On a Pale Ship Read online

  "Good to see you, Mr. Gray," Kane said, greeting Luc as he entered from the main airlock.

  "I thought I gave you the weekend off," Luc said wearily.

  "A package arrived for you a couple of hours ago. I left it on your bed," Kane said, eyeing the depleted carton of beer under his arm. "Do you wish refreshments?"

  "No. I think I'll head straight to bed. If Berta Coffman calls, wake me no matter what," Luc said.

  "Of course, sir. Do you expect we'll be departing soon?"

  "I don't know," Luc said. "Maybe."

  "I'll inform the team that we're on an elevated status. Natalia Lizst loaded a bundle of crates earlier this evening. She said you didn't need to be bothered, but it seems the sort of information you would find interesting."

  Luc smiled. Tali had agreed to join the team, but hadn't been clear on what that meant. "That's good news, Mr. Rees."

  Kane smiled politely. "Yes. I believe it is. Will Berta Coffman also be joining us?"

  "I honestly don't know."

  "Very well, sir. I'll plan supplies accordingly," he said. "Will there be anything else?"

  "Thank you, Kane," Luc said, still not comfortable with the relationship.

  Entering his stateroom, Luc immediately spied the plain package on his bed, roughly the size of a briefcase. He peeled back the transport protective paper and discarded it into the reclaimer bin. Unsurprisingly, it was a briefcase. Placing thumbs onto the scanning pads, the small case unlocked and Luc flipped open the lid. Inside was an old-fashioned-looking communication device, complete with a headset and microphone. Centered in the base was a four-pronged setting that sat empty. Next to the setting was a crystal embedded into the soft lining of the case. The purpose of the device seemed obvious, so Luc pulled on the headset and moved the crystal to the pronged setting.

  Hearing nothing through the headset, he looked for a button or some sort of adjustment. After a few minutes of fiddling, he was startled by a voice.

  "Luc, is that you?" Dorian's voice sounded like she was speaking from a tube.

  "Dorian? What is this? Where are you?"

  "Quantum crystal comm device," she said. "I meant to send it along with you, but you left before I expected. How are things going with Natalia and Berta?"

  "I think they're in." Luc’s eye caught the scarf Dorian had sent wrapped around the bokken and he picked it up so he could smell her perfume while they talked. "Tali has been kicking our asses in the simulations. Bit's … well … you've met her, I assume. She's something."

  "You might not believe it, but Jimmy has a soft spot for her," Dorian said. "I'd never have believed it if I hadn't seen it."

  "It's so good to hear your voice," Luc said. "I wish you were here in my bed."

  "That does sound lovely," Dorian answered, wistfully. "Tell me, are you any closer? We're still drawing blanks here."

  "Is this secure?"

  "It is as secure as the room in which you speak. There's a second device in the padding. Pull it out and push the button on the top. It will obscure our conversation from anyone listening."

  Luc located the device, the size of his thumb and set it on the table next to his bed, activating it. His ears popped as the blue light atop illuminated.

  "We're secure," Luc said. "Bit thinks she has a line on collusion between some higher-ups in Nuage and Leonidovich. If she's right, this whole thing is related."

  "Step me through it," she said.

  Luc explained the conversation he'd had with Bit.

  "I'm spending money like it's on fire," Luc said.

  "Money can be replaced. Do you feel like you're making progress?"

  "We'll see how Bit's spy works out. There's a good chance I'm going to take a first-hand look at what’s happening on Cauldron again. I'd like a little more time to talk with that trader Yasha."

  "Yakov Maximovich shows up on our radar quite a bit too," Dorian said. "There's been a UCN warrant issued for him. You need to be careful, Luc. The UCN would be thrilled to have him captured, but they won't set foot on Grünholz. They're sworn to respect the sovereignty of independent nations unless crimes against humanity are in play."

  "You mean like the lab over Fariza?"

  "Like that, yes," Dorian said. "Even with that, the Fariza incursion will be litigated for decades."

  "I'd like to cast my vote as 'in favor,'" Luc said.

  Dorian's chuckle made Luc smile. In his mind's eye, he could see her face, the lines turning into a smile and her eyes lighting up.

  "Can you get Berta to share that recording of the conversation between Breshev and Marsh with me? I'd like to get it introduced as evidence."

  "I'll ask, but I think she wants to keep her methodology hidden."

  "She's hacked into something," Dorian said. "I would love to know what she's broken."

  "She knows about your real age," Luc said.

  "I am surprised she shared that with you," Dorian said. "She must have a romantic interest in you to have placed herself at risk. I'm not sure which I find more annoying."

  A sharp knock at Luc's door startled him and he stood from where he'd been sitting on the side of the bed.

  "Hold on. Someone's at the door," Luc said. "Don't go anywhere, I'll be right back." He laid the headset on the bed, punched off the privacy field, crossed the room and opened the door.

  "I found them." Bit's face was flushed and tears ran down her face.

  Luc grabbed her arm and led her to the end of the bed where he helped her sit. Kane followed, handing her a white washcloth.

  "Slow down, Bit," Luc said. "Where did you find them?"

  "Cauldron. They're all there: kids, Katriona, Marek. My guy … he got caught. The bastards left the feed on so I could watch. They're torturing him. We have to go. Now. They're killing him."

  "We need you to come with us, Bit," Luc said, kneeling in front of the distraught woman. "Can you travel?"

  "My stuff. I don't know. It's horrible. They're cutting him," she said, not making much sense.

  "Are you watching this now?"

  "I have to. It was Leonidovich himself. He said they'd kill him if I didn't watch."

  "Did this contact give up your name?" Luc asked.

  "We don't know names," she said. "But I can't leave him."

  Luc reached up and placed a finger on her earwig, causing the thin arm that ran along her cheek to retract. The device fell from her ear into the palm of his hand. "Stop. Don't let that sadistic bastard win," Luc said and turned to Kane. "Maybe something to help calm her?"

  "I'm no damn panty-waist to be handled," Bit said, her face turning angry. "I can handle this myself. Don't treat me like a child."

  "Good," Luc said. "Then stop acting like a child. We paid a man a lot of money to get intel for us. He took a risk and is paying the price. That's on us. We put that in motion. The thing is we have an opportunity here and I need you to focus. If we go now, we have a chance of catching them and putting an end to this. Can you do that?"

  "Damn skippy, I can." Bit's voice quavered as she spoke.

  Luc worked hard not to grin at the fierce look of determination that crossed the woman's face as she stood with fists clenched at her sides.

  "Kane, call the crew. We leave in an hour. Tell Gob he's authorized to use whatever force necessary to retrieve Jimmy. That should put him in a good mood."

  "I'll do just that," Kane said, leading Bit from the room.

  Luc picked up the headset and punched the privacy field again. "You catch that?"

  "What I caught is that you have backed Marek Alexander into a corner and you will now rush to confront him."

  "Wasn't that the plan?"

  "It would have been better if he hadn't known we were coming," Dorian said.

  Chapter 27

  Lines are Drawn

  System: Tipperary, Planet: Grünholz, City: Cauldron

  "I hope you are a better warrior than interrogator," Khan Eduard Leonidovich said with disinterest. "You have killed him."


  "I had to end it. Your transmission was unwise," Breshev Festove said. "The UCN could use that as grounds for invasion. At a minimum, they might find some manner to identify me. I am of no use to the Khanate if I am outed. Admiral Marsh already suspects my involvement."

  "Don't be stupid. The UCN is not permitted to interfere in matters of state. The torturing of a spy does not rise to the level of 'crimes against humanity.' If it were so, they would have to look no further than the blood on their own member nation's hands," Leonidovich said. "As for your Admiral Marsh, that is a problem of your own making. You had assured me you would take her position three seasons past."

  "The bigger issue is that Dorian Anino knows where we are and she will come," Marek argued.

  "Yes. It is not lost on me that you have brought your trouble to my kingdom."

  "I'm giving you a chance to have the greatest kingdom in the system," Marek said. "Your men will be giants among men. Gods."

  "Pretty words. Tell me, beautiful Katriona, do you fear this invasion Marek Alexander speaks of?" Leonidovich asked. For the entire interrogation, Katriona had stood next to Zoya as they wordlessly witnessed the systematic torture.

  "I welcome combat," Katriona said simply.

  "A beautiful woman of few words is to be treasured," Leonidovich said, nodding his head. "And you, Doctor Zoya, tell me, how many of my men have you placed in your magical tanks?"

  "We need access to better replicator technology. The tanks we manufactured are imprecise," Zoya stammered, avoiding eye contact.

  "I see you have learned proper respect. It is sometimes a difficult lesson for proud women," Leonidovich said, his accent thickening as he became agitated. "I hope I do not need teach another lesson. You will answer."

  "Please, no, Khan Leonidovich," Zoya answered. "Of the population that volunteered, sixty-two free men were deemed suitable. As I have previously reported, that is a significant statistical anomaly. It would have been significant to find two."

  Leonidovich smiled. "I believe you are patronizing me, but the strength of Cauldron's men is well known, so I will allow it. Do not try my patience further. How many soldiers?"

  "Forty-one survived," Zoya said. "Of those, three are questionable."

  "You killed twenty-one of my best men?" Leonidovich asked, his voice rising.

  "There were complications," she answered, her head sinking further toward the floor. "Of those forty-one, only thirty-eight have recovered."

  "Seize the lot of them!" Leonidovich said to his guard.

  Marek had been expecting trouble. The petty tyrant had risen to power through a combination of luck and savagery. Leonidovich’s patience for detail was as limited as his capacity to recognize the danger he'd placed himself in. He had allowed Marek into his presence with only eight of his royal guard. They were standing out of arm's reach, four on each side, lined up as if they were candlesticks in a wedding.

  Marek stepped forward, pulled the knife from the spy's crumpled body, and flicked it at the lead soldier. The blur that was Katriona launched into action. She vaulted to the opposite side of the room, toward the guards Marek hadn’t attacked. Disorganized gunfire followed as the remaining guards attempted to adjust to the rapidly changing situation.

  Diving forward, Marek executed a shoulder roll and came up directly in front of his group of guards. Grabbing the first man’s rifle stock, he turned both the man and the gun against the remaining guards. The group stood dumbfounded, initially unwilling to shoot at one of their own. Finally realizing their peril, they tried to return fire, but by that time it was too late. Marek’s group was down. He turned and delivered a punishing headbutt to the bridge of his captive’s nose, wrenching the gun free at the same time.

  From the corner of his eye, Marek watched Katriona's small form leap atop a guard, grab his helmeted head and violently twist with considerable strength. The sound of bones snapping pushed him back into the moment.

  Marek's side burned as two blaster rounds found their home in the armor beneath his clothing. The shots sent him sprawling. Rolling to a knee, he ignored the burning pain in his side and chest and aimed his rifle at the remaining guard, killing him with a single shot to the head. Marek’s HUD lit up, warning him that a weapon was leveled at his head. He dove right, taking the shot in his shoulder. Once again, burning pain threatened to disable him, but he pushed through, knowing that to let the injury make him an easy target would be his end.

  "You will cede," he heard Katriona say.

  Gathering his feet, Marek searched the room for the shooter. Katriona was the only one moving. She had attacked Leonidovich and was tying him up by wrapping her legs around him: one beneath an arm, the other around his neck, her ankles locked over his chest. He thrashed as she squeezed his neck.

  "I'd do as she says. Resisting only gets her more excited," Marek said, working to keep the pain from his voice as he pulled a pistol from the nearest guard's holster.

  Groaning caught his attention. Moving toward the injured, he fired a single shot into the heads of any that moved. Upon completion of his task, he turned back to Leonidovich, who lay quietly in front of his throne, his eyes following Marek.

  "You will not get away with this," Leonidovich rasped, the back of Katriona's knee making it nearly impossible to speak.

  "You were wise not to get involved," Marek said, approaching Nuage's Commander Breshev, who still sat in his chair. "I don't see your value nearly as much as Leon does."

  Breshev nodded. "We're all friends here, aren't we?"

  "You see, Leon? Festove gets it. We're all friends," Marek said. "Katriona, be a dear and release Leon."

  Katriona unhooked her ankles and swung her legs over her head, pushing her hands against the ground and coming to a standing position. Leonidovich's hand reached for the wound in his side, finding that his own knife had been used against him. Blood seeped from beneath his tunic as he pulled the knife out.

  "She stuck me," he said, his voice weak. The knife fell from his blood-slicked hands and clattered on the stone floor.

  "Be a good lad, would you? Say the word if you'd like Zoya to get you sewed back up," Marek said, momentarily distracted by one last guard who'd moved and subsequently been shot in the head.

  "I'll watch you torn to pieces," Leonidovich growled.

  "You are losing blood at an alarming rate. I don't think you'll be watching much of anything," Marek answered. "I'm offering you a deal. I don't want your stinky little fief. I just need a friend who will offer shelter so we can weather the oncoming storm. Do you want to be my friend, Leon?"

  Blood foamed in Leonidovich's mouth as he gurgled.

  "I think he said yes," Marek brightened as he turned to Zoya. "By all means, we must save our king. Katriona, you'll find I locked the main doors. There are those who seek entrance. Allow them in. I'm sure my new buddy, Leon, will be ready to make a statement. It was certainly unfortunate that his own guard turned on him, right, Leon?"

  Leonidovich's eyes conveyed as much hate as a dying man's eyes could, but he nodded agreement as Zoya pulled a medical patch from the leather bag she carried and applied it to the injured khan.

  Unseen by the guards who rushed into the throne room, she held a silver, pill-sized capsule in front of the khan's face. She lifted the patch and stuffed it into the open wound. "Thirty-eight is a good number, you ignorant asshole. You're just too dumb to see it. Want to know something else? Marek planned this entire thing. He knew you'd make a play and that he and Katriona would put you down. Everything was planned, all the way down to her opening a wound in your gut."

  Leonidovich gurgled, spitting in her face.

  "We should talk about how training will work. Bad behavior will not be rewarded. In a few seconds, the capsule will open and disperse nano-bots throughout your body. If I say the word, you're dead. No second chances, no resurrection, just lights out. If I ever lose contact for more than twenty-four hours, you're dead. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

  The med patch w
as already starting to stitch him back together and he felt a small amount of strength returning. "Go to hell."

  Zoya nodded. "Understandable response from a misogynistic petty tyrant. Taking orders from a woman will be painful. You should know that I misspoke; bad behavior will be punished." The smile on her face didn't reach her eyes as Leonidovich's body seized up, his teeth locking onto his tongue while every muscle in his body contracted. "Allow me to show you how to properly teach someone. Are you ready to be civil or should I continue your training?"

  "My lord?" A large guard had approached.

  "Help me up," Leonidovich said, grabbing his stomach where the patch covered the open wound, still working to heal the deeper tissue.

  "What happened, my lord?"

  "A coup. The foreigners …" He looked to Zoya who smiled, nodding her head. He closed his eyes as his muscles trembled in response to a new wave of less-intense pain. "They stopped it."

  "What would you have us do?"

  "War comes to our gates," Leonidovich said. "Until I am well, you will do as Marek Alexander says."

  Luc awoke and looked through the narrow glass bands above his bed, the jittering starfield reminding him that they still sailed in fold-space on their way to Tipperary. Checking the time, he saw they had six hours remaining. He verified that Gob was at the helm, albeit lightly snoozing. He took advantage of the quiet moment and stepped into the private head for a shower. The change to his physique wasn't lost on him as he soaped and rinsed. Every part of him was leaner and stronger. Bruises healed overnight and even lacerations knitted back together, no longer to be seen once specialized med-patches were applied.

  "Good morning, Captain Gray," Gob said, unmoving from his semi-reclined position in one of the two pilot's chairs. Luc had thought his entry onto the bridge would go unnoticed, as his AI had reported Gob's status as asleep.

  "Has to be morning somewhere, I suppose," Luc said. "I was trying not to wake you."

  "I sleep lightly, a habit formed by sleeping near the enemy," Gob answered.