the first time since Throttle had met her, she smiled. “I’m safe now.”
Throttle returned the smile. She flew the ship at max speed, burning its juice, in order to put more distance between them and the patrol ship. They’d just passed between Spate’s two moons when Bree asked, “Where are we going?”
Throttle thought long and hard. Playa was her first choice. It was the emergency rendezvous point and where Reyne would go. She glanced at Lily. Many of those refugees at Tulan Base had been abused by the CUF, and Myrads in particular. Lily’s bluish skin was a bulls-eye for anyone with a vendetta, though she knew Reyne would protect the girl. On the other hand, Sixx was on Myr right now. He’d return to Terra, and who knew how long he’d be there. He’d been searching for Qelle, and needed to see Lily. Throttle didn’t like heading in that direction, but it was their best option.
“We’re going to Terra,” she announced finally.
Bree sat upright. “Terra? But that’s where the war is!”
“It is. But it’s also the one place where we can protect Lily from Axos.” She was about to elaborate, when a terrible burn spread down her spine and into her legs, followed by familiar coldness.
“What’s wrong?” Lily asked.
Throttle exhaled. “He knows.”
Bree and Lily both bore the same expression of wide-eyed terror.
Throttle eyed the smaller moon and cranked the ship into its orbit. “Don’t worry. I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
Once the moon’s dark side enveloped the small ship, she cut the engine, turned off the comms, and lowered the life support system to minimum. “Bree, find us some blankets. It’s going to get chilly in here.”
When Bree looked at her, confused, Throttle elaborated. “Patrol ships scan for energy signatures. We’re not broadcasting enough of a signature for their systems to pick us up.”
“But what if they see us?” Bree countered.
“They’d have to get within a couple hundred clicks to get a visual on us. And as long as we stay on the dark side, nothing will reflect off the ship. They’d have an easier time finding a needle in a haystack.”
Bree thought for a moment, and then seemed to snap back to attention. She unbuckled and moved around the small cabin. The only blankets were on the ship’s two fold-out bunks. The trio huddled together as the temperatures quickly dropped.
“How long do we have to wait?” Lily asked in a soft voice.
Throttle shivered. “As long as we have to.”
Her implant went on again, only to be shut off a few seconds later. Each time, she bit through the pain. She knew Axos was torturing her on purpose, taking out his anger on her from a distance. That temper of his had killed Sixx’s wife, along with how many other innocents. Throttle clenched her teeth. He could torture her all he wanted. He wasn’t going to kill her. But she sure as hell was going to kill him.
Ten
Old Friends
Space, on the way to Terra
Heid
Heid sat in her quarters on board the Arcadia, staring at the blank comm screen. She’d been staring for a good ten minutes, trying to build her confidence. This wasn’t the first time she’d called Barrett since she’d broken ties with the Forces, but this was the first time she’d be testing their friendship.
She took a deep breath. Then she dialed the number, using an encrypted scrambler.
He answered within a few seconds. “Hello, Gabi.”
She smiled. “Hello, Barrett. You look good.” He did. The blue commandant’s uniform looked right on him, and he’d always had a natural poise and confidence that seemed to exude from him in every interaction.
“And you look stunning as always.” He cocked his head. “I believe this is the first time I’ve seen you out of uniform. Even back at the Academy, I don’t remember ever seeing you out of an approved uniform.”
She glanced down at the simple clothes she now wore. Her shirt had been hand-sewn by a Nova colonist as a gift for her coming to Nova Colony’s aid. She wore it as a reminder of whom she was fighting for. She turned her attention back to Barrett. “I won’t take much of your time. I know the longer we talk, the greater the risk of having our comms intercepted. Do you remember the conversation we had the last time we spoke?”
He nodded. “I do, and I still stand by my belief in equality for all. As do the other two. We all believe what you did was courageous, but you’ll always be on the run as long as you’re alive and the Arcadia flies.”
“Don’t worry about me,” she said. “I can take care of myself.”
“I have no doubt,” he said.
She inhaled. “I’m sure you saw Stationmaster Faulk’s broadcast.”
“Everyone has seen the broadcast. Ausyar has ordered the entire Armada to be sent to the fringe, though we’re still awaiting direction on how the Forces will respond.”
“And where are you to take the Littorio?” Heid asked.
“I’m off to Terra, leading a complement of two frigates and six destroyers,” he said.
She lifted her chin. “Good. I need support at Terra.”
“I see.” His lips thinned. “Exactly what kind of support do you have in mind?”
She swallowed. “Whatever support it takes to ensure Rebus Station remains in the hands of Terrans and not Ausyar.”
He took a deep breath. “You were able to take the Arcadia because you’d spent years hand-picking your crew for that precise reason. Nearly all my crew are citizens, many of them Myrad. The Forces have changed since you left, Gabriela. Dromadiers will turn in their bunkmates at the slightest whisper of rebellion.”
She swallowed. “I suspected as much.”
He held up a hand. “However, if Ausyar were no longer corps general, I could be of great support to the colonies’ quest for independence.”
Chills flitted across her skin at the sudden hope sprouting inside her. “I believe my friends and I may be of assistance in making that happen. Your support means more than you’ll ever know, Barrett.”
He shrugged. “We go back a long way. You know you can count on me when it matters.”
She smiled. “I know. And the others?”
“There’s not a single warship commandant who wants to fire upon colonists. Smith and Lyness are both off to Darios, along with much of the remainder of the Armada. They, too, look for opportunities to bring peace to the Collective.”
She frowned. “Why Darios? I thought Sol Base was firmly under CUF control, since the blight was destroyed.”
“It is. But many other Darion colonies have banded together and have surrounded Sol Base. They keep picking off ground forces. They seem hell-bent on taking Sol Base, even if they have to blow the docks to take it.”
Pride stirred. “Good for them. That blight wiped out their largest city, and they know the Myrads were behind it. Who can blame them for wanting anyone associated with Myr off their planet?”
He gave her a knowing look. “We both know the Collective will never willingly give up Darios. The planet’s food feeds seventy percent of the Collective.”
“The Collective should’ve considered that before they started treating colonists like second-class citizens,” she retorted.
He held up his hands. “I agree, but I’m saying that out of all the colonies, the Collective depends on Darios.”
“Then, we’ll pry Darios ou
t of the Collective’s cold, dead hands if we have to,” she said.
He frowned. “Let’s hope things don’t come to that.” She heard a chime on his end, and he glanced away. “I’ll talk to you soon.” The screen went blank.
She gripped the table to hold her anxiety in check. She’d taken a great risk in calling Barrett, but the Campaign needed more support if it were to succeed.
Commandant Barrett Anders had been her study partner at the CUF military academy, and they’d remained close friends throughout their careers. He’d even dated her roommate, Lina, for a couple months. She realized that she should’ve told him Lina was currently sitting in prison, courtesy of Ausyar. News like that would’ve likely erased any of doubts he might still be having about helping the Campaign.
She pushed off from her desk. They’d be reaching their destination within four hours. It was time she met with her crew. They needed to understand what they were about to face at Terra.
Eleven
Turning Point
Torrent Headquarters, Terra
Critch
“Rebus dock control informed me the Scorpia has been captured and is sitting in their docks,” Hari announced as she walked into the lounge where Seda and Critch sat drinking whiskey.
Critch’s eye twitched. “And her crew?”
She lowered her face. “Executed. Rumor is they were drifted from a frigate.”
“That’s a loss to the Campaign,” Seda said. “The Scorpia was a good ship and crew.”
“The best.” Critch took a long drink. The Scorpia was the newest ship in the feared specter fleet—the fleet of pirates turned torrents. He’d overseen the ship’s design, and had hired every crewmember back when he was a pirate. He set down his empty glass. “How about we take it back?”
Seda thought for a moment, rubbing his right shoulder where his prosthetic arm connected to his skin. “It feels too soon to make a move for the docks.”
“We take the docks, we take Rebus Station. Ausyar will be forced to launch a new offensive or negotiate.”
