The Mandate of Heaven (31 page)

“I don’t know,” she replied honestly, having never given the question any thought before, but remembering her father’s violent reaction upon hearing the news.  She wondered what she would have done, had their roles been reversed.  Still, she instinctively knew that Alex was right, as she adored her father and younger sister and would do anything to protect them.  Even marry a man that she’d never met, that she would never love…

“Alex,” she asked hesitantly.  “What would you have said, if it had been me, taken from you?”

“It hardly matters, does it?” he replied rhetorically.  “You have Stanton to fight those battles for you now.”

“But what if he didn’t exist, but it was just you, and me?  Would you have come looking for me?”

Alex stood still, facing away from her, seemingly torn by indecision, before replying softly, “No.  I would not have come looking for you.”

“Oh,” she replied.  With his back to her, he failed to observe the momentarily flash of pain across her face.

“I would have no need to come looking for you,” he explained.  “For if you were mine, I would never, ever, have let anyone, or anything, take you from me.  Now, if you’re finished I need to go and set a course for
Elysium Fields
.”

“What?” Jessica said bewildered.  “I thought we were meeting my father there in three days, that is what you said, and what I told him.”

“We are, but I didn’t say anything about us waiting three days before we leave.  You must start listening to what I actually say and not what you
thought
I said.”

“But I don’t have anything to wear,” she motioned at the roughly spun shirt that she was wearing, along with worn jeans and ankle length boots.  When Alex said they were taking a journey she assumed they were walking to the nearest transmitter and had dressed appropriately.

For the first time since she had entered the living quarters, Alex laughed.  “Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of time to do shopping before your father arrives.”

Along with High-Lord Stanton
, Jessica thought morosely, but that was one piece of information she was determined to keep to herself.

*****

Alex had invited her into the cockpit for their arrival at
Elysium Fields
.  She had no idea why, as she’d visited numerous space stations of varying sizes and designs over the years, but Alex had insisted that
Elysium Fields
was different, unique.  Therefore, her curiosity piqued yet again, she took the seat next to him, as the shuttle dropped out of faster-than-light and she got her first glance at the station.

Alex was right, it was nothing like what she had imagined.

It was difficult to gauge proportions in space, but based on the size of the freighters that were buzzing around it, like fireflies, she estimated it to be several kilometres in length.  It was shaped like a rectangular wedge, with what could only be sloping gun decks at the fore, tapering back towards its massive fusion reactors and a huge drive-engine was clearly visible at the rear.  As the shuttle flew alongside, she could only marvel at the blisters of weapons that ran the full length of the ship, but they appeared long since dormant.  As Alex angled the shuttle up, onto the station’s foredeck, she gasped, for here was obviously the main armament, as the guns here dwarfed anything she had ever seen before, larger even than their own shuttle.

“I don’t understand,” she said, shaking her head.  “You said
Elysium Fields
is a space station, but this, this is a
battleship.”

“No,” Alex shook his head with a rueful expression.  “This is the pinnacle of human folly.  An arms race of biggest-is-best, taken to the extreme.  The Nova Class Dreadnought is five miles long, with a mass of two and a half million tons and a crew of a quarter of a million.  This was one of only a handful ever built, mostly because the maintenance costs almost bankrupt the Mega-Corporations.  Eventually an armistice was signed and a process of mutual disarmament agreed.  That process included decommissioning all of the Nova Class Dreadnoughts.  Hence this ship was stripped to the shell, but discarding a five–mile long ship is no easy task.  They tried scuttling it…” and at this he laughed.  “But they discovered they didn’t possess any weapon system that could do it harm. Furthermore, planting explosives along the ship length only resulted in a few bent bulkheads.  Finally, after running out of ideas, they simply towed it here and abandoned the ship. It didn’t remain deserted for long, because once they had incorporated a few simple life-support systems it was habitable once again and has been occupied for the past century or so.”

“Habited?  By whom?” Jessica enquired.

“Anybody and everybody that could afford a ticket this far out, you would consider them to be the scum of society, the dregs of civilization.  Which is broad in scope, but includes thieves, murderers, prostitutes, lawyers and accountants.  Personally, I would have thrown the politicians into the mix as well, but they managed to talk themselves out of deportation.  Present company excluded, of course,” he laughed.

Meanwhile the shuttle had proceeded into the belly of the beast, literally, as it seemed that the flight deck protruded from the underside of the ship.  Jessica couldn’t help but feel that they were flying down its very maw.

“You’re staring my dear,” Alex said, and with a deft flick of a finger he shut her mouth.  “It makes you appear disingenuous, hence not your best look.”

“But this ship, it’s gigantic,” she exclaimed, craning her neck upwards, to observe the stars vanish, swallowed along with their shuttle, by the massive cavernous hall.  “It could easily swallow one of my father’s battleships.  Who is in charge of it now?”

“Now?” Alex replied, “No idea.  But the last time I was here Lord Granville was still in charge.”

“Why, when were you last here?”

“About ten years ago.”

“You mean before—” she left the sentence hanging, not sure how to finish it.

“Yes, before that,” Alex replied calmly.

“But didn’t you think to let them know in advance, of your arrival?” she asked, horrified.

“Oh, you know me,” Alex said.  “I hate these big welcoming committees.  I much prefer something smaller, more personal, anyway I’m sure that word will get around quick enough that I’m back home.”

“Home?” Jessica picked up.

“Yes,
home
,” Alex said, cursing softly.  He obviously hadn’t meant to let slip that little morsel of information, but was saved from further comment by a jolt as the ship made contact with the flight deck.  Within the space of a few heartbeats the ship started to vibrate, as the flight deck slowly vanished from sight, to be replaced by the endless grey expanse of what was obviously the walls of an elevator.  The ship continued to shake and rattle for several more minutes, as the elevator continued on, carrying their ship further into the belly of the station until, with a final violent
clang,
they came to a halt.

“Let’s go and meet the welcoming committee, shall we?” Alex said with a tight smile.  “I’m sure that we’ll be welcomed with opened arms, as the prodigal son has finally returned.”

*****

The welcoming committee consisted of a grand total of two.

Both men were disreputable looking, with unshaven faces and even darker looks.  Neither of them greeted Alex or Jessica with opened arms, as their hands were very much full.  Gripping a pair of wicked looking compact, sub-nosed, machine guns that were pointed in their direction.

“What
is
it with you?” Jessica exclaimed in disbelief, glancing at the pair dismissively, before turning to face Alex.  “Can’t we go anywhere without somebody wanting you dead?”

“I’m sure that it’s just a misunderstanding,” Alex said soothingly, turning to the pair.  “Isn’t that right guys?”

“Lord Granville sends his regards—”

“See, told you so,” Alex said smugly.

“—and reminds you that you were banished from here, on pain of death.”

“Oh.  I had hoped he’d forgotten about that last bit,” Alex said scratching his jaw. “Hey!” he exclaimed as the nearest guard caught him roughly by the arm, yanking it behind Alex’s back while pushing him up against the wall.  The remaining guard expertly frisked him for any weapons and, only when he was completely satisfied that Alex possessed none, did they take a step back.

“Where is it?” the first demanded.

“Where’s what?”

“The weapon.”

“You’re going to have to be a bit more specific guys, as I’m told I pack a considerable weapon, but I’m guessing it’s not the one you’re referring too,” Alex smirked, while Jessica could only roll her eyes.

“The fusion pistol.  Granville wants it.”

“Then he can go and find his own, I no longer have it.  I gave it away.”

The two looked unconvinced, but having already searched him thoroughly, had no reason to doubt his word. “We’re instructed to escort you directly to Lord Granville,” the first snapped.  “If you resist, or cause any trouble, we’re ordered to skip straight to sentencing.”  He raised the machine pistol, clearly indicating the sort of ‘sentencing’ he was referring to.

“Then by all means, lead the way.  Take me to your leader.”

“You know I’m starting to realise why you’re the most hated man in the galaxy,” Jessica muttered, falling into step by his side.  “You’re the most aggravating person alive.  Even I want to shoot you, just to shut you up.”

“Perhaps,” Alex smirked.  “But they never thought to search you now, did they?”

Jessica blinked, as indeed the two men, who had fallen into escort around them, hadn’t given her a second glance.

“You did bring it, didn’t you?”

“Bring what?” Jessica replied, straight faced.

Alex’s laughter echoed along the dark, dilapidated corridor that they were being led down.

“You know this Lord Granville I take it?”

“Oh yes,” Alex replied.  “Since I was practically a boy.”

“In which case how come I’ve never heard of him?  I thought I knew all the names of the Lords and Ladies of the great families.”

“I don’t think Lord Granville moves in those social circles,” Alex said dryly.

“Then any idea why he wants you dead?  He mentioned something about being banished on pain of death?”

“Well you see, Lord Granville, he has a daughter—”

“Say no more,” Jessica replied, rolling her eyes.

“You know, you’re intent on thinking the worst about me.”

“That’s because it’s usually true.”

“My, you’re very perky today.”

“What can I say, as things seem to be looking up.  Upon meeting Lord Granville you’re likely to be kicked out of the nearest airlock, meanwhile my father will be here in three days to collect me.  Either way you’ll be gone for good from my life.”

“Oh,” Alex said in a dejected tone, “and here I was thinking that it was because you had the good fortune to awaken in my arms, this morning.”

“It was presumptions like that which probably got you in trouble with Lord Granville’s daughter in the first place.”

*****

It wasn’t long before the two of them were shown into a large office, the two guards stepping inside close behind them, taking positions on either side of the door.  Their machine pistols were now pointed towards the floor, likely in deference to Lord Granville’s presence.  Based on the tension still in their hands, it wasn’t likely to take much effort to raise the weapons and let fly with the bullets.  Jessica noticed with some foreboding, a further two guards stationed behind an old man seated behind a desk.  Either he was seriously paranoid about his security, or he was expecting trouble.

Turning her attention back to the man seated behind the imposing wooden desk, she was taken aback by his age.  His hair was a platinum-silver, reaching over his collar almost shoulder length and face showed every one of his years, weathered and craggy.  However, unlike some of his peers, he showed not an ounce of fat on his body, instead appearing almost sunken and skeletal.  Jessica had seen more animated corpses over the years.  Still his eyes, which were fixated on them, glowed with a frightening intensity, indicating that he was far from his dotage.

“My Lord Granville,” Alex took a step forward, executing a flawless bow, which seemed to Jessica a bit overdone, almost flamboyant.  She wondered if Alex was quietly mocking him.  This was immediately reinforced by his next words.  “I see that you’re still alive, just, which is fortunate as it means we can forgo all the usual tiresome introductions.”

“Alex, I’m surprised to see you again.  I thought I made it quite clear the last time that we spoke that you’re no longer welcome here.”

“And I quite clearly remember you saying that you owed me.  Still the pirate, eh? Always quick to renege on your debts.”

“Did he have it on him?” Granville asked, ignoring the taunt and instead directing the question at the two guards, who had escorted them into the room, who up until now had been as silent as statues.

Both of them shook their heads.

“Shame,” Granville muttered.  “I could have found a collector willing to pay a substantial sum for such an item.  Toss him out of the nearest airlock.”