Winter Dread, page 27
The view changed on the bridge, and I could see what was ahead. “It is a trap,” I said. “There’s a dreadnought out here.”
“Can you see the name?” Hiroto asked.
“I’m trying,” I said. “Why?”
“I’ve been tracking some of the larger clans that run the area. If this is who it could be, we really need to stay away.”
I focussed in, and there was an ID on the side of the ship. I barely could read it, then it flickered and popped. “It’s the Praetor,” I said. “Is that who we need to avoid?”
“Yeah,” Hiroto said. “Get us as much information as you can, what they have, what they can do, are willing to do. I’d love to take them out, but I don’t think it’s possible. Not with just us.”
“The Imperator is good, but yeah, not quite backup against a dreadnought.”
“No.” I focussed in again. “I’m seeing something different here. It’s telling me they’re a class seven?”
“That’s pretty good.” I felt Hiroto squeeze my shoulders. “You know what the Razor is?”
“No, I’d never checked her stats.”
“Class three.” I could almost sense the pride from him.
“The Cristanna?”
“Class one, of course!”
“Okay, so I have an idea how big and deadly this thing is then. What would it take to level a class seven?”
“A good fleet of battleships, fighters, cruisers, more.”
“Am not sure we’re going to get around meeting them just yet,” I said, coming around from kenosi and looking to Jai. “It’s the pirate clan leader for this area, it seems. We stay on the course they’re plotting for us, they’re herding us to where we can be taken out by their dreadnought easily. But if we try to go in another direction, we can avoid that at least, give us more time to deploy.”
“Take as many detours as we can, Tyto,” Jai said. “Every direction, turn. We need that time. So does the Imperator.”
“Can we jump?” I asked.
“We’ve been storing up kenosi. We always have enough to do it, but it’s not something I know they’re aware of.”
“Am sure everyone is trying,” Tyto added.
“It’s going to be something they’re not going to get the hang of without the right formulas.” I tapped my screen, and Hiroto unchecked his boots and moved back to his seat.
“You mean until they capture something one of ours,” Tyto said.
I nodded. “Yeah, we’re plotting a course back to the Imperator. After we launch that catcher out into the wilds. We need to drop it when they’re not watching, so we’ll do it as we turn and rush them. Got it.”
It would mean we’d have to make a pass at the chasing ships. Ugh, yeah, there was no other way around it. “Plotting course to fight the chasing ships,” I added.
“Kyle?” Jai coughed. “How do we go from running one small mission, to taking on enemy ships, running to defend someone again because they’re on a rescue, and still complete ours?”
I looked to my friends, hoping one of them would volunteer an answer for him. There was no such luck. “Um, because it’s me?”
“Exactly,” he said. “You’re unbelievable.” He rolled his eyes, then tapped his screen. “General quarters, all fighters to launch pads.”
“Where are we going to drop?” Tyto asked.
“Abi, can you drop in five?” I comm’d for her.
“It’s ready to go, you just let me know when. Then I’m right in that cockpit and ready to fight.”
“Quite the crew you have here.” I smiled at Jai.
“Waiting on your call, Kyle.”
We fast approached the point where we had to turn back, or the dreadnought would be in range to start pursuit.
“Almost there,” I said. Then I called it. “Now.”
We all watched as the catcher was jettisoned back out into space as we turned tail and ran in the opposite direction, straight for the battleship.
Even though they weren’t expecting us to do it, it was good to hear Jai. “Launch.”
The fighters were shot out into space and then sped towards the enemy ship. Could we hit them and slide on by? We were about to find out.
“We’re coming into fire upon their fighters.” Abi’s voice came through.
The door to the bridge slid open, and someone almost collapsed onto the deck. I was up and trying to get them as they caught their breath. I had no idea who it was. Then Sadie appeared beside me, trying her best to help the denti.
“What the hell, doctor? We’re in the middle of battle here.”
“I’m sorry, they just got away from me. I never thought—”
“How did they even get up here?”
“I have no idea.”
“Fret way ham hehe,” the young and naked man said. I didn’t understand the language at all.
“I have no clue,” I said to Jai.
“Fret way ham hehe,” he said again, reaching up to me.
Wait, Asht said. I think I have it.
“Fret way ham hehe,” he repeated, again and again.
Then I heard the words turn, I understood those more than anything. “It is still a trap—run!”
I could see Sadie was about to inject him with something, probably knock him out totally. I reached for her and stopped her. “Wait, let him talk.”
“We saw them coming. Dreadnought. We tried to run. . . it’s a ploy. They have others waiting. Class two.”
It just took a slightly different turn. “Jai, call the fighters back. We have to jump.”
His face dropped. “What?”
“Get them back! We’re leaving. Now!”
I left the naked man and rushed back to my seat, hearing as Jai called the fighters back the best he could.
“Not. Fast. Enough,” the naked man whined. I looked to him and then saw the future flash before me. The dreadnought was on us in minutes. How had I not seen they were this close before? Fuck.
Within seconds, I’d overridden the comms. “Kyle, the fuck you doing?” Jai questioned.
I didn’t have time. I flicked for the fighter’s comms. Found the one I wanted and said. simply. “Abi, you trust me?”
“Of course.”
“Don’t give in.” I cursed myself. “We are not leaving you.”
I punched for a jump. As the flash of kenosi disorientated almost everyone on the bridge, I fought to keep myself from losing consciousness.
YOU HAVE ABANDONED YOUR FIGHTERS
YOU HAVE FAILED YOUR FRIENDS
PENALTIES WILL BE SEVERE
“Fuck!” Jai’s voice was terse.
I knew that pain. He hated me doing things like this. If it meant we’d all survive because of it, I had to.
Our next programmed destination had been for the Imperator, and I could see the next little bits of the future coming through to me as we were mid-jump.
We’d gone far; our fighters couldn’t get back, and the dreadnoughts wouldn’t be able to follow us though. At least not yet. We hadn’t wanted to fight, but a trap—we’d not considered how used to taking everything they wanted they were. Whatever we were going into here was going to still be a fight.
Focussing on the screens before me, I saw space open up, and I glanced at Tyto.
He heaved, but his fingers were already on the keys. “Evasive!” he shouted, and I knew the ship stretched to the max as we tried to move.
“General?!” the voice of Ivanov came through. “What are you doing back?”
“Open fire. Target any enemy fighters, and the station’s defences!” he said and looked at me. “Bring it, Kyle. You best show me everything you got to get your sorry ass out of this mess.”
“I will.” It wasn’t disappointment, but hope I saw in his eyes. “Targeting enemy defences with Artemis’s laser banks.” Though they were a little low after the recent fights, I knew we’d still be able to take out enough that the Imperator could finish it off.
The darkness of space lit up, the Imperator’s fighters whizzing in and out. Much faster than any of the enemy ships.
While I did what I could to combat the battle ahead and pull us out of the shit. The naked man to my left at least was given some clothes. Sadie hadn’t sedated him, but he was shaking and watching me. I couldn’t help but see something in his posture too. Anger and yet hope.
The shielding on the station was going down. I didn’t want it to be destroyed, so instead I pulled the laser programming up and switched it over. “Imperator, full shields,” I said and struck the button. “Now!”
This time as our laser blasted out, bouncing across the shield of the Imperator and lighting up the station with one hit. The power on it flickered and then went dark.
As everything settled in space, Jai looked to me. “Captain Ivanov. Complete your mission, and report to my war room in two hours.”
“Yes, general,” came his soft reply.
The Imperator moved towards the station. Within seconds there was a docking lock on its way to meet with theirs, power or not.
I looked over at Hiroto, and then Jai. “We haven’t left them.”
“Fucking right we haven’t,” Jai said.
28
I hadn’t been on the wrong side of anyone for a while. And yet the only time I felt really, really bad was when I was sent to Jai’s office or sat like I was right now . . . with the men I trusted and revered above anyone. Both Tyto and Jai were utterly speechless. I didn’t think they’d expected anything like that of me.
I wanted to be able to explain it, but I didn’t have the words either. I hung my head.
Sure, they knew about Future Insight; Jai had even asked me to do it. But they’d not known the young man on our bridge would trigger something else. Somehow in space, this area of space I was being blocked.
No, I said to myself and Asht. I’m stronger than this. I did it for everyone.
I slid out from the eyes of both Tyto and Jai and went to the trembling man still on the bridge. I knelt before him and held my hand out to him. “I’m Kyle,” I said. “You are?”
He coughed. “Captain Annt Vrel.”
“Thank you, Annt. You just saved our ship.”
“Thank Vora. This . . .” He looked down at the body. “I can’t work it. I don’t—can’t think. I just knew . . . my own sight.”
“You have Future Insight?”
He nodded. “But . . . I’ve seen it, several times. The scenario—the wording—everything the same. Again, again. Many more peoples. Many . . .”
Jai dropped to a knee before Annt. “Would you come with us, away from the bridge? Talk some more?” He held my eyes with his as he said it. And I knew I was in shit still.
Sadie helped Annt to get up, though he was really shaky. I now knew it was something else. “Hiroto said your species might not like it in here as much. I’m sorry. This is something we can work through though, okay?”
“Thank you.”
When he was sat and Sadie had called for some more clothes, I took off my jacket and, placing it around his shoulders, sat before him. “I’ll relay anything you need to our departments, whatever you want.”
“My crew, how many? I never saw . . .”
“There were six others in the catcher we had on board.”
“Six . . . we lost one.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “You think they were already processed?”
He shook his head. “I do not know.”
“We’ll do our best to find out.”
“Thank you. What about your friends? Your fighters . . .”
I looked at Jai then, his gaze stoic. “Yes, what’s the plan, Kyle?” Jai asked me.
“There was a class two dreadnought incoming that would have just wiped us all out. You know that.”
RETREATING – STILL MEANS YOU HAVE FAILED YOUR MISSION
RETREATING – STILL MEANS YOU HAVE FAILED YOUR MISSION
It wouldn’t stop haunting me. We hadn’t failed, not yet!
“I understand the facts, but they’re not keeping our people either.”
“We can’t get them back unless we bring in the Cristanna. Right?” I looked to Hiroto, who was digging in the computer systems, the archives. I could see him working as fast as he could.
He looked up at me. “I’m not as quick when am not in your head, apologies.” He glanced off Jai and Tyto.
“No need to apologise, Hiroto. What do you have?”
“The information on all of this ‘clan’. They’re cobbled together from what it seems a take down a few years ago. The original clan lead and head were hit within from the Protection guild from Cinna. It was a really good hit. They took four clans out. Soon as they were gone though, and space settled, it wasn’t long before others took over. This one. His name is Fut Vaskal, and he’s been called one of the worst. He’s gathered power really quick.”
“Hence a class two dreadnought,” Tyto said.
“Yeah, that’s a tough one for us to go up against even with the Cristanna.” Jai said.
“We can’t yet,” I said. “But we may be able to if we can get hold of the Cinna guarde again, maybe.” I looked to Tyto for this.
“I’m not sure there’s anything she can do. Lara helped with their cities, the councils.”
“It’s worth a shot, if we can get any others out here. Co-ordinate now.”
“This shouldn’t be now, though.” He scrunched his fists together. “Those catchers, everything needs to be better organised.”
Tyto was shaking his head. I could also see he was internalising. His eyes shimmered. I hoped it was a message to Lara, something we could use. Anything she could do to help us.
“We’re not getting another chance, not now,” I said. “That’s my fault.”
Annt leaned forward. “No, that is not your fault, Kyle. That is their fault. Everything they do they is evil. This is just circumstance.”
“It doesn’t take away the fact we’re not ready to take them on at this level.”
“Not all of them, no. But maybe you can make a difference here to those affected by the rift.”
“What?” I had to ask. “What do you mean?”
“This is the closest space to the rift,” he said. “The darkness affects those who aren’t strong enough to fight it.”
“Makes sense,” I said.
“Slightly classified information,” Jai added.
“We have seen it,” Annt said. “It wasn’t so long ago it was taking over our system. When we evacuated, we lost a lot but we saw what it was doing to the others.”
“Darkness attracts them to this side of the galaxy,” Hiroto said. “Which makes the most sense, and means . . .”
“Closing the rift is just as important as taking them out here, now.”
“Exactly,” I said.
Tyto tapped the table, drawing our attention. “Lara’s given me the comms code for a vessel out here. She doesn’t know what’s going on, but said this code is to someone who should be able to help.”
“Thank you,” I said. Something was off with him, though. I held his gaze, cocked my head to the side.
“She’s . . . been in the med ward.” His eyes misted. “Kyle, she lost the baby.”
I glanced to Hiroto and then to Jai. I didn’t even know they knew. But Jai’s face dropped.
“Tyto, I’m—” Jai was about to say something else, but Tyto was up and out the room before he could.
I looked back at Jai. “Forgive him,” I said.
“Of course.” Jai waved a hand. “Go. I’ll wait for Captain Ivanov.”
I followed after Tyto, but then had no idea where he’d actually vanished to. Any help, Asht?
He headed for the hangar.
Of course. Still a mech junkie, even if there were no mechs on board.
He never made it to the hangar. I saw a form crumpled in front of me in a corridor. No one else around.
“Ty,” I said, stepping towards him and lowering myself so I was at least on his level. “I’m right here.”
“I can’t,” he said.
“I’m here.” I slid a little closer and put my arms around him, feeling him struggle, then his shoulders dropped, his breathing fast, body shaking.
He did push back though. “I didn’t know I wanted children that much.”
“I never thought it was something I wanted till I experienced what Xirob and Faith had,” I said. “The denti soul, the way they bind.” I saw the flicker of anger in him. “You want that?”
“Of course I do. I never felt that tug, I’m not old enough. Not yet. Nor am I in a true body,” he said, “I never realised that either until . . .”
I thought about it, the connotations. For him to have a real denti child, he needed a pure denti body. He had to respawn. “You need to speak with Cassie about that. I’m sure she would help, yes?”
Tyto looked at me. “I need a willing woman. Someone who I can care for, love in that way to be able to help seed.”
I said it without thinking. “Shion?”
Tyto eased back. “I couldn’t ask that.”
I placed a hand on his arm. “Ty, the future is so uncertain. I want her in every damn way I can, but I can’t give her children just like you can’t Vitya or Lara. But if you, one of my closest friends, can—”
“I don’t know . . .”
“We’ve so much to do before then,” I said. “But we all will have a future. Complicated beyond anything I ever thought possible.” I rolled my eyes. “But we will. I’ll see Faith with Finn grow up. Lara and Vitya will have some little rug-rat running around, and if we have a bubba with your name on its DNA, I’d share that with you. If you’ll have me along for the ride.”
I hadn’t expected it, but Tyto pulled me to him and kissed me. It was so immediate, forceful, I never had the time to react at all. Then he was up and standing. “Thank you.”
I was left a little dumbstruck still on the floor when I heard the clomp of boots on the metal. I saw someone up the corridor walking towards us. It was the man I’d seen briefly on the Imperator’s bridge.
Tyto greeted him. “Captain Ivanov. Glad you’re here.”
