by D. M. Pruden
“This is nothing difficult; just a simple pick-up and drop-off. No mysterious rendezvous, and he will not be allowed to set foot aboard Requiem.”
“Last job he gave us was shipping a biogenic weapon of some kind. What is it this time?”
“I didn’t inquire.”
“Shit, Roy, I thought I was the biggest hazard to life and limb on this ship. What the hell are you trying to do?”
“This might be our only opportunity to uncover firsthand information. I made inquiries; Singh offered me a name if we take the job. I am out of ideas on where to start looking for Nan, otherwise.”
Realizing I’m glaring, I redirect my gaze at an old picture of him and his little sister. Chambers didn’t realize she was still alive until a few days ago. I need to be more sensitive to what he and our newest addition to the crew are going through.
I say, “Is Chloe aware of this?”
“I thought I’d ask you to tell her.”
“Why me? You’re the captain.”
“Because you are who she trusts the most...”
“And because you don’t want to be the one to tell her we’re going to Terra. It doesn’t matter who informs her. She’s gonna hate you anyway. What are you going to do when her daddy comes to claim her against her will?”
“I’m trying to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. Nobody will be given shore leave. We’ll land, load the cargo, and only stay long enough to learn what we can.”
“Look, even though Anthony Cabot doesn’t shit in his own bed by running an operation on Earth, it doesn’t mean he’ll be oblivious to us coming. You think he doesn’t keep tabs on his daughter’s new home and where we go? And besides, Chambers, you’re dealing with Parvinder Singh again. He works for him, for Christ’s sake!”
“He’s employed by the Jovian Collective.”
“Which answers to Cabot—I can’t believe you’re so fucking naïve!”
“He may be the head of the JC in the inner system, but I’m betting he keeps a few layers of plausible deniability in place to protect himself from anything the organization does on Terra. He’s not stupid.”
“I sure hope you’re right, but there is one person aboard this ship who can tell you if your guess is correct.”
“Who?”
My eyelids narrow. “Don’t be obtuse, Chambers. I’m talking about Chloe. She’s his daughter. She knew enough about her father’s operations to be able to sneak off the planet without him knowing where she went. You should talk to her about this.”
He waves dismissively. “Yeah, well, I’m delegating the job to you when you tell her about the plan. It will be a chance to prove you’re a team player.”
An icy silence settles between us.
“That’s a cheap shot, Chambers. How many times must I grovel over a simple mistake?”
He shrugs. “You’re on probation until I’m satisfied you aren’t a liability to us.”
“What about our side deal? I’m the one who made you a lot of money since I joined you.”
“Our arrangement is in effect—until it isn’t. The future of our working relationship is entirely up to you, Doctor.”
It is a dick move on his part. Terra is the last place I want to go, and he’s aware of how I feel. If I balk at this little test, he’ll dump my things on the landing platform and strand me back where I started.
“You really are an asshole.”
He ignores me and turns his attention to his data pad.
The interview over, I hold my temper in check and depart to speak with Chloe.
Chambers is wrong to believe there is no other recourse, but I have no doubt he’ll like my idea less than I do his. I’ll just do some digging on my own so there’s something to work with when his stupid half-baked plan falls flat.
Chapter Four
“Terra? Seriously?”
“I’m sorry, Chloe, but this is the only thread to follow to find Nan,” I say.
“Is my father aware of our destination?”
“I don’t think so, but I’m clueless about how connected he is or if he even realizes you’re aboard Requiem.”
“Oh, he probably does; when we spoke, he told me he’s tracking me.”
“How did your conversation go, anyway?”
She sighs. “About how I expected.” She points at the case in my hand. “For me?”
I forgot I’d brought it. “Oh, yeah, time for your injection.”
I place it on her bunk and remove the hypo-spray. Chloe rolls up her sleeve and winces when I inject her.
“Sorry,” I say.
“I’m okay,” she says, rubbing her arm. “It beats the hell out of being eaten from the inside.”
“I’m still working on your problem. The nanites the Collective uses are unknown. It will take me some time to crack their synthetic genome and find a way to kill them off. In the meantime, how are you doing with the new antidote?”
“I’m not puking anymore.”
“And the rash?”
She unzips her jumpsuit and lifts her shirt to reveal an angry red blotch on her tummy. “Ouch, I’ll give you a cream for it.”
“Thanks, Mel. Like I said, this is better than the nanobots killing me.”
I can’t bring myself to tell her my efforts are a losing battle. Eventually, the potion I concocted to keep her organs from melting will lose its effectiveness. Carson Willis, the slaver we rescued her from, didn’t want his prize running off. By infecting her with cannibalizing nanite technology, he made her dependent on a regular dose of customized antidote, one I’m having a difficult time replicating.
I close the case. “If you don’t mind me asking, what did your father say?”
A wry smile turns up the edges of her small mouth. I can imagine how much of a knockout she is when she is dolled up, although I don’t think there are any ugly rich people. Being born into money can buy the tech to compensate for poor genes. She obviously doesn’t need the benefit of her father’s wealth, though. I can tell her beauty is all nature’s bounty, making her a doubly lucky bitch.
“When he was finished yelling at me about not wanting to marry Lincoln, he said a lot of things, none of them nice.”
“Did you tell him about you and Nan?”
She nods. “It wouldn’t matter what her sex is. My act of defiance interferes with his business plans.”
“An arranged marriage to secure a deal. How medieval of him.”
“He and mother had an arranged marriage.”
“Had?”
She shrugs. “When I was very small, she left him and took me with her. Father found us, of course. I never heard from her again.”
“The son-of-a-bitch—did he...?”
“I don’t know if he did or not. He is certainly capable of it.”
“And you grew up living with him? What was it like?”
She’s eager to tell me, so I encourage her. Besides, talking about her upbringing is therapy for both of us; I thought my childhood was a shit-show, and I find it refreshing to talk to someone who had things worse.
“I believed my father was just a wealthy businessman. I was given an education focussed on providing me with the skills to one day succeed him. When I was fourteen, I realized what his business entails. After I learned what kind of man he really is, I withdrew and avoided him as much as possible. Even though my rejection hurt him greatly, I maintained an emotional wall between us. He gave up on the idea of grooming me as his successor and concentrated on other ways I could be made useful to further his interests.”
“Hence, the arranged marriage.”
She nods.
“When did you become involved with Chambers’ sister?”
“Years ago, when we were both six or so. She came to our house often to play with Miranda, the daughter of one of our servants. Being an only child, Daddy thought I should make friends, so he encouraged the girls to let me join them. The three of us were inseparable. After Miranda moved away, Nan continued to come over regularly
to see me, well into our teen years. When she ran away from home, Father was away on business, so I hid her in our house. I managed to hide her for several weeks. We grew very close and fell in love. When Daddy found out, she left out of fear for what he might do to her. He was furious and sent me off to a private school to keep us apart.”
“It doesn’t sound like his plan worked.”
“For a time, it did. I lost touch with her. When my education was completed, I returned home to accept my role in Daddy’s plans. He had promised me in marriage to Lincoln Pendrake, a man I’d never even met.”
“Why didn’t you just remove yourself from the situation? Leave home?”
“You must understand, Mel, mine was a sheltered life. Aside from Nan, I’d never socialized outside of my family’s world. Even at the boarding school, it was more like a prison. I was literally the only student in the place, surrounded by teachers, tutors, and servants who managed my every waking hour.”
“It sounds horrid.”
“At the time, it seriously didn’t occur to me I had any other option.”
“What happened?”
“One day, I was taken to the city to pick out jewelry for my wedding. Who do you think was working at the boutique?”
“Nancy Chambers.”
She grins, and her eyes light up. “We reconnected, picking up where we’d left off as if no time had intervened. Over the next few weeks, she helped me plan my escape with her.”
“Did your father ever suspect you two were back together?”
“No, we were very careful.”
“And then your ship was intercepted by pirates.”
“Yes, and you’re familiar with the story from there. We were separated. I was sent to Luna, and she disappeared somewhere else.”
I’m cautious to keep my expression neutral; I think that this woman is naïve. It is obvious to me her father discovered their plans after their departure from Terra and arranged for them to be removed from the ship. The intention was probably to return Chloe home and make Nancy Chambers disappear, but the pirates fucked up. Without realizing who they were kidnapping, the idiots decided to make a quick profit selling both women to Willis’s sex-slave operation. Chloe ended up with us, and who the hell knew where Nan went?
“I’m curious,” I say. “Your father seems so...protective and controlling; why is he allowing you to remain with us?”
She nods with a reassuring expression. “Don’t worry, Mel. I came to an arrangement with Daddy that protects you guys.”
“What kind of deal?”
“He’s given me a year to locate Nan. I can use my trust fund to finance the search for her, including hiring the crew of Requiem to help.”
“And if you find her, he’ll leave you two alone to make a life together?”
“Yes.”
“What happens if you can’t find her?”
“I promised to return home and marry Lincoln.”
This woman is an idiot.
Anthony Cabot plays a game with his daughter, and she believes he’ll obey the fucking rules she’s agreed to. He has every reason, and the resources, to interfere with her efforts. We haven’t yet met an untimely death because Chloe is aboard our ship, and he wants her to believe he is being honourable or something.
We are outgunned, bent over the rail, and waiting for our asses to be reamed.
Every sense in me screams to drop this chick off on Earth and put as much distance as possible between us and her.
It would be the smart thing to do.
One problem, though...
Nan is the missing sister of Roy Chambers, and he won’t abandon the search for her, especially if Chloe’s trust fund provides the means for him to find her.
We are seriously fucked.
Chapter Five
Chambers isn’t aware of much about me, which is the way I like things.
When I return to my quarters, I lock the door and pull my travel bag out from beneath my bunk. A few items remain inside I didn’t wish to unpack.
No place has ever been home for me, including my childhood hell on Terra with my bitch mother. For as long as I can remember, an emergency “bolt kit” was kept stored under my bed, just in case I needed to make a quick exit. I do it out of habit. A pang of regret pricks at me because I continue the practice aboard Requiem. For a time, the ship seemed like somewhere I could settle down for a spell.
Of course, I managed to thoroughly fuck up any sense of security I deluded myself exists here.
Perhaps I did it on purpose—started the fire, I mean. Not consciously; I’m not a pyromaniac. But maybe my subconscious doesn’t want me to become comfortable here.
As much as I like everyone, I don’t trust them—not to the degree expected of me. I may be wrong, but I don’t believe any of them would protect my back given a choice. If Chambers defines being a “team player” as putting blind faith in my crewmates to watch out for me, then he’s right; I’m not one. The kind of commitment he demands is simply not within my capacity to give.
If I were raised differently, things might be different, but I wasn’t, so I don’t waste time daydreaming about it. I store the self-pity and continue to dig in the bag until I find the item I’m searching for.
I debated long and hard about spending the money on a quantum radio. Who the hell was I going to call? The way the thing is tied to a dedicated entangled twin— I’m clueless how the damned thing works; I hate physics. All I care about is this one connects to one of the few people I feel I can rely on.
Do I trust Oskar Vostok to keep my best interests in mind? Fuck, no, but he saved my life and I his, so I guess we’re bound in a very rudimentary way. Anyway, he told me to contact him if I ever need anything, so I bought the damn radio.
Never having used the device before, I take a half hour figuring out how to turn it on—yeah, attempting to fix the fucking toaster was a mistake.
After an uncomfortable wait, during which time I begin to wonder if I did things right, Oskar’s voice fills the headset. I smile at his cute Russian accent.
“Doctor Melanie, it is so pleasant to speak with you. Is everything all right?”
“Hello, Oskar, I’m fine. I only left Luna a couple of days ago. How much trouble do you think I can find in such a short time?”
“With you, I do not make assumptions. I presume you are calling about Willis?”
“I am. Did you learn where he went?”
“Nyet. He departed under an assumed identity on a passenger transport to Ganymede but vanished shortly after the ship passed out of Terran space.”
“Shit! Any ideas?”
“Many, but nothing solid to work with.”
“Damn! We’re going to Terra. Can you think of anyone who might be privy to information we can use?”
The line goes momentarily silent. “Willis had an associate you can speak with, if you can find him. Tibor Yashnikov; he works for Star Liner Corporation. I will send you his contact data.”
“Thanks. What might he be able to tell me?”
“This will depend on how much you are willing to spend.”
“I presume he isn’t particularly loyal to Willis?”
Vostok laughs. “What is the expression in Standard about honour and thieves?”
“I understand. Send me what you have, and I’ll pass on to you what I learn. Just promise me you won’t kill Willis if you locate him first. I want to ask the asshole a few things.”
“For you, of course. Do svidaniya i udachi.”
“Spasibo, Oskar.”
Minutes later, my cortical implant pings me about an arriving message. On checking it, I am relieved to learn Yashnikov resides in the port city where we are going. Lucky? I only believe in bad luck. But it is no coincidence he works for the same company as the man Chambers wants to interview. I would bet him they are the same, except I’m going to need the last of my cash to coax what I need out of Tibor.
After my girl-talk session with Chloe, I am more confide
nt he is the man who passed the information to the pirates at the behest of Cabot.
Do I tell any of this to Chambers?
To do so means I would be compelled to reveal my source. To do so will also require me to confess I own an illegal communication device hidden in my quarters. The quantum radio would be a valuable tool to anyone working on the wrong side of the law, especially a smuggler like Chambers.
After my little toaster mishap and the resultant shitstorm, I am no longer confident my stay aboard Requiem will be a long one; doubly so when I consider what Chloe revealed to me.
If Anthony Cabot is working against us, we will eventually become more than an inconvenient enabler of his daughter’s attempt at independence. We will be targeted. I’m not sure I want to be around when the inevitable happens.
I’m seriously considering leaving the ship when we arrive at Terra.
If Chambers learns about my quantum radio, things could become ugly if I try to walk away with it. I don’t think he’d threaten to hurt me over it, but my exposure to his temper a few hours ago gives me doubt. If I decide to leave, it would be best to mind my own business and let him flop about on his own. If he can’t learn anything from Yashnikov, the search will die on the vine, and he might drop the matter. He’ll be disappointed, but he’ll be breathing.
I check the ship’s flight plan on my CI link. Requiem arrives at Cape Town Station in eighteen hours, giving me time to sleep on the whole thing.
Chapter Six
No one can deny that Earth is the most beautiful planet in the solar system. From this far away, I can almost sense her tugging at something deep inside me. My body reacts on its own, hardwired to respond to the sight of her azure skies, trying to persuade me I am relieved to come home to her bosom. Something in the back of my brain tells me that my sojourn in space is a dalliance and I should return to where I belong. I reflexively gasp, as if doused with icy cold waters.
From orbit, Terra is a beautiful place; a paradise. The miracle that is life is inevitable on this planet, always springing up from the ashes of ruin. This world evolved to thrive as a unique oasis in a dangerous cosmos. She’s been around for four billion years and will be around until the Sun consumes her billions of years from now. If I could live up here and gaze upon her from afar, I could be tempted to stay.
