Explanations of Erudition and Declarations
As the Aesir neared completion the prospective colonists amassed on Europa in an immense facility created for the purpose of selecting, preparing, and ultimately transporting colonists to the ship that would be their home for the next several years. Three weeks of final tests on the Aesir's integrity would see the colonists off. And then a single event happened. An event that would see the end of the City-Ships as a means of colonization. The ship that would one day be the Aesir would never see its intended purpose. In the final stages of her operational and integrity checks Gate-Travel was achieved...
Tokk and Sharpe had been members of the Aesir's crew for many years now. In fact, they had been members of the crew before she was known as the Aesir. Before Jude and Ama had come. Before they had killed the crew of the ship that would become the Aesir.
"How's that secondary thrust?" asked Sharpe by way of greeting.
Tokk looked up from his console, "Running steady, but she's laboring," he replied.
Sharpe nodded. He had noticed the same thing himself, "Gonna need to put in at Graduess?"
Tokk sighed and leaned back into his chair. There was no denying that their secondary engines wouldn't last much longer without some vast amount of work being done.
"That's a dirty business," Tokk said of the thought, "A ship this size? And where are we going to get the money to do that kind of work?"
Sharpe could only answer with a shrug. "Really is amazing she lasted this long," he said in an attempt to divert the conversation away from finances.
"You got that right, brother! This baby was never meant for more than a one-way trip; and the hell those pirates put her through!" His distaste for the pirates was evident.
Sharpe wholeheartedly agreed on that one. He admitted as much as he walked about the small room checking various readouts. Once he had familiarized himself with the current readings he informed Tokk that he would take over.
"You sure? You've got another two hours till shift," Tokk commented.
"Yeah I know," Sharpe assured him, "I can't sleep anyway -too full."
Tokk chuckled at this, "Ama and Vincent sure know how to throw a feast. Actually, though, I was getting a bit hungry again. Thought I might stop by the kitchens on my way down and see if there's any leftovers."
Sharpe laughed, the man had indeed put on weight since Ama had taken control of the Aesir. "Just don't let Vincent catch you," he warned.
"Oh, I learned my lesson last time! The man absolutely won't let anyone else inside his kitchens."
"Except Jude," Sharpe corrected.
"Well you know what that's about," Tokk nodded, "Jude likes his D-U-C-K." He felt that by spelling it no unpleasantness would need to be brought up.
Sharpe shrugged again. "If the man won't cook duck, he won't cook duck. Why go on about it? Jude gets to cook his own duck, and Vincent doesn't have to revive unpleasant memories."
"Yeah, you're right. But what's he got against duck itself? Vincent wouldn't poison us, right? So why go playing these games?"
"You're just upset because Jude doesn't share his cache of duck," Sharpe laughed.
Tokk huffed and walked to the door, "I only asked once..." he said.
"And he only had to tell you 'no' once," Sharpe added.
"Say, where is Jude now?" Tokk changed the subject, "I figure I ought to tell him about the secondary."
"Because you don't want to be the one to tell Ama that she has to spend money," Sharpe surmised, "A bunch of the passengers went to the Vista. I'm pretty sure Jude was with them."
"The Vista? What are they doing there?" Tokk asked, half to himself, as he was leaving the Command Center. Sharpe had no answer for Tokk, and so volunteered none.
As he watched Tokk go, Sharpe settled into one of the console chairs. Leaning back he also began to wonder what was going on in the Vista Room. As he reclined he failed to notice a soft blur that signified a star-craft energy signature on a console behind him.
It would be only the first of several such signatures he would miss that night.
The Vista Room had been silent for several minutes after Heron had finished speaking. In the silence the soft, but persistent, vibrations of the engines could be felt clearly. It seemed the lack of sound would continue as long as Jude chose to remained silent.
All eyes were on Jude, save those of Heron who had suddenly found the floor of some great interest. She still stood before Jude, awaiting a judgement it seemed; an outburst, a condemnation -anything but this prolonged silence.
Jude failed to give her any of these, and seemed resigned to silence. He sat in much the same relaxed position as before she had begun speaking. He still gazed at her with a stare that seemed to claim all knowledge. And he seemed self-possessed enough that he did not need to share his thoughts with those who sat in most anticipation of them.
When it seemed likely that Heron would once again flee his presence, he spoke.
"Let me see if I've got this straight," he addressed the young woman, motioning her to resume her seat, "you're a mystic -the Taronu are mystics, of a sort. And these eyes on your hands can see the future and the past." He looked around for confirmation and then continued, "But the eyes are not always open..."
"The Eye of Epoch opens only when a Taronii has reached her full potential," clarified Gray Hair, who Jude had learned was named Eider.
"Right," Jude agreed, "So you finally reached your full potential, Heron, but you failed to notice." He scratched his cheek, allowing the Taronii time to add any more details that might be important.
"You'd think that might be something to keep an eye out for, reaching your full potential and all that," this last comment was said to Ama in a low whisper. At which, she rolled her eyes and mumbled something akin to, 'whoever told you you where funny should be shoved out of the nearest airlock.'
"So you missed the most important moment in your life, just long enough to touch me," Jude once again addressed the women seated before him. "And by touching me you were able to see my past and my future -which you consider as bad manners, a breach of etiquette, or invasion of privacy. And you were, apparently, so traumatized by what you saw, or what you had done, that your only recourse was to run from my lab and cry into your pillow."
Ama murmured for him to 'be nice'. Jude thought that he had been extremely nice, considering the circumstances. There were things in his past that he just wasn't ready to share. Not with Ama, and certainly not with a complete stranger -not with anyone.
"You seem to be taking this rather lightly," claimed Eider, who, unlike Ama, did not know him well enough to recognize his tone of voice and mannerisms.
"As I see it, there are only two ways I can take it. I can take it Lightly, or I can take it Angrily -believe me, we'd all prefer me to remain in a 'light' mood, just now." he said a bit too sharply.
The Taronu chaperone shifted in his seat. Jude ignored him.
"So. Tell me what you saw, exactly how you saw it. Everything," he paused, "You can leave now, Ama." He wasn't asking her to leave. Though she was the 'Captain' of this ship, this was something private. "And take these others with you," he added.
Ama was a bit hurt but she understood, "Come along, Ladies. I'll show you a shortcut to your quarters." Understanding though she may have been, Ama cast Jude a serious look that said they would have a long talk very soon.
Jude watched Ama and the Taronii leave then turned to the chaperone. He had made no move towards the door, and seemed unlikely to do so without his charge.
Jude said something to the chaperone in an off-balanced singsong that was quite unintelligible to Heron. The chaperone seemed to understand it, though, and cocked his head to the side in interest.
Having said his piece Jude waited for an answer. After some moments the chaperone nodded agreement and said a single word, "Di."
Heron was confused. Jude had seemed to use an imaginary language, made up on the spot; to which her chaperone had answered. She knew the word her chaperone had said must mean agreement, for Jude appeared to accept him more readily the instant he spoke it, but to her it appeared that he had informed Jude to 'die'.
No explaination was given, though, as Jude once again asked her what she had seen of his past and future. Heron knew she must provide an answer this time. But did that necessarily mean she must give him the full answer? Or even the correct answer? Afterall, he couldn't possibly know what she had seen.
Tokk passed no one on his way to the Vista Room. He wondered what they could be doing in there. Jude's probably showing off again, he thought.
Tokk really liked Jude. They had formed an instant friendship in the heat of battle. Each watching the other's back as they had fought; warning away and deflecting any adversary who might threaten the other unaware. In that one night they had become fast friends and defeated many a foe.
'It's a shame they wouldn't let us back in that bar,' Tokk thought as he walked.
Of course, they had destroyed most of the Comet's Tail Pub and thrashed most of the house regulars. But that had been two years ago. In the time since then they had become almost like brothers.
They both had had an interest in all things technical, and so, Tokk had finally found someone to really talk to. Oh, Sharpe was alright, but he didn't really care about the tech details as long as it was mechanically sound. He preferred pistons, hydraulics, and gears to circuit boards, chipsets, and algorithms.
Sharpe had accepted Jude as readily, if only because it meant that Tokk would no longer bore him with his tech-jargon. Tokk and Jude both had failed to make Sharpe realize that, when it came to space-travel, tech and mech were just two sides of the same coin.
Halfway to the Vista, Tokk nearly passed a branching side corridor. Stopping, he peered down its length. There were no open doors, lights, or other indications that someone might be obsessively scrubbing clean a kitchen that, for the most part, never had the opportunity to be dirty.
Glancing back in the direction he had been heading, he came to a decision. Surely Jude would remain in the Vista well into the night. And if not, he would probably spend a few hours in his lab, at the very least.
Tokk changed directions and crept warily down the corridor leading to the kitchens.
Jude's laugh rang clearly throughout the Vista Room. He tried, unsuccessfully, for several minutes to calm the abrupt outburst of mirth. Thinking he had won his battle with humor, he attempted to speak, and promptly was choking on his words as his unwarranted glee reasserted itself.
Heron was very quiet as she watched his display. She was unsure on the source of his merriment. Did he know she had lied? Was he even now laughing at her attempted deception? She feared giving herself away, and so said nothing.
The Taronu chaperone, whom Jude still did not know was named Kiia Sei, had a bit more insight into Jude's reaction. After all, they were the same. Or similar, at least -belonging to the same Suchioru.
Kiia Sei knew that Heron had lied, or at least had not told the full truth. He was very adept at seeing the truth. It was a valuable skill, he had learned. Jude had been a potential enemy. Kiia Sei had seen that from the start. It was obvious in the way the man carried himself, that he was very learned in the Art. And anyone trained in the Art was a threat.
But Jude had invoked the Di -a blood-trust stronger than no other, among brothers of the Suchioru- and now was no longer a threat to his charges.
"I do want to thank you though," Jude had finally regained control of his emotions, "I haven't laughed like that in ages," he seemed genuinely pleased with Heron.
Still she said nothing. Afraid that he might have found her out.
"But really? That's it? That was the vision of my past that had you in tears? A bar fight?!" he smiled fondly at her, "Tokk's going to love this."
Heron took a deep breath. It had worked, he had no idea of the extent of what she had seen in that brief glimpse of his past. "I-It was the Future that caused me to react so. And, and the shock that comes when one is unprepared..." Jude waved off the rest.
"You were touching the arm with your right hand -your Future Hand," he informed her, "Of course you saw a fair amount of death there. I built it for that very purpose, sort of."
Heron sighed again. He still didn't know. Futures, like a chain, are linked together. She could not have only seen the arm's future, anymore than she could have only seen that one moment of his Past.
Jude stood up and crossed the space between them. Pulling Heron to her feet, he said, "I want to apologize for the way I was acting back there. I was rude and over-reacted before I had all the facts, I'm sorry," and he sincerely was. Though she may not have noticed just how angry he had been at her, he now felt guilty because of it.
"So. I hope you can forgive me for letting my emotions run away, and I wasn't really laughing at you. I was laughing at myself, I don't always know how to react to social situations so I generally over-react," and he was smiling. Heron was still a bit unnerved by what she had seen, of past and future -especially future, but she couldn't deny the power of his smile. She found herself smiling in response.
"If you can forgive-"
"Accident," he forestalled her own request for apology.
"Then, yes. Though I still do not think that you over-reacted," Not if you knew what I really saw. Not if you knew everything I saw...
"You did get me in trouble with Ama, though," he claimed, "So I think perhaps you do owe me...." he seemed to debate on a suitable punishment, "Maybe you can explain your Vision, in more detail, to me?"
Heron was taken off guard. Was it still possible he suspected something? But, no, he was smiling now. He was playing with her. She felt reassured by this and her smile returned.
"Of course," and she began to tug off her left glove.
"Oh no, not tonight. It must be quite late for you, you should probably get some rest."
Heron agreed with that, it was long past a decent bed-time for her.
Jude offered to lead her back to her quarters, but she declined. She knew the way well enough, and she was starting to feel a little too relaxed in his presence. Jude did not insist because he and Kiia Sei wished to discuss yet another matter before they themselves retired.
As she was leaving the Vista Room Jude called out to her, "We can talk at dinner tomorrow night. Oh, and wear the gloves," he paused long enough for Heron to fear what he might say next, "they make you look real nice in that outfit."
Heron shivered as the two men turned to their own discussion. It had started. They were becoming too friendly. The future she had seen... ...but was it the true future?
At the same time that Jude's laughter was filling the Vista Room, Ama was leading the Taronu down the corridor to their quarters. The shortcut she had used had seen them to that corridor much faster than backtracking to the Dining Hall. She was about to part company with the Taronii when Eider spoke.
"You have known Jude for a long time?" it was less question than statement.
"Oh yes," Ama replied lightly, "Jude and I go back a long way. We practically grew up together."
"And your relationship with Jude is?" Eider seemed less than innocently curious.
Ama's eyes narrowed as she looked at the gray-haired Taronu, "I don't see as that's any of your business, but like I said, we grew up together. We were raised in the same orphanage on Enuo."
"Enuo?" exclaimed the red-haired Taronii called Savi, "I thought the only thing on Enuo was the Black Synd-" Savi stopped talking abruptly. She glanced nervously at Ama's expectant gaze. "Er, how did you...." she left the question open.
Ama ignored the unasked question and turned back to Eider. "Anything else you want to know about me or Jude?"
Eider thought seriously on the question, "Perhaps you could tell me how Jude lost his arm?"
"Perhaps we should cut this discussion short. I have other duties as Captain of this ship, than to escort passengers to their rooms." Ama promptly turned to retrace her route back towards the Vista Room.
Before she had taken a single step, though, Eider was saying, "He hasn't told you." Ama froze. "The two of you are very close, perhaps closer than either of you claim, but perhaps not so close as you would wish. And yet, he hasn't told you this one thing." Eider shook her head mournfully, "What is he keeping secret from you? And what secrets do you hold from him?"
"It is not my place to pry into his past -something your people would do well to learn. If he wanted me to know, he would have told me," Ama began walking briskly back towards the Vista Room, "And you are wrong," she called over her shoulder as she walked, "Jude are I are close friends -nothing more."
The Taronii watched her go. "The young hold many secrets dear, from themselves, as well as from each other," Eider said sadly, "And this ship and its crew hold more than most."
"Enuo, the Black Syndicate controls Enuo," Savi was muttering wildly, "the Serpent Syndicate..."
"Hush, Child," Eider said soothingly, "Let us retire to our apartments for the night, and leave this talk of syndicates for a more appropriate time." So saying, she lead the rest of the way to their quarters. Leaving talk of mysteries, secrets, and syndicates for another day.
Sharpe leaned further back into his chair and yawned. Funny, he hadn't been tired earlier, but now... He must seriouly ask Ama for a coffee dispenser in the Command Center; he could see no reason not to have one anyway.
Shaking himself from his new found lethargy he leaned forward to run through the Aesir's operational data log. After assuring himself that no unexpected changes had occured in the past five minutes, he shut the data-stream down.
'Might as well play a quick game or two,' he thought as he loaded Solitude, an amazingly addictive computer program, adapted from an ancient tile-based game.
Behind him several more energy blurs had joined that first unnoticed signature.
Having stealthily made his way to the kitchens, Tokk proceeded to rumage through the various coolers there. Gathering several portions more than he himself could eat he quickly thrust everything back in its place. Setting his overloaded plate in the omniheat he pressed a few buttons then sat back to wait.
A handful of seconds later, the food was much too hot to be edible. Taking up the much too hot plate he left the kitchens and once again headed in the direction of the Vista Room.
In the Vista Room Jude and Kiia Sei where deep into their discussion, using a language that none outside of the Suchioru could begin to fathom. Jude's proposition was favorable to Kiia Sei, but details must be worked out. And there was the matter of consulting the Tein Rubusu.
Jude awoke well rested, having had nearly three full hours of sleep, and stretched lazily. As he began his morning ritual he contemplated his sleeping habits. Not so very long ago they had been drastically different.
There was a time when he could sleep all day and still not have had enough rest. But times change. People change. And 'other' things change too.
Jude couldn't even blame nightmares for his sleeping habits. No, the nightmares had gone shortly after his arm. But so had his sleep.
After a quick set of calisthenics to get his heart-rate up, Jude launched into his personal Sietan'sesu. Moving fluidly from one stance to another. Bringing himself to the brink of execution and drawing back at the last possible instant. Having completed his Sietan'sesu he then decided to run through some of his weak stances.
Adopting one of the more popular Suchire, he carried each move to its apex. Bleeding one stance into attack, to defense, defense, attack, attack, and back to stance. And again. And again. And again. Seeking alternate attacks. Stronger defenses. Until he was sure that each and any would flow smoothly from him. And then he would move on to the next Suchire.
Fighting a host of enemies borne solely from his mind, Jude took on every Suchire known to him. As fluid and fast as polished steel he moved among phantoms. Blocking an attack here, opening a defense there, purposefully staying clear of his more familiar moves as he attempted to master his weaker ones, until he was satisfied.
Executing a curt bow to the phantoms he had conjured, each wearing the same face in his mind's eye, he said, "Some day..." and headed for the shower.
Kiia Sei's morning started in much the same manner. Save that he had awakened a bit earlier and was even now performing his own Sietan'sesu for the second time. He held the belief that a few hours rest were all one could really hope for and that a man his age should strengthen what he had already mastered instead of attempting a Suchire that he would likely not live long enough to perfect.
As Kiia Sei was finishing, he sensed one of the Taronu behind him and said, "Heron," in greeting.
She smiled and said, "How is it that you always know who is behind you?"
"I am an old man," he said in answer.
Seeing her puzzled expression he clarified, "In my line of work, I would not be if I failed to know."
Heron still failed to understand and Kiia Sei smiled. She was too naive to understand the threat he must live under. He did not think less of her for this -everyone was naive at one time. But not everyone had the opportunity to live their life that way. At least, not for very long.
"Were you finished? Or is there more?" she asked, having resigned herself to incomprehension.
Kiia Sei shrugged, he preferred to execute his Sietan'sesu five times upon waking and again before sleep, but it was not necessary. He could always catch up tonight.
"Is there something I can do for you?"
"I was thinking we might get something to eat," she seemed to think of something, "Or do you wish to wait on the others?"
Kiia Sei informed her that two of the others, Eider and Savi, had already gone to see about breakfast, but they could join them if she wished.
Heron was taken aback, "You didn't go with them? I thought you were suppose to follow us everywhere.... to protect us?"
Kiia Sei's smile was warm, almost fatherly, "Protect you from whom?" Heron had no answer for this so he continued, "No one on this ship is a true threat. Jude was the only one I should have been worried about, but he will not harm you."
'I am not so sure about that,' Heron thought, 'Perhaps not now.... ...but later? When he finds out?'
"And," Kiia Sei added, "Would it not be the wiser course to protect the larger number of Taronii?"
He had her there, she had to admit. But it didn't matter. It didn't matter as long as he stayed close to her when Jude found her out.
"Tokk, location check," Jude said as he was leaving his rooms. There was no answer so he called a few more times. He was half way to the Crew's Mess when Tokk checked in.
"On my way to the Mess. Where're you?" came the reply.
"Same course. Breakfast?" Jude said, letting the Aesir's computer route his question to the speakers nearest Tokk.
"Er, meet me in the corridor just outside the Mess," Tokk answered.
Jude, curious now, hurried on to the Crew's Mess.
Ama had awakened and spent the better part of an hour trying to decide exactly how mad she should be at Jude. It was hard to judge. On the one hand, he had every right to keep secrets from her. It's not like they were married or anything. No, they weren't even in any type of relationship at all. Just friends. Just friends who had grown up together. Friends who had never really been apart. Not really. Oh, there were occasions when they had been assigned to different cities on Enuo, when hundreds of kilometers had seperated them. And a few times Ama had even left the planet Enuo, uncounted light-years between them. But they had never had any real distance between them. Not until Jude lost his arm.
Ama had returned from one of her assignments to find that Jude had gone. She had never been able to find out where he had been reassigned, nor why. He was just gone. No word came from him. No contact of any kind. Gone.
For nearly a full year he had been gone. With no word of him, Ama had assumed he was dead. Lost in some secret mission that even her clearance failed to open to her. It had been a bad year for her. She had lost her dearest friend. Her only friend.
And then like a phantom he was back.
Jude wasn't the same. She had hardly recognized him when he came to her apartment that night. Before, he had been a low-ranking tech, a dreamer. And now he was something more. He was harder, less open. He wasn't cold, not to her, but he held his emotions back. And there was his arm...
Ama decided she wasn't really that mad at him. Of course, he didn't necessarily need to know that. No, let him suffer just a little before she let up. Might teach him to be a little more polite, at the least.
Eider, though, was a different story. That woman had some nerve; saying things like that. Now she had to be taught some respect. 'The Aesir is my ship, after all."
Jude entered the Crew's Mess carrying Tokk's platter of half-eaten food. Tokk followed sheepishly behind. In the case that Vincent might see, it was Tokk's hope that the food and platter would be thought of as Jude's.
Jude didn't understand why Tokk would be so concerned. After all, he had never had any trouble with Vincent. "What where you doing with this much food anyway?" he had asked.
Tokk had shrugged, "I thought I could catch up to you guys in the Vista, but you were already gone and I didn't feel like running all over the ship."
"So you ate about half of this plate and then fell asleep in the Vista?"
"I started catching up on my show; next thing I know you were calling me -hey, I missed most of my sleep for Ama's banquet." Tokk said in his own defense.
Jude grunted reproachfully at this, "I don't see how you can watch that 'Space Opera' junk. That stuff is pure pseudo-science fiction. 'What are we going to do this week, Major Starblaze?' -'We're going to tranverse the Charybdis!' -'But Sir! The Charybdis is a Black Hole!' -'Of course, but how else can we hope to reach the Time-pierce velocity to travel back to yesterday?'" Jude shook his head in mock sadness, "And you call yourself a tech."
"I know, I know," Tokk muttered defeated, "But I only watch for the character development..."
Jude laughed as he disposed of the food and platter, "Oh yes, how could I forget the emotionally engaging characters! Give my apologies to KD-S50 of the Tri-System and Gar'nk the robot with artificial intelligence," he said.
"Gar'nk's from the Tri-System, he's the blue amoebalien, and KD-S50 is the robot..." Tokk mumbled as they took seats at their table. The table which was already occupied.
Before Tokk could start rattling off his 'proof' of alien life or the possibilities of AI, Jude greeted the two Taronii, "Good tomorrow," he said smilingly to Eider.
The gray haired Taronu smiled knowingly back, "I could check that, if you wish?" and began removing her glove.
Jude hurriedly waved her back, "No, no. I'd rather be surprised, thank you. I'm sure I can wait and see for myself."
"How about the day after? Or the year after that?" Jude admitted that he'd rather not. "Perhaps your friend?" To which Tokk had the decency to be thoroughly confused.
"Which reminds me," Jude said turning to Tokk, "Here's your typical 'Space Opera' fare," and he held out his hands presenting Eider and Savi. Tokk squinted at the ladies as if searching for hidden antenna, misshapen heads, unique skin tone, or any of the many other laughable alien characteristics that so predomminated his entertainment.
"They have the power to see a man's Past and Future," Jude explained casually as he gauged his friend's reaction.
The Taronii bore the scrutiny, sensing no malice in either Jude or Tokk. Clearly missing something, Tokk gave, "Ok, what's the gag?"
"You know, I thought the same thing myself at first. But it's no gag." Jude looked meaningfully at Tokk, "I thought you and Ama were conspiring against me for that Ygg remark."
Tokk looked seriously at Jude, and said, "I still have no idea what you're trying to say."
Jude then said suddenly, "Remember that night we met?" apparently changing the subject.
"Comet's Tail? Yeah, how could I forget? But what does that have to do-"
"Heron told me, in detail, evrything that happened that night," Jude cut him off.
"Who's Heron?" Tokk was confused. Jude was playing circle games again. It was possible he would take all day getting to the point, so Tokk was determined to gather as many details as possible. It was possible, if he got enough of the details, to force Jude to the point.
"Short, blonde Taronii," Jude said dismissvely and turned to Eider, "Is it Taronii? or Taronu?"
She nodded, "Yes."
"No, I mean is Taronii plural, or is it the other way around?" he seemed to have forgotten whatever it was he was trying to tell Tokk.
"Either word is interchangeable. There is no difference of meaning," Eider informed him.
Jude thought about this for a minute, "So the word, words, have no plural; or is it Taronus and Taroniis? Or is it more like deer and moose?"
She informed him that 'deer' and 'moose' where the most compatible plural forms of her sect.
"Thanks, I might be able to use that later," use what, he did not say.
Tokk couldn't take any more. Reaching over he touched two fingers to Jude's alloy appendage and quickly brought them together. The electric pinch registered in several of the nerves in Jude's shoulder.
Jude abandoned his study in semantics and returned his attention to Tokk, "As I was saying before I got distracted, Heron told me about that night. She touched me and saw my past."
Tokk digested this and remained silent for several moments. Jude waited patiently for Tokk to reach a decision. Reaching the logical one, he snapped his fingers and said, "Ama-"
"She called me Judicious." Jude trounced logic.
"Oh," Tokk had nothing else to add.
Now the Taronii were confused. "But isn't that your name?" Savi asked.
Jude smiled pleasantly at her, "No, Judicious was the name of a low-ranking Syndicate flunky. I believe he died three years ago."
Savi failed to grasp his meaning, but Eider was a bit quicker on the uptake. "This my be the 'other day' we spoke of," she informed her companion. This she apparently understood, for her eyes grew larger with comprehension.
Savi attempted a question, "So... you were in the Syn... the Serpent Synd..." She couldn't go on, so Jude helped her.
"The Serpent Syndicate? There was a young man named Judicious in the Black Syndicate; looked a lot like me, had two arms if I remember correctly..." And Jude was suddenly very serious, grimly serious, "But let's get this straight now: my name is Jude."
"Oh!" Tokk said as his mind returned from a place very far away, "You mean you can really see the future?!"
It was at that moment that Heron and Kiia Sei entered the Crew's Mess.
Jude left Eider and Savi to fend off Tokk's questions alone. Crossing the short distance to the new arrivals he called greetings as he went, "Heron, we were just talking about you. Apeku Kiia Sei, I trust you are well?"
"I am well, Baru Jude," Kiia Sei assured him.
Heron was looking at him questioningly. Jude assured her that nothing was wrong, that he stood by his words of the night before.
Ushering them to the table he called out, "You've got a crowd out here Vincent."
A cloth-shroudded head appeared in the doorway between kitchen and dining area, "Nearly ready Jude," the white cloth in the general mouth area declared, "I haven't prepared for so many people in ages!" the cloth said excitedly.
The next several minutes were filled with light chatter as more of the passengers arrived. Jude confirmed that Kiia Sei was still eager for their planned Matsuchi that evening. Tokk was discussing the benefits of Future-Sight with the Taronu. The entire Westlake brood was escorted in by their elders. The Taronii began filing in once Eider informed them of the imminent prospect of breakfast. And occasionally, though it may have been his imagination, Jude thought he heard delighted chortling from the kitchen.
It was then that Jude noticed something that wasn't there. Several things actually, and at the same time the lack of one thing. There was not one single 'explorer' in the Crew's Mess.
True, Ama wasn't there, and neither was Sharpe. But Sharpe was on duty and Ama would bide her time, assuming a grander entrance. Jude made a few not-so-subtle inquiries.
It seemed the explorers did not dine with the other passengers and crew. Claiming a continuance of there studies, they were not to be disturbed. Vincent delivered meals to their quarters, save for the banquets, at which Ama insisted all attend. Interesting.
Ama made her appearance shortly before Vincent began serving. She must have not seen the chair Jude offered, for she sat next to Rik instead. Ama called up to Sharpe in the Command Center, "Sharpe, if everything reads correctly, you may come have breakfast with us."
"Alright, Ama. Just let me check-" Sharpe's voice cut off abruptly then came back, "Ama! We have Sit5!" All talk was washed away with Sharpe's tone.
"Recheck," Ama said softly.
Sharpe's voice was pained, "I just did. We need scramble, now!"
Jude was already rising from his untouched breakfast as Ama caught his eye. Tokk began to stand also. "Numbers?" he said.
"Half a dozen fast movers, one carrier, approx." There was a pause in which it was assumed Sharpe was one again checking his data, "It's my fault. Tokk, relieve me, I'll go."
Every silent, scared passenger turned to Ama. But she was looking at Jude. It was his decision.
As the passengers began turning to Jude, afraid but not knowing exactly what was going on, another set of eyes had already found his face. The horror of foreknowledge weighed heavily on Heron's face. Her lower lip was trembling. Her eyes held the beginnings of tears. It was too much for her. She hoped she would faint, but consciousness refused to leave her.
"Tokk, relieve Sharpe. Sharpe, I want you in the fore Bay and suited up by the time I get there," No one moved. No one breathed. 'It always comes to this,' he thought as he shouted, "NOW!" 'No one ever thinks clearly in a crisis, but I guess that's why I'm Security -I can keep my head clear.'
Tokk was panting hard when he reached the Command Center and began assessing the situation. Sharpe had started to arm the Vics but had not set a target frequency. Tokk didn't blame him. When Jude said 'move' you better move, and when Jude shouted... ..well, Tokk couldn't ever remember Jude shouting, but he was sure it wasn't good.
Tokk finished arming the Vics and gathered the frequency of the enemy ships. It was easy, they were so close. How had Sharpe let them get so close? And attempted to get a bead on the carrier. If he could get the Aesir's Lance into position he could put it down in one shot...
Ama stayed with the passengers in the Crew's Mess. The last thing they needed was a panic. If she could just keep everyone calm. If she could just keep herself calm. Jude would be alright.
As casually as possible, she sat down to breakfast. The frightened passengers did not move. She began eating mechanically while attempting to seem casual. Still no one made a move towards their food. All eyes were on her.
"Come now," she said cheerfully, "you're not all still worried?" Keep talking. Everything will be fine. "I do apologize for this inconvenience, but it will be over soon. Sometimes ships such as the Aesir are targeted by pirates seeking easy plunder." Ama forced a laugh. It was quite convincing. "They will not find us so easily taken, however. This ship is equipped with one of the finest weapon systems available. And, of course, Jude can handle himself. Sharpe is nearly as good." Ama smiled, "Don't let it spoil your appetite, we've handled much worse," Which wasn't necessarily a lie.
Someone asked why Jude and Sharpe should even leave the safety of the ship, if she were armed so well. "Jude wouldn't let the ship's weapons have all the fun. He has a strong notion of 'right' and 'wrong'. These pirates are clearly in the wrong, Jude merely wishes to show them the error of their ways."
Passengers began eating again, but the chatter that had filled the Mess was absent. Vincent came out and sat next to Ama. The cloth that had previously engulfed his head now hung in loose folds about his neck as he ate. He was no longer so cheerful. He did not talk. But he was eating with her, with them. Vincent never ate a meal he cooked with the people he cooked it for. Ama hoped it was not a bad sign.
Jude was suited and ready to go. Sharpe was already into his take-off procedure. As Jude was climbing into his ship he saw something that stopped him dead. Painted on the side of his ship was the legend 'Gungir'.
Jude quickly set his crown and called Ama, "What did you do?"
The ear-piece she had put in as they had left buzzed to life. "What?" came the reply through his crown.
"You renamed my ship?! You can't rename a ship, not when the owner still lives."
"It was a joke, I had forgotten about it. What's the problem?"
His sigh was very loud in her ear, "It's not your fault, you didn't know. I'm sorry. I'll explain it to you if I get back." And he severed the connection as he climbed inside the Gungir.
He did not hear her as she franticly corrected him, "When you come back, when."
Sharpe was out of the Bay and Jude began his innitiating procedure. He had owned the ship for years now. He knew every detail, he could operate her blind. The procedure was simple; a few checks, some settings adjusted. He had performed it flawlessly a thousand times before.
But now he was making mistakes. His hands found the wrong switches. He depressed the wrong buttons. His calculations were off. It just didn't feel right. This was not his ship.
It was no good. Something was preventing the Lance from syncing with the carrier. Tokk checked the Lance's readouts. The was nothing wrong with the Lance. But it wouldn't lock. And with Jude and Sharpe out there, he couldn't go firing blind. It would be alright. How many more ships could that carrier hold?
Their attackers were courteous enough to meet Sharpe half-way. There were only half a dozen of them. They were all older model zip craft retrofitted with new weaponry. He and Jude were both in black-market fighters. And Jude was closing fast. This would be almost too easy.
Sharpe opened a channel to Jude, "Jude, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I wasn't paying attention. I should have seen them hours ago."
"Sixty-Forty, plus the carrier, and we're even," came the reply.
"What?"
"I said, give me sixty percent of all the fast movers and the carrier, and we're even."
"I screwed up, Jude, don't you understand?!" Sharpe nearly screamed.
"I understand that everyone screws up sooner or later. Your punishment means more fun for me." there was a pause, after which Jude lightly added, "I just hope that when I eventually screw up, you'll remember this and be as lenient on me."
'Unbelievable,' Sharpe thought, 'And just like that, he forgives me,' and he knew it was true. Jude wouldn't hold a grudge. All was forgiven. But not forgotten. Sharpe would never forget this as long as he lived.
There was really nothing for Tokk to do other than occasionally check the target frequency. So he watched the battle from his console. He couldn't get an actual image, due to the fact that the Arbies security measures were now in full effect. He was able to modify the image on the console enough that he could get a bit more detail than just a signature.
Tokk watched as tiny glowing hook-shaped representations fought a losing battle against two glowing blurs that looked a bit like short-handled three pronged forks.As he watched the two forks chase the hooks further away from the Aesir, though, he couldn't help feeling that there was something he was missing.
After breakfast the majority of the passengers returned to their rooms. Much of the food had gone to waste as, despite Ama's reassurances, the guests had lost their appetites. Some few remained with Ama and wished to follow her to the Command Center. Ama agreed as the current situation involve all of them.
Ama lead her small troupe through the corridors to the lift that would see them in the Command Center. As they walked, Ama requested that Tokk open a full channel so that she might keep abreast of the engagement.
Eider, Brin, and Timm were following along quietly. Savi had escorted an out-of-sorts Heron back to their quarters. Rik and Kiia Sei were having a conversation about Jude's chances. Kiia Sei was willing to admit that Jude was very learned in his own Art but did not know what that might say about his piloting skills. Rik, on the other hand, was claiming that he knew nothing about art, but he could tell Jude was very sharp and a man like that ought to know his way around a fight. The conversation didn't have so much to do with Jude's chances of survival, of that they both agreed, but wether he would kill more than Sharpe.
The channel opened and the conversation went quiet, "...my fault. I wasn't paying attention. I should have seen them hours ago."
They listened intently to the exchange. After which Rik commented, "See, I told you. Care to make a friendly wager?"
Three zip craft left and then the carrier. Jude was in a good mood. He hadn't even used his missiles yet. The zip craft were slow enough that his twin mini-Vics were shattering ships left and right. If the carrier hadn't been there, with the possiblity of more craft, he might have considered toying with them. It was possible that Gungir wasn't such a bad name after all, but he still had to set Ama straight on that one.
A missile flew past his peripheral and slammed into the nose of the ship directly in front of him. Jude twitched the controls at the last moment and avoided the debris.
"Oops..was that one of yours?" came Sharpe's voice.
"Alright now, don't get cocky. Just kill them and move on. No need to play with them, the carrier might have a few secrets," Jude smiled, "Wasn't that your sixth missile? Don't worry, if you run out you can have some of mine... ..I haven't used a single one."
"Har, dee, har, har, who's calling who a kettle?"
"I think you botched that one," Jude replied as he strafed the ship that was attempting to dart under him, "Something about being a black pot, isn't it?" Jude felt a warm glow deep down inside, when a blue puff of light signaled his latest victim's hellish demise.
"Not sure, something my Grandfather used to say, I think," Sharpe twisted his ship in an arch and was suddenly behind the last zip craft, "Who comes up with these sayings anyway?" and he depressed a button, sending another missile to lazily following the last fast-mover.
"And yet another missile gone. You do know how expensive those are, right?" Jude watched as the zip craft fired its downward thrusters and fore thrusters simultaneously, giving it the appearance of hopping backwards over the lazy missile. The zip craft fired a few times at the missile but it kept going, giving no indications of pursuing its target.
"What?! I was locked on!" Sharpe sighed as he opened up with his own Vics, "You think it was a dud-" Sharpe stopped talking as a spectacular blue beam of light sliced his fuel tanks neatly in two.
For a horribly long instant Jude watched as the two pieces that were once Sharpe's ship began to drift apart. The razor-thin line was just visible as the fuel ignited by some unseen spark within. The puff of blue light did not fill Jude with warmth this time. It filled him with something infinitly more glacial.
Jude did not cry out. No tears fell from his eyes. He did not participate in a moment of mourning. He did not contemplate the transient and tenuous nature of life. He merely whispered, 'Goodbye Sharpe,' as he calmly unloaded his ammo into the last zip craft and turned his attention to the carrier. The carrier where the beam had come from. The carrier that had kill Sharpe.
'Goodbye Sharpe,' Jude's whisper seemed a thunderous noise in the silent corridor. Ama and her group stood just outside the lift to the Command Center. Rik forgot all notion of his purposed wager. The Taronu was solemn. The Westlake brothers, silent. Kiia Sei, stoic. Ama, unreadable.
"Tokk, SitRep," she called too calmly to the metal expanse above.
"Sharpe is gone," he was attempting to keep emotion out of his voice, "Some kind of energy discharge from the carrier."
"And Jude?" Ama wondered where her emotions had gone.
"Jude and the carrier on the screen and -Oh no,"
"What, Tokk?" Oh please, not Jude too. Please, anything but Jude...
"Ama, get up here right now!"
No one asked why. Everyone moved as a solid mass into the lift. They were very quiet as they ascended. But Tokk was speaking very rapidly to Jude. It wasn't good. Not at all.
Jude thumbed the button for his missiles, then thought better of it. Missiles were a bit too impersonal for this. Jude was a firm believer that revenge should be something intimate, something face-to-face.
Gently powering his thrusters he nosed towards the carrier.
"Jude, listen, you've got to come back now!" Tokk was frantic. How could he get through to Jude?
"Sorry, I'm going in," Jude said as he dove at the carrier.
"The Arbies are on, Jude! I don't know if you can even make it back now... ..please try! We can't lose you too," but he wouldn't listen.
"We needed Sharpe too. Don't worry, this won't take long-" Jude locked the channel down, he didn't want to argue. Not now, not about something like this.
"Jude, Jude!" Ama screamed into the closed channel, "I order you to come back this instant!"
It was no good. The channel was closed. They could do nothing but watch the two energy signatures merge into one.
Jude had no problem entering the carrier. The main weakness of a carrier was that it depended on it's fast-movers to defend it. She was little more than a series of giant bays in which the tinier craft would dock. And this carrier had no external armaments, other than the beam that had taken Sharpe. She didn't even have a means of securing her bays. Little more that a large porous metal shell.
Jude chose the largest, uppermost bay for the simple fact the it was nearest to him. He set his fighter down next to another ship, and went hunting.
Jude found little prey inside the carrier. Her crew was small and likely most of it was even now littering the fresh debris fields outside her hull. The few that Jude managed to track down were not much of a challenge.
A small trail of bodies, perhaps five or so, was left in his wake. But the count didn't matter. Jude knew where he was going and what he would do once there.
"Shut them down!"
"I'm trying! I can't get it to bypass -if I had noticed before they activated..." Tokk was trying desperately to divert power from the Arbies. But it couldn't be done. Not in the Command Center. Not in such a short amount of time.
"I should have checked the velocity sooner, but -dammit Sharpe! Damn you Jude! It can't be done." Tokk felt defeated. This was it. The end...
"Velocity! Tokk, can you change the velocity readings for the Arbies?" Ama knew what had to be done. She could save Jude!
"What?" The passengers stood by helpless. If only they could do something...
Damn! Ama didn't have time to explain. If she could only do it herself... "Make the Arbies think we're going slower!" she said as slowly as she could force herself. The look on Tokk's face showed that he understood.
He dove under the prime velocity console. He should have thought of it himself! It was so simple. If the Arbies thought they were going less than their maximum velocity, they couldn't activate! Brilliant! But could he do it? In time to save Jude?
Jude swept aside the Command Center's guard with a simple kick. The man had offered no resistance, refugees from Jude's path between the bay and the Command Center had spread word of his arrival. It appeared that the guard had expected more than just one unarmed man. And now his skull had a nice bowl shape on the right side where Jude's kick had landed.
Jude didn't even glance at the fallen as he entered the Command Center.
It wasn't working. Tokk had managed to drop the Aesir's velocity readings, but the ship was attempting to compensate for the lost velocity. She was travelling much faster than her security maximum. The engines were beginning to vibrate the ship violently.
"I can't do it, Ama. Any more and the whole ship's in jeopardy."
A sigh that was much too close to a moan can from Ama as she slumped into the console chair, "Return it, Tokk. Perhaps we bought him some time. There's nothing more we can do," But her mind was betraying her words, searching for some way. There had to be a way!
Jude was disappointed. Only one man remained in the Command Center. He had managed to find out that the captain of the carrier had ordered the beam used. And the captain had fled by way of a lower corridor. He was probably making his way to the same bay Jude had used. The man lying on the floor had said as much.
Jude made a few adjustments to the carrier's course. Placing the notion into its computer that it would be a good idea to stop in about fifteen minutes. It took a bit of doing to convince the computer that it didn't necessarily have to go through all the business of slowing down.
The ship would attempt to stop instantly. The fore thrusters would fire at maximum throttle and the ship's own mass should crush the hollowed sphere nicely.
"And hey, if you're lucky there might even be an explosion," he said to the man with the broken spine on the floor. The man tried to work his mouth, but only his eyes would move now.
"You'll forgive me if I don't stay to enjoy it?" he called as he quit the Command Center and headed for the bay, hoping that he might still catch the captain and allow him to go down with his ship.
Everyone was crowded around the signature console as Jude's ship emerged from the carrier. The energy blur was coming at them fast. Jude was going to make it!
He was one-third of the way to the Aesir when the second signature emerged.
Half-way to the Aesir when the carrier's signature disappeared. The enemy ship was catching up to Jude. But he would make it. He had too.
The Aesir shuddered once as the Arbies began bending Space-Time. But Jude was too far away. And the other ship was on him. The other ship was right on top on him!
The blurs could barely be distiguished. And then Jude was gone. And the other ship was gone. Gone.
For the barest fraction of an instant the Aesir and everyone aboard had infinite mass. The Arbies were alive now, they were now in Jude's 'tunnel/sphere'. Gravity seemed to even out again as the sphere was completed behind them. Gravity was normal again -so why did everyone feel so heavy inside?
Ama was alone in the Command Center. She had asked everyone to leave her over an hour ago. She was slumped further down into the console chair. The energy signatures played over and over in a recorded loop. There was Jude trying to make it back. There was the enemy on top of him. And just before the two blurs merged completely, Jude was gone.
The enemy had gotten him but had been too close to avoid a collision with the debris. That was what the images clearly showed.
"You're wrong," Ama slurred. There was something she had missed. There had to be something she had missed. Oh please let there be something I missed.
"You were dead before, but you came back to me. I know you can do it again..." but she didn't really believe it. It was impossible. The images could only depict what actually happened, not what she wanted to happen.
The loop played on as Ama began to cry.
Death and sadness close Chapter Two,
but this is not the end.
For more will come in Chapter Three,
to break our hearts...or mend?
So if you are even fractionally interested in what's going to happen,
be sure to tune in to for Chapter Three,
Coming Soon!
