The Praetorian had been picking its way through the asteroid belt for over an hour. Gavin had hoped that the density of the field would provide them with enough cover to make a safe exit into slipspace, but instead Gavin kept picking up the Gladius following right after. Every time he felt safe, it would suddenly loom in the distance. It was quickly becoming obvious that they would have to fight their way free, and no fake transmission would help them out this time. Gavin’s mood soured even further as he gave thought to exactly how the Gladius was tracking them.
“Shit,” he growled finally.
“What is it?” Kella asked from her seat at the commander’s station.
“They aren’t as stupid as I’d hoped. They’re still following us. This is probably going to get ugly.”
“We can’t just make a break from behind one of the larger asteroids?” Kella asked worriedly.
“No,” Gavin said angrily. “They’re tracking this ship. It’s the only thing that makes sense. I don’t how they’re doing it as I’m not reading any signals at all coming from us. They’ve been doing it since damned Dulabar. That’s how they found us at Tal Rho’an, and that’s how they’re following us now.”
“What can we do about it?” Kella asked gently, trying not to provoke Gavin’s recently acquired anger.
“Normally, I’d say someone would need to do a visual search of the outside hull. But that’s just not possible. Not in these conditions. We just can’t seem to do anything!”
“I could do it with my Scythe,” Kella said, but immediately remembered her favorite mecha was a heap of broken junk littering the upper landing bay. “At least, I could if I had it,” she amended quietly.
“I’m sorry,” Gavin said suddenly.
“For what?” Kella asked, quite taken off guard.
“For everything,” he began despondently. “I’m sorry for bringing you into this mess which seems to be in some sort of doom spiral; for getting you involved in this mad dash for my own selfish desires, and…” he paused, searching for words, “and for wrecking your machine. I should never have let you back in at Dulabar. It would have been better for you. I’m sorry.”
“Gavin…” Kella said in surprise. She hadn’t known he had been blaming himself for everything, and carrying that burden alone. A quiet stillness filled the bridge as neither said anything. The gentle mechanical whirring of Gavin’s remote, and Kella’s soft breathing became loud in the silence, and for some reason, Kella found that it bugged her. “You’re a real idiot, you know that?”
“What?” Gavin said, hurt, the remote spinning around to look at her.
“It’s nobody’s fault really, or it’s both of ours. We each have our own problems, and I decided after Dulabar, that yours could come before mine. Mine can keep. You,” she paused, deciding how to best phrase what she was trying to say. “You need help much more than I do,” she finished.
“Kella,” Gavin started.
“I already told you,” she said, finding herself getting angry at Gavin’s chivalry but not knowing why. “I’m going to help you get your body back. Then this plane is mine. That deal still stands. And I don’t want to hear any more bullshit about how I would’ve been safer left back on Dulabar. I would’ve tracked you down myself, and you know it.”
“What about the Mercs…” Gavin protested, trying to change tactics.
“Screw them!” Kella shouted. “I was only with them because it was convenient. It’s not like they were family or anything sentimental like that! They were an ends to a means, that’s all!”
The remote stared at her strangely, all traces of anger gone from Gavin’s voice, replaced with remorse. “But you gave up so much…”
Again, Kella cut him off. “Enough! Look, just concentrate on the damned asteroids! You just worry about what you can do in the here and now, not the fekkin’ ‘what-ifs’. I’m going to go find a spacesuit or something so we can kill the bug riding our ass, ok?” She didn’t wait for any response and marched from the bridge. The remote watched her go. It heaved a mechanical sigh and turned back to the helm station.
Kella tromped from the spine passage into the common room, complaining the entire way. “That big idiot,” she groused. “Why does he have to be like that? I can take care of myself. I know what I’m doing, damn it.” She fell heavily into a plush lounge chair and leaned backwards, staring at the ceiling. “It’s him he needs to worry about, not me.”
She sat there for a time, trying to make herself calm down, but found the more she thought about it, the more it agitated her. She got up in a huff and started in on the storage closet as if it were worthy of her wrath. She was looking for the environment suits, but was only vaguely aware of her actions. She could ask Gavin for their location, but the thought of talking to the moron just turned her stomach. Finally finished ripping out the innards of the innocent storage locker, she turned to head towards the landing bay. There was a choice of bays, but she decided to head for the lower bay. The thought of her beloved Scythe lying in pieces in the upper landing bay was more than she could take at the moment.
She checked every storage compartment between the lounge and the lower levels, and came up empty. Finally, she found herself checking the storage areas on the lowest level. The lower commons was just as empty as the upper lounge and her frustration was enough that she slammed the storage door closed, breaking the handle. She leaned against the wall and let out an aggravated sigh.
“Hello? Jailor?” The voice was coming from the brig down the hall. Kella had forgotten that the three Military people were in there. She was at a loss with what to do with the trio. It wasn’t like she could just space them, although she wanted to. Gavin had strictly forbidden it. He had said such actions separated men from the beasts. Kella really didn’t believe that junk, and instead saw it from a perspective of possibilities. With them in prison, there was always a chance that they could escape and capture the ship, however unlikely. She didn’t like things nagging at the back of her mind.
“We’re thirsty! We could use some water!” the man called Hughes called again from the brig holding cell. He was shouting loudly in order to be heard.
“Damn it, anyway,” Kella grumbled. She walked down the hall and to the right where the three Military men had been left. Hughes was leaning against the transparent metal cell door, stripped to his skivvies. Kella had made certain that the three men were unarmed and concealing nothing. She knew the tricks, and had searched for them all. He didn’t blush or even react when she walked into the room.
“What do you want?” she asked shortly.
“Water, for one,” Hughes said.
“And?” Kella asked putting her hand on her hip.
“Freedom would be nice,” Hughes replied.
“I don’t have time for this,” Kella said shaking her head and walking off.
“This can’t last forever,” Hughes called to her. Kella paused at the entrance to the hall. “Eventually, my crew will overtake and capture this ship again, and you and your friend will be executed. Quietly, of course.”
“Nothing flashy? Like I believe that,” Kella retorted, coming back around.
“You have no idea of the severity of the mess you are in,” Hughes implored. “The people that sent me will stop at nothing to get this plane back. I’ll hand it to you, you have skill. But that will only take you so far.”
“And so what? Then I die in a big flashy fight to the finish. Otherwise, I’m gonna be executed. Either my way, or your way. I’ll prefer to go out my own way, thank you.”
Hughes shook his head. “Those aren’t your only choices.”
“Oh right, let me guess, in exchange for your release, you’ll see me to safety?”
“Yes!” Hughes said, standing up from the wall.
“How old do you think I am?” Kella said coldly. “I wasn’t born yesterday, idiot. If I let you out, you’ll just kill me, and then take the ship. Yeah, that’s a real alternative.”
Hughes let out a disappointed sigh and leaned back against the wall, tucking his hands under his armpits. “Why are you so keen on keeping this ship? What exactly do you hope to accomplish with it?”
Kella didn’t answer. She didn’t know how to answer. She knew what she had originally planned to accomplish, but things had changed since then. There was little hope that Tenner would welcome her back after botching the job as badly as she did. There was little hope she’d find another mercenary band either once her reputation spread. Mercs were a superstitious lot, and reputation was everything. One bad job would end your career as quickly as death.
“I don’t know anymore,” she said finally, trying to hold her voice steady against her internal demons.
“Then, for the love of the stars, let me help you. I guarantee your life. I’ll drop you off on in a shuttle in whichever system you want. You have my solemn word,” Hughes said sincerely.
“Sir,” one of the men said from behind Hughes in alarm.
“Silence,” Hughes snapped. “I am in command of this mission, and that is all you need remember.”
“Yes, sir,” the man said, disgruntled.
“That little speech didn’t help your cause, you know,” Kella said, still not looking at Hughes.
“No, but my offer is genuine. I swear on everything I hold dear.”
“I’m sorry, but no,” Kella said.
“Why?” Hughes asked regretfully.
“Because,” Kella said quietly, although she was not sure where her resolve was coming from. It frightened her. “I have something that I need to do.”
“What is that?” Hughes asked.
“I have to help my friend.”
“Your comrade? The man stuck in the computer?”
“How did you…?” Kella said turning around to stare at Hughes suspiciously.
“I had my suspicions. I was handed certain pieces of information and protocols that didn’t make sense. He’s the ship’s AI Core, isn’t he?”
Kella said nothing, simply staring at the Military man who stared solemnly back at her. There was something in the man’s eyes. He wasn’t bluffing, he wasn’t lying. This wasn’t some ploy to get her to release him. He genuinely wanted to know.
“I felt something was off when we first fought back on Dulabar. It was, what was his name – Gavin? It was him at the Praetorian’s controls, wasn’t it? His reactions were just too fast. I had originally thought an entire team of people were squaring off against me, but my debriefing said at most two or three. At the time, it didn’t add up for me. Now it does. You were the mercenary mecha pilot, weren’t you?”
Kella said nothing, but swallowed. That simple motion told Hughes everything. He nodded to himself and slid down the wall next to the door to take a seat on the floor. “I can’t guess as to how that man got himself stuck as the ship’s Core. I know it wasn’t done during the theft, that’s for certain. It’s a miracle, really.”
“Miracle? For who?” Kella asked sourly. “For Gavin or your vaunted Military?”
“You hate the Military, don’t you?”
“Of course I do! Most average people hate it! It does nothing for the poor, or the weak! It was a stop-gap government that was never meant to exist after the Expansion Wars! That was centuries ago! Everyone knows that!”
“I see,” Hughes said, nodding again.
“We’re done,” Kella said disgustedly, walking down the hall.
“Hey!” Hughes called suddenly, causing Kella to stop. “What you’re doing, for your friend I mean,” he said standing back up and leaning against the door so he could barely see her. “It’s commendable.”
“I can sleep well now that I know you think so,” Kella said bitingly and left the brig. Hughes slid back down the wall.
“We’re going to have to report this to command, sir,” one of the troopers said from the other cell.
“I’m aware, mister,” Hughes said, dismissing the man. “I’m all too aware.”
Kella eventually found a spacesuit in the lower landing bay, and spent a considerable amount of time getting the damned thing on. The Military had a penchant for overdesigning things. It also didn’t help that Kella was completely distracted by her conversation with Hughes. The man just didn’t act like she’d expect. He had the appearance and demeanor of a dyed-in-the-wool career Military man, but everything he said and did contrasted that. She almost had the suspicion that, if given the chance, Hughes would help them. She shook her head, dismissing the thought. That’s what he wanted her to think. She wouldn’t be so foolish.
“Gavin,” she called over the suit’s vox channel as she sealed the utility helmet closed. “I’m ready for EVA. Pressurize the airlock.”
“Done,” Gavin came back quickly.
Kella rotated the large red airlock release and the large door hissed open. She entered the large room beyond and hit the large green button on the other side. The door cycled closed and hissed as it sealed shut. She then opened the cover on the large red button next to it and pressed the button. Lights began flashing and alarm claxons sounded indicating the airlock was venting oxygen, matching the environment to the vacuum outside. As the air exited the room, the claxons became fainter and fainter until nothing was left but deafening silence. Kella’s breathing was loud in her ears. She always hated the horrid silence of vacuum.
She began to walk forward, easily dealing with the extra effort required to pry the magnetic boots from the floor plating. The outer hull door cycled open in eerie silence, and she came face to face with the endless void of space. Large asteroids floated by silently, looking much closer than they actually were. The Praetorian employed powerful barrier shields to keep most small projectiles away. Kella was relatively safe walking out into an environment that would normally be suicide. She could see the shower of rocks sloughing away from the invisible shields as the Praetorian glided along. It almost looked like murky water in the way the rocks behaved and coalesced. It was quite pretty, she thought.
“Ok Kella,” Gavin said, cutting in on over the vox. “I think the tracker is near the tail fans. You’ll need to walk along the hull towards the back. I hope you have a strong stomach,” he said, trying to make a joke. She realized he was trying to break the ice that had formed between them.
“Stronger than yours,” she said, granting him a reprieve as she connected her safety line to the dedicated connector on the outer hull.
“Your probably right,” he chuckled. “You’re looking for something small, shiny, and totally doesn’t belong.”
“Right,” she said as she swung over the edge in a controlled fall. Her world turned upside down, and her stomach protested as she found herself walking upside down along the great belly of the beast. “Just do me a favor and don’t hit any rocks.”
“You got it,” he said, almost too happily. “Call me if you need me.”
“Will do,” she said, and started looking for the tracker. Her oxygen gauge read four hours. She told herself she’d find the little bugger and already be inside enjoying a warm shower by time that limit was up. She picked up her pace; she had a lot of ground to cover.
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