Vigilante (46 page)
Matt never thought he’d feel compassion for Edones, but he took pity,
just this once.
just this once.
“Remember,
Aether’s Touch
has protected
compartments with extra radiation shielding.” Matt pointed to the name “Ariane Kedros” with
“Status: Unknown” beside it. “If Ari’s on
Aether’s Touch
, she’ll
have gone to those compartments.”
Aether’s Touch
has protected
compartments with extra radiation shielding.” Matt pointed to the name “Ariane Kedros” with
“Status: Unknown” beside it. “If Ari’s on
Aether’s Touch
, she’ll
have gone to those compartments.”
They waited. The chatter was cacophonous as controllers collected
information from the recently docked
Percival
and
Rhapsody
. They were trying to piece together what was happening on the Priamos
surface facilities, Beta Priamos Station, the mining station near Laomedon, the research
platform orbiting Sophia II, and any other manned vehicle in the solar system. Communications
throughout the system were down due to solar activity, so they gleaned what status they could
from interviews and messages recorded prior to the TD wave.
information from the recently docked
Percival
and
Rhapsody
. They were trying to piece together what was happening on the Priamos
surface facilities, Beta Priamos Station, the mining station near Laomedon, the research
platform orbiting Sophia II, and any other manned vehicle in the solar system. Communications
throughout the system were down due to solar activity, so they gleaned what status they could
from interviews and messages recorded prior to the TD wave.
A console displayed radiation readings and solar emission data, but
everyone avoided reading it. Warrior Commander stood at an abandoned station to broadcast its
periodical “surrender to the guardians” message. Commander Meredith walked about the consoles,
checked on status, and tried to remind Warrior Commander about Pilgrimage sovereignty. All
isolationists that the guardians arrested had to be confined on the
Pilgrimage III
for later arraignment—but no one knew if Warrior Commander was
heeding Meredith’s words.
everyone avoided reading it. Warrior Commander stood at an abandoned station to broadcast its
periodical “surrender to the guardians” message. Commander Meredith walked about the consoles,
checked on status, and tried to remind Warrior Commander about Pilgrimage sovereignty. All
isolationists that the guardians arrested had to be confined on the
Pilgrimage III
for later arraignment—but no one knew if Warrior Commander was
heeding Meredith’s words.
Edones and Matt silently watched the casualty status list grow, with
both civilian and military personnel. Matt watched as two Terran State Princes were added: SP
Parmet had minor wounds but was stable; SP Hauser was listed as critical due to radiation
exposure. The personnel on the
Percival
had prior prophylactic
treatments, as well as military-grade shielding. Matt hoped the radiation shielding around
Aether’s Touch
array compartment was as good as advertised.
both civilian and military personnel. Matt watched as two Terran State Princes were added: SP
Parmet had minor wounds but was stable; SP Hauser was listed as critical due to radiation
exposure. The personnel on the
Percival
had prior prophylactic
treatments, as well as military-grade shielding. Matt hoped the radiation shielding around
Aether’s Touch
array compartment was as good as advertised.
The TLS
Percival
was faster than the
Aether’s Touch
. Matt tensed his fists as his ship,
his own ship
, came around into the eclipsed area behind Sophia I, where the
Pilgrimage III
and its docked vessels clustered for protection. If
Ari hadn’t programmed the right parameters, if the ship wasn’t braking with enough reverse
thrust, then
Aether’s Touch
might whip on by, given extra
gravitational pull from Sophia I, and go into the inner solar system again. Worse, it could
plow into the huge
Pilgrimage III
.
Percival
was faster than the
Aether’s Touch
. Matt tensed his fists as his ship,
his own ship
, came around into the eclipsed area behind Sophia I, where the
Pilgrimage III
and its docked vessels clustered for protection. If
Ari hadn’t programmed the right parameters, if the ship wasn’t braking with enough reverse
thrust, then
Aether’s Touch
might whip on by, given extra
gravitational pull from Sophia I, and go into the inner solar system again. Worse, it could
plow into the huge
Pilgrimage III
.
If the comm worked, Matt might be able to get control of the ship. He
stood behind the controller at the comm station, tensely rising up and down on his toes.
Aether’s Touch
didn’t appear to be decelerating, from what they
could determine with their sensors, hampered by noise from the irate sun. Matt took a deep
breath. He might have to try remote braking from the
Pilgrimage
’s
control deck.
stood behind the controller at the comm station, tensely rising up and down on his toes.
Aether’s Touch
didn’t appear to be decelerating, from what they
could determine with their sensors, hampered by noise from the irate sun. Matt took a deep
breath. He might have to try remote braking from the
Pilgrimage
’s
control deck.
“
Pilgrimage Three
, this is
Aether’s Touch
.
Pilgrimage Three
, this is
Aether’s Touch
on docking approach. Over.”
Pilgrimage Three
, this is
Aether’s Touch
.
Pilgrimage Three
, this is
Aether’s Touch
on docking approach. Over.”
Through the static, Matt recognized Ari’s voice. He whooped in relief.
She was alive, at least, and able to speak. The controller answered and asked for status and
specifically, dosimeter readings. Her dose was still within a safe range, which caused cheers
on deck.
She was alive, at least, and able to speak. The controller answered and asked for status and
specifically, dosimeter readings. Her dose was still within a safe range, which caused cheers
on deck.
“See, she stayed in the protected compartment,” Matt said, turning to
see Edones’s face collapse with relief. The colonel probably hadn’t intended a public display
of—well, not affection, but concern, at least. Matt felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned
toward Diana. He forgot she was standing at his side.
see Edones’s face collapse with relief. The colonel probably hadn’t intended a public display
of—well, not affection, but concern, at least. Matt felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned
toward Diana. He forgot she was standing at his side.
“I’m glad she’s safe.” Diana looked tired; there were shadows under her
eyes.
eyes.
Glancing about, Matt realized everyone looked haggard. He rubbed his
chin, feeling several days’ growth.
How much time has gone by since I
thought life was normal and safe?
The problems he’d had when he first boarded the
Pilgrimage III
now seemed small.
chin, feeling several days’ growth.
How much time has gone by since I
thought life was normal and safe?
The problems he’d had when he first boarded the
Pilgrimage III
now seemed small.
Ari’s voice came clearer now. “
Pilgrimage
Three
, be advised I’m also carrying Tahir Dominique Rouxe, who is willing to turn
himself in to Pilgrimage authorities. He requests asylum and protection from Abram Hadrian
Rouxe. Over.”
Pilgrimage
Three
, be advised I’m also carrying Tahir Dominique Rouxe, who is willing to turn
himself in to Pilgrimage authorities. He requests asylum and protection from Abram Hadrian
Rouxe. Over.”
Matt felt both Colonel Edones and Diana stiffen. He realized that
Warrior Commander had turned to pay close attention to Ari’s message.
Warrior Commander had turned to pay close attention to Ari’s message.
Ariane kept Tahir locked in the array compartment and spoke to him over
internal comm. While she didn’t know what had happened on Priamos, she
implied
that Abram’s cause had failed.
internal comm. While she didn’t know what had happened on Priamos, she
implied
that Abram’s cause had failed.
“Is he alive?” He still sounded frightened of his father.
“I don’t know. Comm with Priamos is impossible right now. You need to
think about yourself, and pick your justice.”
think about yourself, and pick your justice.”
“What?”
“Everybody’s going to want a piece of you, believe me. This system is
currently under Pilgrimage sovereignty, but the Consortium, the League, and maybe even the
Minoans might indict you and attempt extradition.”
currently under Pilgrimage sovereignty, but the Consortium, the League, and maybe even the
Minoans might indict you and attempt extradition.”
He was silent for a few moments, then said, “I don’t think it matters,
as long as I’m not confined with any of my people. After all, I’m the only one who failed to
meet Qesan’s directives.”
as long as I’m not confined with any of my people. After all, I’m the only one who failed to
meet Qesan’s directives.”
She was tired and frustrated with his shortsightedness. Didn’t he
understand how much trouble he was in? She’d thrown the Minoan possibility out to scare him,
but he continued to focus on Abram.
understand how much trouble he was in? She’d thrown the Minoan possibility out to scare him,
but he continued to focus on Abram.
“Look, I recommend you turn yourself in
willingly
to Pilgrimage authorities and cooperate with them. It’s the right
thing to do, both morally and jurisdictionally, and when they learn more about Abram, they
might be lenient.”
willingly
to Pilgrimage authorities and cooperate with them. It’s the right
thing to do, both morally and jurisdictionally, and when they learn more about Abram, they
might be lenient.”
“Certainly, Major. If you think it’s best.” His response was
subdued.
subdued.
She was on dock approach before she could make contact with the
Pilgrimage
’s control deck. Luckily, the readings from her implant,
as well as Tahir’s, indicated they wouldn’t require medical treatement. She verified this by
passing their dosimeter readings to the
Pilgrimage
.
Pilgrimage
’s control deck. Luckily, the readings from her implant,
as well as Tahir’s, indicated they wouldn’t require medical treatement. She verified this by
passing their dosimeter readings to the
Pilgrimage
.
Before she released Tahir from the compartment, she told him the third
crew member, Muse, was resting. She also warned him about the crowd waiting dockside. She’d
seen parts of the scene from the ship’s cam-eye, but it wasn’t until they were standing at the
top of the ramp that they
both
realized the extent of Tahir’s
difficulties.
crew member, Muse, was resting. She also warned him about the crowd waiting dockside. She’d
seen parts of the scene from the ship’s cam-eye, but it wasn’t until they were standing at the
top of the ramp that they
both
realized the extent of Tahir’s
difficulties.
Out of cam-eye range, to the right, stood a flotilla of Minoans. She’d
never seen so many guardians with both an emissary and a
warrior
.
She sharply drew her breath.
I guess I wasn’t bullshitting when I told
Tahir the Minoans would be interested
. Generational crew members clustered in the center
of the crowd surrounding the ramp and to the left, she saw ranks of AFCAW and Terran Space
Forces. Three stun rifles were ready and aimed at Tahir.
never seen so many guardians with both an emissary and a
warrior
.
She sharply drew her breath.
I guess I wasn’t bullshitting when I told
Tahir the Minoans would be interested
. Generational crew members clustered in the center
of the crowd surrounding the ramp and to the left, she saw ranks of AFCAW and Terran Space
Forces. Three stun rifles were ready and aimed at Tahir.
The dock was strangely quiet. There was no motion, except for the
Minoans’ robes drifting about their bodies. She saw Commander Meredith Pilgrimage, in uniform,
standing at the bottom of the ramp. She prodded Tahir forward and pointed to Meredith with her
chin.
Minoans’ robes drifting about their bodies. She saw Commander Meredith Pilgrimage, in uniform,
standing at the bottom of the ramp. She prodded Tahir forward and pointed to Meredith with her
chin.
She walked behind him down the ramp, their boots clunking dully. Tahir
and Meredith spoke so quietly she couldn’t hear them, but she figured Tahir was asking to be
separated from all other isolationists. Meredith nodded and gestured to the Minoans. To her
surprise, two guardians moved forward to take Tahir away.
and Meredith spoke so quietly she couldn’t hear them, but she figured Tahir was asking to be
separated from all other isolationists. Meredith nodded and gestured to the Minoans. To her
surprise, two guardians moved forward to take Tahir away.
Suddenly, the quiet broke into ragged cheers. The crowd surged toward
her and the organized ranks dispersed. Matt reached her first. He hugged her, nearly crushing
the breath out of her lungs.
her and the organized ranks dispersed. Matt reached her first. He hugged her, nearly crushing
the breath out of her lungs.
“Are you all right?” he said in her ear.
“I’m great, and the ship is fine.” She was breathless, perhaps because
of the bear hug, perhaps because his arms were still around her.
of the bear hug, perhaps because his arms were still around her.
Matt glanced up the ramp. He squeezed her again, quickly, before running
up the ramp to his first true love, probably going to the control deck to check on ship
functions. She smiled; everything was getting back to normal.
up the ramp to his first true love, probably going to the control deck to check on ship
functions. She smiled; everything was getting back to normal.
There were others about her now, civilians and military, Autonomist and
Terran, wishing her well, asking questions, slapping her on the back.
Terran, wishing her well, asking questions, slapping her on the back.
Owen stood in front of her. His colonel’s black and blue uniform
appeared pressed and clean, but he looked tired. When had he started to look so old? He was
flanked by other AFCAW uniforms, perhaps, but she was getting tunnel vision. With shaking
fingers, she reached into her jacket’s inner pocket and handed him Dokos’s name tag.
appeared pressed and clean, but he looked tired. When had he started to look so old? He was
flanked by other AFCAW uniforms, perhaps, but she was getting tunnel vision. With shaking
fingers, she reached into her jacket’s inner pocket and handed him Dokos’s name tag.
“She was executed. She died bravely.” When Owen’s warm hand closed over
hers, she realized how cold her extremities were.
hers, she realized how cold her extremities were.
“Are you okay, Major?” Owen looked strange. He was still gripping her
hand.
hand.
She was exhausted, running on adrenaline and nothing else. Out of the
corner of her eye, she saw tall shadows and flinched. The Minoan emissary and warrior were
focused intently upon her, and moving inexorably closer.
corner of her eye, she saw tall shadows and flinched. The Minoan emissary and warrior were
focused intently upon her, and moving inexorably closer.
“You need food and rest,” someone said in her ear. Owen? Her vision was
going gray.
going gray.
“Has Ariane woken yet?” David Ray asked.
“No. Colonel Edones said this is normal.” Matt grimaced. He always felt
a bad taste on his tongue whenever he mentioned Edones. “They pump nutrients into her and let
her rest. Then she eventually wakes up—it has to do with her metabolism, supposedly.”
a bad taste on his tongue whenever he mentioned Edones. “They pump nutrients into her and let
her rest. Then she eventually wakes up—it has to do with her metabolism, supposedly.”
David Ray nodded, but Dr. Lee Pilgrimage raised her eyebrows. Perhaps
this vague description sounded as suspicious to her as it did to Matt. Holding firmly on to
David Ray’s hand, Lee was sitting in a slanted hospital bed. Broken bones were more serious for
generational crew, particularly at her age, than for grav-huggers, and she was resting from the
bone-stim. She’d fared better than Allison, her technician, who’d died instantly from a broken
neck.
this vague description sounded as suspicious to her as it did to Matt. Holding firmly on to
David Ray’s hand, Lee was sitting in a slanted hospital bed. Broken bones were more serious for
generational crew, particularly at her age, than for grav-huggers, and she was resting from the
bone-stim. She’d fared better than Allison, her technician, who’d died instantly from a broken
neck.
“I meet the strangest people hanging around outside Ari’s room waiting
for her to wake,” Matt added. “In particular,
Warrior Commander
.
“What’s going on there, do you suppose?”
for her to wake,” Matt added. “In particular,
Warrior Commander
.
“What’s going on there, do you suppose?”
“I suspect the Minoans are less upset with the Terrans’ losing a weapon
than they are with Ariane sending the TD wave into N-space.” David Ray clasped Lee’s hand in
both of his, looking down. “I’m thinking of taking a hiatus to study what the Minoans are doing
here in G- 145—they’ve been acting strangely ever since this system opened.”
than they are with Ariane sending the TD wave into N-space.” David Ray clasped Lee’s hand in
both of his, looking down. “I’m thinking of taking a hiatus to study what the Minoans are doing
here in G- 145—they’ve been acting strangely ever since this system opened.”
“A hiatus?” Lee looked startled. In shipspeak, that meant David Ray was
taking a vacation from his duties on the
Pilgrimage
, perhaps
preparing to opt off. “How are you going to get honest work in the meantime, David Ray?”
taking a vacation from his duties on the
Pilgrimage
, perhaps
preparing to opt off. “How are you going to get honest work in the meantime, David Ray?”
“He’s going to be working for a small business,” Matt said. “Namely,
Aether Exploration.”
Aether Exploration.”
“That’s if I can handle the pay cut.” David Ray winked. “Besides, I’ve
heard a rumor the Minoans may attempt to use the Pilgrimage justice system to charge
negligence, treaty violation, you name it. Even Terran State Princes want legal consultants,
when facing Minoans.”
heard a rumor the Minoans may attempt to use the Pilgrimage justice system to charge
negligence, treaty violation, you name it. Even Terran State Princes want legal consultants,
when facing Minoans.”
David Ray and Lee stared at each other with we-have-to-talk looks. Lee’s
smile was brilliant. Matt looked away, a little envious, feeling like an interloper. He stood
up.
smile was brilliant. Matt looked away, a little envious, feeling like an interloper. He stood
up.
“I’ve got to go. I offered to buy Diana Oleander a drink. Seems like the
least I could do, considering she saved our lives.”
least I could do, considering she saved our lives.”
“She’s a bright young lady. With the advantage that she doesn’t crew for
you,” David Ray added. Generational crews could be even pickier than the military about
avoiding romance in the workplace, particularly because space was such a dangerous
workplace.
you,” David Ray added. Generational crews could be even pickier than the military about
avoiding romance in the workplace, particularly because space was such a dangerous
workplace.
“Beautiful too.” Lee’s eyes glinted wickedly as she watched Matt.
“Lovely oval eyes and chestnut hair. With a complexion that makes us old ladies envious, don’t
you think?”
“Lovely oval eyes and chestnut hair. With a complexion that makes us old ladies envious, don’t
you think?”
“Er—yes. S’pose so. Better get going.” Matt retreated from the
matchmaking environment as fast as he could.
matchmaking environment as fast as he could.
When he was alone in the corridor, he ran his fingers through his short
hair, remembering how Lieutenant Oleander had taken pity and befriended him. He’d been the only
civilian on the
Bright Crescent
, unwelcome, and worried about Ari.
Diana Oleander had made his tense sojourn pass more easily.
hair, remembering how Lieutenant Oleander had taken pity and befriended him. He’d been the only
civilian on the
Bright Crescent
, unwelcome, and worried about Ari.
Diana Oleander had made his tense sojourn pass more easily.
I must have crashed
. Ariane woke up in a bed
in the
Pilgrimage
’s clinic. To her right, she saw the shelter area,
where they’d put bunks for the survivors who straggled in to get protection from the radiation.
She closed her eyes.
. Ariane woke up in a bed
in the
Pilgrimage
’s clinic. To her right, she saw the shelter area,
where they’d put bunks for the survivors who straggled in to get protection from the radiation.
She closed her eyes.
“Major Kedros?”
She yawned and turned her head, running her fingers through her hair. A
staff sergeant in green ops coveralls, with medical insignia, stood in the doorway.
staff sergeant in green ops coveralls, with medical insignia, stood in the doorway.
“I’m not ‘Major,’ right now.”
“Yes, you are.” The sergeant smiled slightly and handed her a slate.
“Colonel Edones put you on active-duty orders. I’ll need your signature before I can release
you from medical observation.”
“Colonel Edones put you on active-duty orders. I’ll need your signature before I can release
you from medical observation.”
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