Epilogue
Oliver
“Are those the new shipping manifests?” Oliver asked.
“Yeah.”
“What did we get?”
“New uniforms,” Jim replied. The two men were walking into a shipping class freighter named Spotrunner. It was one of six courier ships that traveled with Jim’s Flagship, Infinity. Jim had picked up a data pad from the nearest stack of boxes and was going through the inventory of what Spotrunner would carry to the flagship. Jim liked to go over the manifests personally, despite hiring thirty-six people assigned to only that responsibility.
It wasn’t that Jim didn’t trust his crew. He was just terrified that something would go wrong. Thorough to the point of paranoia, Jim thought. But, then again, he didn’t really mind doing this task himself. Things were going well, and for him, getting a chance to see the shipments personally was like being on holiday: It’s all ours.
Five years ago Jim was nobody. Then Oliver walked into his life—stumbled was probably a better description—and now Jim controlled the strongest fleet in the Indeil Kingdom. Over two hundred ships.
But it wasn’t all fun and games. It had come as something of a shock to find out how ill prepared he was for such a position. He had military experience, but nothing compared to the sheer scale of a war fleet. Luckily, the fleet he inherited was already fairly well maintained. Jim kept the same crews intact and had slowly begun filling out the ranks.
“You’re joking, right?” Oliver asked, glancing over his shoulder to read the pad.
“Not at all,” Jim said. “Just uniforms.”
Oliver cleared his throat. “Where are the guns I ordered?”
“I cancelled that order,” Jim said, raising an eyebrow at his friend. “We don’t need more guns.”
“But those were new guns,” Oliver retorted. “You can’t expect me to use a gun more than once, can you? They are disposable, right?”
Jim didn’t reply, but he did smile slightly. “I don’t expect you to use them at all. The last time you went to the firing range, you couldn’t even hit the target.”
“It kept moving,” Oliver protested.
“It’s locked in place,” Jim said. “It can’t move.”
“Well, then it should have moved,” Oliver said.
“In any case, we don’t need more guns. The armory is full. Yet our soldiers do need something to wear.”
Our personal hangar, Jim reminded himself. Hell, it’s our goddamned spaceport. Oliver had purchase the Jaril municipal spaceport just over a year earlier. He’d convinced Jim to use their fleet primarily for shipping goods around the Kingdom, so most of their investment was in owning the ports that connected their trade routes.
Oliver pried off the top of a nearby crate.
“No knives?”
“Nope?”
“Grenades? Frying pans? How are we supposed to kill people, Jim?”
Jim sighed. “The Kingdom hasn’t been at war for eighty years.”
Jim’s data pad beeped. He checked the feed: Another transport ship had landed safely on Immis. It was dropping off their cargo now.
Life had been good the last few years. The marriage to Lady Margaret was a huge event. He expanded his popularity with the civilians and solidified his position in the Admiralty. And no one—at least publicly—dared speak out against the lady for her choice of consort. They received a steady stream of recruits and were currently in the negotiations to acquire their seventh Capital Warship.
He had surpassed Brutus Volt within the first year. Two months ago, Oliver had purchased the ship that put them past Hektor Menschen. With the way things were going, it wouldn’t be long before he outnumbered them both combined. And how that must anger Hektor.
The thought brought a smile to his lips.
How angry will he be after today? Jim wondered. But he wondered even more how Oliver would feel about it. I hope he isn’t offended. His feelings are fairly obvious to everyone but him. Am I stepping over the bounds in our friendship?
He wouldn’t know until after he’d gone through with it.
A few minutes passed as Jim verified the manifest against what was in the crate. This box was loaded with expensive uniforms. Bridge officers. At least Jim didn’t have a lot of positions left to fill on the ships they already had.
“How’s Becka?” Oliver asked, pulling Jim from his thoughts. Jim glanced at the data pad in his hand and dropped it back on the stack of boxes in front of him.
“She’s great. Fantastic, really,” Jim said, stretching out his back and yawning. “A little ball of energy. She never stops moving.”
“And you barely move at all anymore. A fair trade.”
My damn foot, Jim cursed. Physical therapy wasn’t working very well, and it would be a short time before he needed a cane. God help me if I’m ever resigned to a walker…
“And Emily is gorgeous,” Jim continued, deciding to ignore Oliver’s statement. Emily was a newborn, barely a month old. A little pink ball of joy that terrified Jim. Becka had just turned two. “Absolutely gorgeous. I never imagined being away from them would be this hard.”
“It’s only for a few weeks at a time,” Oliver said.
Jim said. “Yeah, I know,” he gestured to the boxes. “There should be three hundred and twenty-one uniforms.”
“Three hundred and twenty-one? That’s a strange number.”
“It’s how many we needed,” Jim said. He began limping along the row of boxes. The cargo bay was twenty meters long and sixteen wide. Right now it was empty except for these crates. He slid the top off another crate and leafed through the uniforms, nodding to himself.
“These are high quality,” Oliver said, picking one up and shaking it loose. “You spared no expense.”
“We have the funds.”
“I’m glad you asked first.”
“It’s my fleet,” Jim said, not looking at Oliver.
“But our money,” Oliver said. “And I earn most of it.”
Jim shrugged. “Fair enough. I’ll ask next time.”
Oliver shook his head. “I’m joking. I don’t really care. Just don’t spend us into poverty,” he said and then grinned. “And next time don’t veto my gun order.”
Jim nodded absently. He continued down the line, checking the next crate of uniforms.
“Kids are tough,” he said absently.
“Yeah.”
“I just wish Margaret…”
Jim trailed off midsentence, tensing up. He glanced around, making sure they were alone. He hated speaking about his reclusive wife, especially if he might be overheard. Oliver knew everything, of course, but they rarely spoke about it in public. “It’s not that…” he started again quieter. “She just…”
“I know,” Oliver said, patting him on the shoulder. “But she won’t stay that way. She’s just having trouble adjusting.”
The somber tone held for a long minute. Oliver glanced past him at one of the larger crates. “What’s in that one?”
“It’s the odd uniform,” Jim said. “A new bridge officer for Infinity.”
“I thought we didn’t have any open positions on the flagship,” Oliver said.
“We don’t,” Jim said, “but when this offer came my way, I decided to make an exception.”
“A position on the flagship? That’s quite the exception,” Oliver said. “Who is it?”
“She should be here any minute.”
“You didn’t consult me?”
“No,” Jim said, waving his hand at one of the guards near the cargo bay door. “I forgot.”
“Oh hell, it’s not—”
Oliver stopped speaking, eyes fixated on the cargo door. A brunette in an expensive dress suit had just walked through. Her hair was pulled back from her face into a bun and she was wearing high heels. Jim had only seen her a few times, but he knew her brother too well to not recognize her: Elizabeth Menschen. When she spoke to him about a possible position, he’d fallen all over himself to bring her on board.
It was only after that he’d realized his mistake. She and Oliver had some sort of relationship years earlier. Rumor was they’d had a falling-out.
“She offered to sign on. I told her I’d think about it. But there’s nothing to think about. She’s Hektor’s sister. I couldn’t possibly turn her away.”
Oliver blinked. “Does Hektor know?”
“I’m sure he’ll find out. And to be honest, I don’t really care. She’s a grown woman.”
“And you never even thought to mention it to me,” Oliver said.
Jim sighed. “Look, if I’d known about your…relationship…I would have said something. But the truth is, this wasn’t something I could pass up. That we could pass up. Just having her here will keep her brother off my back.”
“I’m pretty sure she hates me,” Oliver said.
“Why?” Jim asked.
“Because she said she did. The last time we spoke.”
“Well, she never mentioned it. And she has to know that you’re my First Officer.”
Suddenly, Oliver burst out laughing. “Wait…this is her uniform, right?”
“Yes. That’s why I asked her to come today.”
“I’ll be back,” Oliver said, hurrying toward the far door leading into the cockpit. There was a side exit up there, leading to the street. “And whatever you do, don’t tell her the uniform came.”
“What?” Jim asked, completely caught off guard. He was expecting some kind of response, but this wasn’t it.
“Five minutes,” Oliver replied. “Just keep her busy for five minutes.”
Jim watched him disappear and shook his head. Heels clipped behind him and he turned, bowing to Elizabeth Menschen.
“Where’s he off to?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. Jim could only shrug in response. “Did he not know I was…?” she asked, her voice trailing off. There was an edge of hurt in her eyes. “Was he upset?”
“I think he had to go pick something up. He’ll be back shortly.”
“Ah,” she said. “Well, you asked me to come today.”
“Yes,” Jim said. To give you your uniform, he didn’t say. He struggled to think of something else to say, but he’d never been good at small talk.
Damn it, Oliver. How the hell am I supposed to keep her busy?
A minute dragged past.
Jim cleared his throat.
“So…” Elizabeth said. “Did you have anything in particular…?”
“Yes,” Jim said. “I mean no. We’re just waiting for some more recruits to arrive so we can travel to Infinity. So yes, I suppose there was something we needed to do before leaving. Are you ready to leave today, or do you need more time to prepare?”
“I have everything I need outside. I can leave whenever,” she said, then hesitated. “Is Oliver…?”
“He’s okay with this,” Jim said. “I think.”
“That’s good,” she said with a nod. “After…” She trailed off.
They each scanned the room. Another minute passed awkwardly. Elizabeth cleared her throat. “I...um…am not involved in my brother’s dealings…so if you were thinking I would…spy…”
“Oh no, nothing like that,” Jim said, deflated. That was exactly what he was hoping for.
“Good,” Elizabeth said, glancing around again. She was clearly waiting for him to continue, but he couldn’t think of anything else to add. “That’s good…needless to say, my brother wasn’t happy when I told him. He’s basically written me out of the family.”
“We’ll help you recover anything you lost in joining us,” Jim said. “I was never intending for your contributions to involve your family in any way.”
“You have my thanks,” Elizabeth said.
Time moved slowly.
“So then why?” she asked.
“Why what?”
“Why bring me on? You must be worried that I will betray you to Hektor. And Oliver…I’m not sure he’s forgiven me. I couldn’t believe you said yes.”
Jim hesitated. This isn’t going well. “To be perfectly honest, I haven’t given it much thought. Oliver is the one who worries about those sorts of things.”
“He did agree to this arrangement, though? I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes…”
“He, um…I’m sure he will agree.”
Or, at least, I hope he will.
Where the hell are you, Oliver?
Jim cleared his throat.
“So…are you looking forward to—?”
“I’m back,” Oliver called, waving at them as he stepped through the hangar door. He didn’t look angry, for which Jim was duly grateful.
Thank God, Jim thought.
“Thank God,” Elizabeth mumbled.
Oliver came up to them, puffing and putting his hands on his knees.
“Where did you go?” Elizabeth asked, a note of impatience in her voice as she crossed her arms.
“Oh, I had to check our takeoff status,” Oliver lied. “We run a pretty tight ship here.”
“Is that so?” Elizabeth asked. She seemed uncomfortable. She was as worried about this meeting as I was, Jim realized. Worried what Oliver might say.
“We’ll be gone a few weeks. Jim’s daughter is only a month old,” Oliver explained. “We never go too far away if we don’t have to.”
“Oh, I’d forgotten about the baby. Congratulations. I’ll be sure to send Margaret my regards and a gift. Does she have enough clothes?”
“Three closets full,” Jim said.
Elizabeth smiled. “Only three?” She glanced around. “I’ll send a few more.” She hesitated, looking at Oliver and then the ground. “I don’t want to impose. Jim said you were not aware of this arrangement, and if it makes you uncomfortable…”
Oliver waved his hands dismissively in the air. “No, no. Any offer Jim has made to you, I second completely. I’ve missed you, Elizabeth. And I know that when you set me up to have me killed, there were no hard feelings.”
“I tried as hard as I could to warn you,” Elizabeth said, wringing her hands. “And I knew that if I didn’t set you up, my brother would find some other way. And I was worried…”
“Wait,” Jim said. “What?”
They ignored him.
“I said a lot of horrible things,” Elizabeth said, looking down. “And I’ve regretted it ever since.”
“But you had to be convincing,” Oliver replied. He stepped forward and gently took her hands, lifting her chin to look her in the eyes. “And you slipped me the key before they tossed me in the river.”
“What river?” Jim asked. “You never told me any of this.”
Oliver waved his hand in dismissal. “It wasn’t important. All is forgiven, Elizabeth. Welcome aboard Infinity.”
Phew, Jim thought. This could have gone so much—
“There is just one problem,” Oliver said.
“What?” Elizabeth asked, narrowing her eyes.
“We don’t allow anyone on the bridge who isn’t in proper attire.”
“Oh?”
“And unfortunately, there was a mix-up with the recent shipment. Your uniform hasn’t arrived yet. But don’t worry. I have acquired a suitable replacement for you to wear in the interim.”
Oliver fished in his pocket for a second, grinning.
“Where is it?” Elizabeth asked.
Oliver drew out a pair of diamond earrings and a matching necklace. They were expensive, gleaming in the drop ships lights.
Those have to cost a hundred thousand credits…Jim realized.
Oliver handed them to Elizabeth.
“Here it is,” he said. “It’s somewhat revealing, I know. But not at all constricting.”
Elizabeth’s eyes went wide, and she burst out laughing.
“I’ve missed you, Oly,” she said, accepting the gift.
Even Jim couldn’t help but smile.
Jayson
“What happens now?” he asked, sitting in his quarters on Alderson. His body was still sore and beat up after the events that had taken place, but he was starting to recover.
They had been back from the research facility for about a week, and already travel preparations were being drawn up for their excursion to Regamon. They would go in separate groups and unite on the planet.
It would be a dangerous mission, considering how well protected Regamon was in Sector Two. They were going to be briefed over the next few months about exactly what to expect from the planet, and Bret was being briefed in explicit weaknesses in their security network and how to hack their grids.
It would be a long mission, with the intention being to ramp up their efforts over the course of a year. By the time they left, he knew, the goal was that the economy of Regamon and Sector Two would be crippled.
Ambitious, he knew, and incredibly dangerous.
He was excited and apprehensive at the same time. Sector Two was notorious for being one of the richest planets in the galaxy, nearly rivaling Axis in wealth and privilege. They would never expect for it to be targeted by terrorists, which was what made their plan possible: their own arrogance would be their downfall.
“Now you will begin tearing the Republic down,” Alexander said. “Captain Grove will be patrolling near Regamon while you are there, and your job will be to turn the planet against her.”
“Subterfuge?”
Alexander nodded. “It isn’t going to be easy. I’m putting you in charge of the mission, which means you have complete autonomous control once you are on the planet. There will be no contact from or with us until after you have completed this mission.”
“What, exactly, is the mission?”
Alexander smiled at him, shaking his head. “You’ll see.”
Captain Grove
“You knew it would go like that,” Captain Kristi Grove accused, pointing a finger at Jamir. They were in her quarters, one of the few places she could speak openly with her manservant.
She was furious with Abdullah for pardoning the criminal. She was even more furious, however, for the smug way in which Jamir had planned it all out. He had orchestrated and manipulated everything, she was certain. Even herself.
And she did not like to be manipulated.
She had been certain that Abdullah would execute the rapist Gregory Tillman, or else she never would have given him control over the situation. Jamir had assured her that Abdullah would make the right decision, but in the end, her First Officer had pardoned the man.
“I did?”
“That’s why you wanted Abdullah to make the decision. You knew he would let the man live. You knew.”
“Seven years is a long sentence,” Jamir replied. “Ensign Tillman will miss out on much of his life because of his crime and be expelled from the ship immediately when his sentence is over.”
“It isn’t enough. I should have him executed anyway.”
“Then you would be undermining your own First Officer.”
“If I’d known Abdullah wouldn’t have the backbone—”
“No,” Jamir interrupted.
She raised an eyebrow at him, shocked he would dare interrupt her.
“No?”
“The crew aboard this ship is terrified of you.”
“They should be. I want their respect, but I’ll tolerate their fear.”
Jamir ignored her. “Yet they love Abdullah as much as they hate you.”
“And you think that’s a good thing?”
“It is a necessary thing. They will be loyal to him, and he will be loyal to you. You aren’t looking for a puppet in your First Officer. You are looking for a leader who can inspire people. The soldiers will think of him as a leader who has their best interests at heart. Having him in the position that he is in will give you free rein to do the things you want to do while maintaining crew morale and loyalty. This is the best way to accomplish your agendas on behalf of the Republic.”
“You’re saying that Abdullah is a tool for me to use.”
“In a sense,” Jamir admitted. “You need someone like him as much as the Republic needs someone like you.”
“So I should let him make more decisions like this? Pardon the crew for their crimes,” she asked.
“On the contrary, you should encourage him to make decisions like this. He has a good heart and a strong will. I feared for a while that his fear of you would override his moral compass, but I can see the strength in him. He will bring out the best in the people under his command. You need to trust that this is in your best interest.
Captain Grove frowned, thinking. She hated the idea of letting criminals walk free, but she also knew better than to ignore the advice Jamir was giving her. This was exactly why her family had purchased him and why she kept him around.
“Very well. We will do things your way,” she said. “For now.”
Abdullah Al Hakir
Living on Denigen’s Fist had turned into a constantly terrifying experience for Abdullah. He felt like he was walking on egg shells, and he was terrified of what would happen when the Captain finally turned her attention to him.
He knew she would bring the hammer down, eventually, but for now she wouldn’t even speak to him. He spent his time with Eddie—who was pleased with the decision he’d made—and his soldiers, but he didn’t dare go to the bridge.
Nor did Captain Grove ask for him. He wondered if she was planning out who would replace him.
He tried to occupy himself by keeping busy. In a few weeks, they would leave Axis and head to Regamon, and he would get some time away from the ship. It would be a relaxing vacation and relationship-building exercise. No doubt the Captain would be too busy rubbing elbows with the important people of the galaxy to worry about him.
He hoped…
In any case, he was at least proud of himself that he’d come to the right decision. He could live with himself for what he had done.
How long that would be, however, he didn’t know.
Vivian
Vivian flew their little ship, Junker, down toward the surface of Terminus, a planet she hadn’t spent much time on before. It was one she didn’t have a lot of respect for in the grand scheme of things: a lawless and brutal planet notorious for rampant crime, rivaled only by Daer. It was a smuggler’s haven and den of iniquity.
But it was also the only place she would be able to go to get Traq what he needed. She hated the idea of being back in the Republic, but she would do anything to find out exactly what Traq was capable of.
Technically, Terminus was under the control of the Union, though it certainly didn’t consider itself to be the puppet of any government. She doubted they answered any better to Darius than they had to the First Citizen. It was a dangerous place, and she would need to be careful if she was going to bring Traq out the other side.
“This is Terminus?” Traq asked, sitting in the copilot’s chair.
He had recovered from the ordeal on Eldun and was in much higher spirits, basically returning to his old self. His uncle, Jack, was resting in the back of the plane, having flown them most of the way here. Vivian still hadn’t decided if she was going to trust him, but she did know that she needed him. For now, at least.
Traq hadn’t managed to manifest any powers since leaving Eldun behind, and he barely seemed to remember most of what had happened. When she asked him about it, his memory of how he had done things was vague and disoriented, solidifying her belief that he needed the implant.
“This is Terminus,” she agreed. “A wretched place.”
“What are we doing here?”
She hesitated, not sure what to tell him. “We’re going to get you something,” she said. “You’ll have a surgery and then you’ll be able to do things.”
“What kind of things?”
“I don’t know yet,” she said. “More things like on Eldun, but we’ll find out after. That’s why we are here. Are you ready?”
He shrugged. “I guess so.”
Everything would change after this, she knew. Traq would change, and she prayed he would still be the lovable kid she knew.
But she also understood that the implant could have an adverse effect on the personality of people it was put into. There was a chance that the Traq that woke up would be entirely different from the one she brought to Terminus. If that happened…
She didn’t know what she would do.
She hoped it wouldn’t happen.
