The Last Flight of the Argus (24 page)

“
I don’t mean to pry, but have you taken him to a specialist?” B’taav asked. “There must be some kind of procedure…?”

“
None,” the gray haired lady said. “There was a chance, years ago, when he was a newborn, to treat the infection that crippled his nervous system. Unfortunately, my late husband and I were living in a rather distant world at that time and didn’t have the advantages of modern medicine or technology. It wasn’t until he was four years old that we were able to get him proper care. By then, it was too late.”

“
Sorry.”

“
At least the medication helps. And who knows, maybe one day…”

She didn’t finish her thought. She motioned to Maddox.

“
He’s been through a lot.”

“
He's not the only one.”

“
Perhaps, when this is over, we can sit down and formally introduce ourselves.”

“
That would be illuminating.”

“
How are we doing?”

“
We're getting very close to our destination and we haven’t been discovered by Daniels’ boys. I'd say we're doing pretty well.”

“
Where are they?”

“
I wish I knew.”

“
Why don’t you use the ship sensors?”

“
That wouldn’t be a very good idea.”

“
Why not?”

“
The sensor’s resonant waves give us a view of the area and whatever ships are within range, but the signal’s source can be back-tracked. Those hunting us will have a very clear look at our location. Use the sensors and we see them, but they will see us.”

“
Oh. Well, we’re confident you’ll get us safety to where we’re going.”

“
We?”

“
If I say any more, your sleeping friend will get upset.”

The gray haired lady leaned closer to the Independent.

“
Suffice to say, B’taav,
we
have confidence that you’ll get us to safety.” She leaned back and looked around the blank monitors before staring out at the asteroids floating around the ship. The frustration of not knowing what lay around the
Pilgrimage
was evident on her face. “I really do wish we could use those sensors,” she muttered.

All was quiet for a few seconds. B'taav took the ship through its paces while the gray haired lady watched. All was serene. All was peaceful.

And then an ear shattering clatter filled the bridge and the cockpit was bathed in a dull red light. Screeching alarms blared and B’taav lurched forward. His eyes ran across the control panel. It took him a moment to realize the ship's long-range sensors were activated. On the sensor monitor B’taav spotted nearly a dozen blips off the starboard side of the
Pilgrimage
. He immediately shut the sensor off, but the damage was done.

“
What happened?” the gray haired lady asked.

“
Someone turned on the long-range sensors,” B’taav said. “I…I got a peek at where Daniels’ boys were.”

“
And they saw us…?”

B’taav’s normally pale features turned even paler.

“
Of course.”

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

“
What
the hell is going on?”

The voice was Maddox’s. His eyes were still half closed but he was waking fast. The door leading into the bridge opened and Cer ran into the room. She drew her fusion gun and trained it at B’taav.

“
What the hell happened?” Maddox continued. “Why did you set off the sensors?”

B’taav slowly lifted his hands. He did not respond, instead allowing Inquisitor Cer a clear view of the cockpit controls. The frown on her forehead deepened when she noted the boy sitting in the co-pilot’s chair and the displays on his monitor.

“
He didn’t turn on the sensors,” Cer said. She put the gun away.

“
What do you mean?” Maddox asked.

“
The sensors were activated from the co-pilot’s chair,” Cer said. “Where the boy sits.”

All eyes turned to Nathaniel.

“
What?” the gray haired lady began. “There’s no way—”

Maddox was having none of it.

“
Lady, get that boy out of here!” he yelled.

“
You are here to serve us, not the other way around,” the gray haired lady snapped back. “I will not have you yelling at Nathaniel or me. Is that understood?”

“
Perfectly,” Maddox said. “When the time comes, I’ll make sure Lieutenant Daniels’ men talk to you and your boy in nice, friendly tones from the very moment they stick us in their brig.”

The gray haired lady pulled Nathaniel out of the co-pilot’s chair and left the bridge. Inquisitor Cer sat in the just vacated chair.

“
Where are Daniels’ ships?” Maddox asked.

“
Most of them are on our starboard side,” B’taav replied. He pulled up the sensor scan image on his monitor. “No doubt they’ve moved by now.”

“
Right at us,” Inquisitor Cer said.

She activated her controls as B’taav slid the
Pilgrimage
past a large red asteroid. Beyond it lay another of equal size that twisted in a wild arc. B’taav kept the
Pilgrimage
well away from it. He noted Inquisitor Cer was re-running the commands issued from the co-pilot’s chair.

“
Did the boy really set off the sensors?” B’taav asked.

“
So it would seem.”

“
How could he do that?” Maddox asked. “Every bit of sensitive equipment in the bridge is password protected.”

“
The boy entered the correct password,” Cer said. “He somehow figured it out.”

“
That can’t be. He’d have to be some kind of genius, and that kid is
not
a genius.”

“
He mirrored my actions while I was piloting the ship.”

“
Perhaps he overheard someone mention the code.”

Maddox considered this but ultimately shook his head.

“
I can’t recall ever mentioning the codes before the boy.”

“
Maybe someone else did.”

“
There is another question,” Inquisitor Cer said. “Of all the things he could have done after accessing the ship’s commands, why did he set off those sensors?”

B’taav thought about that for a few seconds.

“
Just before they came on, Nathaniel’s mother and I were talking about them. I told her we didn’t know where Daniels’ ships were and she wondered why we didn’t use the sensors to detect their position. I explained the dangers of doing so. She said something to the effect that she wished they could be used.”

“
You think the boy did this to please his mother?” Inquisitor Cer asked.

“
It's as good a theory as any.”

“
That's all well and good, but we need to move on before Daniels’ boys pump a battle ship’s worth of missiles up our collective asses,” Maddox said.

“
That time is past,” Cer muttered. “They know where we are. We’re as good as caught.”

“
You’re giving up?”

“
They know where we are, they know our maximum velocity, and they have a far superior force,” Cer said. “By my estimate, we only have a few hours before we’re surrounded. Once surrounded, we don’t stand a chance.”

“
None?”

A heavy silence filled the bridge for several seconds.

“
We have one chance,” B’taav finally said. He faced Maddox. “But for it to work, you’re going to have to give me some more information. I need to know why our destination is in the middle of nowhere. I also need to know how many people we have on board and exactly what cargo, if any, we need to get to that destination. You will tell me all this along with detailed specs on this ship’s defensive and offensive weaponry and escape pod status.”

“
Like hell I will.”

“
Inquisitor Cer is correct, Maddox. Lieutenant Daniels has surely ordered his ships to surround us. They have the superior forces and the luxury of time. If you’re unwilling to give me the information I ask, then may I suggest you instruct the others on board to start rehearsing what they’ll say to Daniels when he captures us.”

Maddox looked at Cer and found her staring right back at him.

“
I’m out of options,” Inquisitor Cer told the bartender. “But I’m not as well versed on Epsillon fighter specs nor have I escaped Daniels’ pursuit before. B’taav has an advantage over me in both areas.”

Maddox shook his head.

“
I have to talk to—”

“
We’re short on time as it is,” Cer interrupted. “Either the Independent is in on this, or he’s not. If we’re extraordinarily lucky, we might make it a little farther. You have to make a decision.”

Maddox exhaled. The tension in the room was thick. After several seconds, Maddox closed his eyes and drew a deep breath.

“
Fine,” he muttered. He typed in several commands on the ship’s central computer. When he was done, he took a step back. On the lower monitor appeared a file.

“
Read it,” Maddox said. “It gives the details of our destination. As for this ship, there are twelve total passengers on board.”

“
Including us?”

“
Yes.”

“
What about the ship's cargo and equipment?”

Maddox retrieved another file.

“
There you go.”

B’taav opened the first file. Upon reading it, his dark eyes widened and his mouth opened. When he faced Maddox, he found the bartender holding his fusion gun. He powered a charge and pressed the barrel of the weapon against the Independent’s neck.

“
It’s not that I don’t trust you, B’taav,” Maddox said. “But if we’re caught, even after I’m convinced you’ve done everything you could to keep us away from Daniels, I’ll still make damn sure you’re the first to suffer. You understand?”

B’taav nodded.

“
Good. Let’s get to work.”

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Oscar
Theodor, the senior pilot of fighter craft
Tango 13
, drew even with the wobbling gray asteroid and flipped his vessel over its large, spinning mass. He examined the view screen and his monitor. The other twenty fighter crafts were nearly in position. Their flight coordinates were exact and difficult to maintain, but to snare their prey, they had to form, and maintain, their circle.

“
Is it too much to ask that you turn on your sensors one more time?” he muttered to his unseen prey, knowing full well the craft they were pursuing would do no such thing.

Four hours had passed since the occupants of the pursued craft committed their mistake, and in the interval the
Tango
ships were ordered to adopt a standard surround tactic. It worked well in the vast emptiness of outer space but proved tricky to implement in this dense asteroid field. Still, the circle was closed and capture was a matter of time.

Theodor gazed through the glass bubble that surrounded him and turned the magnification of his goggles on. The lenses over his eyes buzzed with mechanical life. He carefully examined the area around him.

We'll spot them. By any means available.

“
This is
Tango 16
calling
Tango 13
,” a voice crackled over Theodor's speaker. “Approaching section 1001.45. I…I have a visual of our target. Guys, I think I see her! She’s right in front of me!”

Theodor turned to his right. The magnification lenses again buzzed as he zoomed in on that location. Euphoria quickly turned to disappointment.

“
Tango 16
, this is
Tango 13
,” he said. “I have the object in sight. Sorry, Phil, it’s just a piece of twisted metal.”

There was a long pause.

“
Acknowledged,
Tango 13
,” the voice over the radio finally replied. “Shit. After this is over, I’m going to get my eyes checked.”

“
Better luck next time.
Tango 13
out.”

Theodor steered his ship over and between several more asteroids. Every few seconds, he eyed the sensor readout.

Turn your sensors on
, he again hoped.
End this misery.

Without meaning to, Theodor whistled an impatient tune. The week and a half they spent out here, in the middle of nowhere, was getting to everyone. The sensor flare couldn't have come at a better, or worse, time. Better for morale because many of the search crew worried the craft might have doubled back or somehow slipped past them. Worse because Theodor's eight hour shift would end soon, and he might not be the pilot on deck when the capture was finally made.

Think positive thoughts. Who knows, maybe in the next hour you’ll be the one to corner them. You’ll be the hero.

Yeah, right.