Vigilante (11 page)
“Have another Kaffi—you look like you’ve been working too hard.” She
noticed his face was pale.
noticed his face was pale.
“No, I don’t need the caffeine.” His hand shook as he carefully set down
his flash pack. He glanced up at the arrival announcement before he left.
his flash pack. He glanced up at the arrival announcement before he left.
Hal clapped her on the back and slid another beer toward her. “Frank’s
been a wet blanket ever since he stopped drinking. You haven’t finished your first beer, so
drink up.”
been a wet blanket ever since he stopped drinking. You haven’t finished your first beer, so
drink up.”
Contrary to Hal’s advice, she sipped her beers. The night blurred
anyway, filled with orders for drinks and sidesplit ting jokes that could never be related to
someone who hadn’t been there. She met people whose names she’d never remember: other crew
members of the
Golden Bull
and construction workers for the
station. She met a young Autonomous worker who’d made the mistake of getting a green skindo
right before transferring to Beta Priamos, where there weren’t any salons. Now it was
blotching, and several rounds of beer were required to remove the young woman’s pout. “Carly,
you’ll just have to learn to use a touch-up kit,” Hal advised. Everyone laughed, and then Hal
introduced her to somebody else.
anyway, filled with orders for drinks and sidesplit ting jokes that could never be related to
someone who hadn’t been there. She met people whose names she’d never remember: other crew
members of the
Golden Bull
and construction workers for the
station. She met a young Autonomous worker who’d made the mistake of getting a green skindo
right before transferring to Beta Priamos, where there weren’t any salons. Now it was
blotching, and several rounds of beer were required to remove the young woman’s pout. “Carly,
you’ll just have to learn to use a touch-up kit,” Hal advised. Everyone laughed, and then Hal
introduced her to somebody else.
She always wondered, afterward, if the stories and conversation that
accompanied the drinks had really been that good. But getting lost in the moment was what
drinking was all about; it drowned out the memories.
accompanied the drinks had really been that good. But getting lost in the moment was what
drinking was all about; it drowned out the memories.
Tahir’s guts clenched when he saw Commander Charlene Pilgrimage.
Not another woman, please
.
Not another woman, please
.
The commander tried to make sense of the small party of men she faced as
they stood inside an area that obviously held some sort of religious function for the
generational ship. There were benches that faced a niche with a statue. She read the
inscription above the niche, which referred to a St. Darius and Gaia.
they stood inside an area that obviously held some sort of religious function for the
generational ship. There were benches that faced a niche with a statue. She read the
inscription above the niche, which referred to a St. Darius and Gaia.
“You’re ahead of schedule, Captain Zabat. Where’s your pilot? Danielle,
right?” Charlene was familiar with Zabat, but hesitated when trying to remember the pilot’s
name.
right?” Charlene was familiar with Zabat, but hesitated when trying to remember the pilot’s
name.
Zabat was sweating, unable to ignore the threat of the explosives
implanted in his body. In case Zabat wanted to be a martyr, Abram had demonstrated that the
charges would take out innocent bystanders within ten feet—and the ship’s first mate ended up
being the sacrifice. Now Abram subtly herded Zabat, keeping the captains close together.
implanted in his body. In case Zabat wanted to be a martyr, Abram had demonstrated that the
charges would take out innocent bystanders within ten feet—and the ship’s first mate ended up
being the sacrifice. Now Abram subtly herded Zabat, keeping the captains close together.
“Danielle had a bad drop,” Zabat said.
She certainly had. Tahir decided the only way he was getting through
this, alive and sane, was to pretend he didn’t
know
about what he
couldn’t see. It wasn’t working, because he couldn’t get Danielle’s face out of his mind. He
hoped he wouldn’t add Charlene Pilgrimage to the faces that kept revolving in his head.
this, alive and sane, was to pretend he didn’t
know
about what he
couldn’t see. It wasn’t working, because he couldn’t get Danielle’s face out of his mind. He
hoped he wouldn’t add Charlene Pilgrimage to the faces that kept revolving in his head.
“Right now, it’s only my engineer and three passengers,” Zabat added.
“Let’s get on with the tour, Charlene.”
“Let’s get on with the tour, Charlene.”
The commander looked at Abram, who certainly showed the hard wear and
tear of a spacecraft engineer. Her eyes flitted over Tahir and Rand in a noncommittal way, but
flinched when meeting Emery’s gaze.
tear of a spacecraft engineer. Her eyes flitted over Tahir and Rand in a noncommittal way, but
flinched when meeting Emery’s gaze.
So far, everything was proceeding exactly as Emery predicted. “These
crèche-get are simplistic idiots,” he had scoffed. “And silly enough to think they have no
enemies and no need for security. They might sense something is wrong, but it’s not in their
nature to protect themselves.”
crèche-get are simplistic idiots,” he had scoffed. “And silly enough to think they have no
enemies and no need for security. They might sense something is wrong, but it’s not in their
nature to protect themselves.”
“But Abram needs them,” Tahir replied. “Isn’t it ironic that we
need
their crèches and in vitro methods, which is exactly what we
despise them for?”
need
their crèches and in vitro methods, which is exactly what we
despise them for?”
At which point, Emery scowled and turned away, stopping the
conversation. Tahir had smiled to himself, although he knew that pointing out logical
incongruities in tribal doctrine would have no effect upon Emery.
conversation. Tahir had smiled to himself, although he knew that pointing out logical
incongruities in tribal doctrine would have no effect upon Emery.
Commander Charlene, just as Emery predicted, led them through the
“chapel” and up the ladders to the control center. Abram was behind her, followed by Zabat, who
looked so ill that he might vomit on the spot. Emery and Rand followed, with Tahir bringing up
the tail end.
“chapel” and up the ladders to the control center. Abram was behind her, followed by Zabat, who
looked so ill that he might vomit on the spot. Emery and Rand followed, with Tahir bringing up
the tail end.
This was one of the critical pivot points in Abram’s plan: There were no
contingencies if they couldn’t capture the generational ship’s control center, and they needed
to do it without any warning, subsquently leaving the system through the time buoy. They’d also
like to prevent any warning going to the stations near Laomedon and Sophia II, but if that
happened, Abram could adjust his plan.
contingencies if they couldn’t capture the generational ship’s control center, and they needed
to do it without any warning, subsquently leaving the system through the time buoy. They’d also
like to prevent any warning going to the stations near Laomedon and Sophia II, but if that
happened, Abram could adjust his plan.
Last up, Tahir climbed out of the vertical airlock in time to see Abram
grab Commander Charlene’s arm and, twisting it behind her, fluidly pull a flechette pistol out
of his loose coveralls. The commander’s briefing ended in a punctuating cry. Tahir numbly drew
his weapon.
grab Commander Charlene’s arm and, twisting it behind her, fluidly pull a flechette pistol out
of his loose coveralls. The commander’s briefing ended in a punctuating cry. Tahir numbly drew
his weapon.
“Nobody move.” The concentration in Abram’s voice lashed Tahir’s nerves
and he winced, having intimate familiarity with that tone. Most of the controllers turning in
their chairs immediately froze.
and he winced, having intimate familiarity with that tone. Most of the controllers turning in
their chairs immediately froze.
Tahir saw movement from the corner of his eye and he turned, but Emery
was faster. The neck and base of the controller’s head exploded in blood.
was faster. The neck and base of the controller’s head exploded in blood.
“No!” yelled Tahir. He took two strides to reach the young man, but no
one could help him as he slumped forward and slid from his chair. Emery’s hit had been
mercifully lethal.
one could help him as he slumped forward and slid from his chair. Emery’s hit had been
mercifully lethal.
“Don’t move.” Emery threatened the controller to the left, who had
involuntarily started forward to help the unfortunate victim.
involuntarily started forward to help the unfortunate victim.
“Tahir, see what he was doing,” Abram said.
As instructed, he turned to the console and realized that the victim had
been monitoring the Minoan time buoy.
been monitoring the Minoan time buoy.
“I’m not sure,” he said.
“That’s all you can come up with, college boy, with all your expensive
education?” Emery smirked.
education?” Emery smirked.
“If you hadn’t covered the place in blood—” Tahir stopped, realizing
everyone in the center was watching them, not that they’d remember much from these first few
moments.
everyone in the center was watching them, not that they’d remember much from these first few
moments.
Abram’s face was wooden, waiting for Tahir’s response. Suppressing a
shudder, Tahir wiped gore from the panel that displayed the prompts and buttons for that
station. The smell of blood bothered him; he wasn’t as hardened as the others to
violence—
I shouldn’t be here
. Not that he was afraid to die, but
this was his fatalism speaking rather than the frothing fanaticism that Emery carried.
Emery will die for the cause and I’ll die for nothing
.
shudder, Tahir wiped gore from the panel that displayed the prompts and buttons for that
station. The smell of blood bothered him; he wasn’t as hardened as the others to
violence—
I shouldn’t be here
. Not that he was afraid to die, but
this was his fatalism speaking rather than the frothing fanaticism that Emery carried.
Emery will die for the cause and I’ll die for nothing
.
“This station talked to the time buoy,” Tahir said as steadily as he
could. “There’s not much the crew is allowed to do. I think he put it through an initialization
loop again, but I don’t know why.”
could. “There’s not much the crew is allowed to do. I think he put it through an initialization
loop again, but I don’t know why.”
Emery growled in frustration and stepped over to look at the console. He
made a show of examining the prompts and the button outlines, but Tahir knew he didn’t
understand the display. Emery whirled on the comm operator.
made a show of examining the prompts and the button outlines, but Tahir knew he didn’t
understand the display. Emery whirled on the comm operator.
“Tell us what he did!” Emery pointed his weapon into the comm
controller’s face.
controller’s face.
“I don’t know anything about the buoy,” the man babbled, near hysteria,
his face bloodless. “Hardly anyone does—we just follow the checklist.”
his face bloodless. “Hardly anyone does—we just follow the checklist.”
“It’s coming online again.” Tahir kept his voice matter-of-fact, hoping
to calm Emery. “The buoy is still in closed mode, controlled by the
Pilgrimage
.”
to calm Emery. “The buoy is still in closed mode, controlled by the
Pilgrimage
.”
Tahir relaxed. Control of the buoy was critical in
temporarily
isolating the system.
Permanent
isolation wasn’t on anyone’s mind. After all, that required destruction of a buoy. That was
beyond the realm of possibilities—unless one had a stolen TD weapon in the hold of one’s
hijacked ship. He looked up and met Abram’s eyes, which were steady and calculating. He was
always surprised, considering the crazy plans that hatched inside Abram’s head, to see signs of
rational thought. It was easier to think that a madman drove their tactics. Sadly, Abram’s plan
would work and Tahir merely hoped to mitigate casualties. Luckily, Abram needed most of these
people alive.
temporarily
isolating the system.
Permanent
isolation wasn’t on anyone’s mind. After all, that required destruction of a buoy. That was
beyond the realm of possibilities—unless one had a stolen TD weapon in the hold of one’s
hijacked ship. He looked up and met Abram’s eyes, which were steady and calculating. He was
always surprised, considering the crazy plans that hatched inside Abram’s head, to see signs of
rational thought. It was easier to think that a madman drove their tactics. Sadly, Abram’s plan
would work and Tahir merely hoped to mitigate casualties. Luckily, Abram needed most of these
people alive.
“Start shutting down the comm, Tahir. You’ll have to stall requests for
bandwidth allocation until we’ve got control of the entire ship,” Abram said.
bandwidth allocation until we’ve got control of the entire ship,” Abram said.
Tahir moved over to the comm console and noted the current allocation.
He glanced a warning at the operator, who pointedly turned away and vomited, now that his
fight-or-flight instinct was letting his senses work again. The crèche-get would all have
problems once their noses started functioning. They probably hadn’t ever smelled blood
before.
He glanced a warning at the operator, who pointedly turned away and vomited, now that his
fight-or-flight instinct was letting his senses work again. The crèche-get would all have
problems once their noses started functioning. They probably hadn’t ever smelled blood
before.
Meanwhile, Abram spoke into his own short-range comm link. “Teams two,
three, and four can proceed.”
three, and four can proceed.”
“What the hell are you doing? You don’t have the crew to run this ship
yourself.” Commander Charlene had recovered from shock; her voice had a caustic bite that
almost hid the waver. Some of the crèche-get straightened. Perhaps they were starting to think
clearly.
yourself.” Commander Charlene had recovered from shock; her voice had a caustic bite that
almost hid the waver. Some of the crèche-get straightened. Perhaps they were starting to think
clearly.
Tahir shook his head. Lucid minds were dangerous. Abram needed
cooperation and he couldn’t get it if there was coolheaded leadership. This was a problem right
out of Qesan’s writings: Either Abram would have to make an example out of the commander to
coerce the crew through fear, or he had to separate and imprison her, using her well-being as
collateral for the crew’s good behavior. Tahir knew which option his father would take. Abram
placed greater stock in fear than loyalty.
cooperation and he couldn’t get it if there was coolheaded leadership. This was a problem right
out of Qesan’s writings: Either Abram would have to make an example out of the commander to
coerce the crew through fear, or he had to separate and imprison her, using her well-being as
collateral for the crew’s good behavior. Tahir knew which option his father would take. Abram
placed greater stock in fear than loyalty.
“Go stand inside the airlock.” Abram had his weapon aimed at Commander
Charlene and made a motion with his other hand. Charlene looked confused but did what Abram
told her. She couldn’t make a quick escape and still evade the flechettes.
Charlene and made a motion with his other hand. Charlene looked confused but did what Abram
told her. She couldn’t make a quick escape and still evade the flechettes.
“Captain Zabat, please follow.”
Zabat made a small, whimpering sound and shook his head. Abram sternly
motioned again and added, “We will force you, if you lack the courage, and that will be bad for
the woman.”
motioned again and added, “We will force you, if you lack the courage, and that will be bad for
the woman.”
Sweating profusely, Zabat shuffled to where Abram pointed and stood, as
directed, facing Charlene.
directed, facing Charlene.
“Closer.” Abram reached into his pocket.
“Charlene, I’m sorry.” Zabat’s hoarse whisper to the confused woman was
audible throughout the deck. The two stood little more than three meters away from Abram,
hardly a safe range, but Abram might be deranged enough—
audible throughout the deck. The two stood little more than three meters away from Abram,
hardly a safe range, but Abram might be deranged enough—
Emery and Rand took what cover they could under the consoles, crouching
down and turning away.
down and turning away.
“Turn away and cover your ears,” Tahir said sharply and loudly, for the
crèche-get’s benefit.
crèche-get’s benefit.
He and the comm controller were as far away as possible in the circular
room, but they were also directly across from the airlock. The controller whose name tag read
JUSTIN exchanged a quick glance with Tahir. Justin’s eyes were glazed with indecision and fear,
but he followed Tahir’s lead in turning away, hunkering down, and covering his ears.
room, but they were also directly across from the airlock. The controller whose name tag read
JUSTIN exchanged a quick glance with Tahir. Justin’s eyes were glazed with indecision and fear,
but he followed Tahir’s lead in turning away, hunkering down, and covering his ears.
Tahir heard a thump, then felt a slight concussive force and hard
pellets of something hit him. He looked down and saw bits of gore interspersed with tiny
smoking balls from the many incendiary implants in Zabat. They quickly burned out and turned
into dark specks, as designed, without enough smoke to trigger the alarms. The sharp smell it
left behind was faint but unique. Behind him, there were sharp screams of fear, pain, and
horror.
pellets of something hit him. He looked down and saw bits of gore interspersed with tiny
smoking balls from the many incendiary implants in Zabat. They quickly burned out and turned
into dark specks, as designed, without enough smoke to trigger the alarms. The sharp smell it
left behind was faint but unique. Behind him, there were sharp screams of fear, pain, and
horror.
Surveying the center, Tahir was unsurprised to see Abram whole and safe,
although he would have tiny scars from the incendiary balls that had hit his face and hands.
Perhaps insanity truly protected him. Abram’s front was a mess of gore, although not as bad as
the airlock, which had taken the brunt of the exploding bodies. There was no indication that
Zabat had even existed, but Tahir could see Charlene’s body. The ship itself had suffered no
damage. Two of the controllers were weeping, and others were still in shock. Those gagging and
covering their mouths and noses were recovering the quickest.
although he would have tiny scars from the incendiary balls that had hit his face and hands.
Perhaps insanity truly protected him. Abram’s front was a mess of gore, although not as bad as
the airlock, which had taken the brunt of the exploding bodies. There was no indication that
Zabat had even existed, but Tahir could see Charlene’s body. The ship itself had suffered no
damage. Two of the controllers were weeping, and others were still in shock. Those gagging and
covering their mouths and noses were recovering the quickest.
Abram listened to messages played by his ear bug. He nodded, his eyes
distant, seemingly removed from the catastrophe.
distant, seemingly removed from the catastrophe.
“My teams now command your support and engineering centers,” Abram said,
motioning to the woman at the environmental monitor. “Call for cleanup. All of you will be
safe, provided you cooperate with our requests.”
motioning to the woman at the environmental monitor. “Call for cleanup. All of you will be
safe, provided you cooperate with our requests.”
Abram’s voice was mild; he might have been talking about the weather or
the local food. The environmental controller stared at him in confusion. When Abram frowned,
she put through the call in a tight and wavering voice.
the local food. The environmental controller stared at him in confusion. When Abram frowned,
she put through the call in a tight and wavering voice.
“We have your two other captains in custody, so be on your best
behavior.” Abram’s voice almost purred with satisfaction and Tahir knew why. By executing
Charlene, yet keeping the other two captains as hostages, Abram had satisfied several
instructions in Qesan’s writings.
behavior.” Abram’s voice almost purred with satisfaction and Tahir knew why. By executing
Charlene, yet keeping the other two captains as hostages, Abram had satisfied several
instructions in Qesan’s writings.
Abram walked over to Tahir and the comm controller, wearing the gore on
his front like a badge. The controller kept his eyes on his console.
his front like a badge. The controller kept his eyes on his console.
“It’s time to stop all communication between this ship and the outside.
Do it in a way that won’t alarm anyone,” Abram said.
Do it in a way that won’t alarm anyone,” Abram said.
Tahir nodded. Most of the seven hundred people on the
Pilgrimage III
were still ignorant of the takeover. Abram was commandeering
major control centers and systematically containing the secondary work areas. Then he would
widen his attention across the entire G-145 system and find a suitable ship to modify for
carrying the TD weapon.
Pilgrimage III
were still ignorant of the takeover. Abram was commandeering
major control centers and systematically containing the secondary work areas. Then he would
widen his attention across the entire G-145 system and find a suitable ship to modify for
carrying the TD weapon.
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