14

The return trip to the Bright Lance was uneventful. I took a nap right on the bridge of the Jellybird, too tired to smoke a cigar first or express how I truly felt about what Ayers tried to do to us.

Elise volunteered to guard the man but mentioned privately she had no intention of talking to him. She wasn’t in the mood.

As for Doctor Ayers, we had to coerce him out of his Archangel armor. After that, he sat trembling and refused to look anyone in the eyes. I wasn’t sure if he was traumatized by his near-death experience or just worried about what we were going to do to him.

When I awoke, I saw a view of the mad, alien obsessed scientist on the holo view, and I realized he was muttering to himself and counting on his fingers.

“X, is the hotshot genetic scientist actually counting on his fingers?”

“That is correct, Reaper Cain. He has not slept since we put him back in his cell. My analysis suggests it is more of a nervous tick than something he needs to do, but without mind reading abilities, I can’t be sure,” X-37 said.

“Maybe it’s weird, but I feel sorry for him,” I said.

“Why would that be weird?” X-37 asked. “I am honestly curious. Clarification would assist me in further communication with you and other biological life-forms.”

“You know it creeps me out when you call me a biological life-form,” I said.

My limited artificial intelligence, securely interwoven into my nerve-ware, didn’t sound repentant. “It is a factual statement. Are you going to answer the question, or should I mark it for the research on my part?”

“Because he nearly got us killed,” I said. “That’s why it’s weird. I should be punching him in the face, but I feel sorry for him instead. The man has made his own choices, but I don’t think any of them were easy.”

Elise, Tom, Path, and Horvath gathered around but kept a respectful distance.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked.

“We have the codes to the cryo- pods,” Elise said. “You’ll be able to see your mother and sister as soon as we get back to the Bright Lance.”

At a loss for words, I nodded then looked at the floor.

“We want to be with you, or at least in the room,” Elise said.

“What do you think I’m going to do? Freak out?” I asked, not really knowing what I was even saying. “I’m sorry. Of course I want you all there.”

“We are approaching the Bright Lance now,” Jelly said. “Shall I advise Carrie to prepare the shuttle?”

“That would be great, Jelly,” I said, as I stood and stretched my arms above my head. “We’re taking Ayers with us to the Bright Lance. I promised Captain Younger he would be returned to their brig.”

“That’s a good idea. It will be more secure,” Tom said.

“Let’s do an equipment check, gather up Ayers, and load onto the shuttle,” I said.

My team went to work with efficiency that only came when people trusted each other and knew each other’s idiosyncrasies. This semi-random collection of people was starting to function as well as a well-trained spec ops unit. Different, but maybe better in all the ways that counted.

* * *

The ride to the Bright Lance felt like a lifetime. I remembered scenes from my childhood, wondered random things like what my mother and sister would think of my new friends, and worried about what might go wrong.

The Lady Faith was docked in the limited space of the Bright Lance’s flight deck. X-37 advised that Henshaw was waiting for us in the cryo-pod wing of the ship hospital and that Bug was ingratiating himself with the ship’s internal security teams.

“I almost wish I had time to see that,” I said.

“The security personnel of this ship, especially those individuals in the camera rooms, have taken him on as a type of mascot,” X-37 said. “They greet him warmly, cheering and calling out his name whenever he appears. It is a uniquely human behavior, I think.”

“Keep an eye on the kid. I’m glad he has friends, but it won’t be long before he gets himself into trouble,” I said. “Will this make his job easier?”

“No,” X-37 said. “While he has better access to surveillance cameras, his new friends are always interested in what he is doing, making his surveillance of Ayers harder to keep a secret. My analysis suggests Bug should ask for their help instead of hide his objectives.”

“We don’t know if Ayers has confederates on the ship, but you’re right. Start doing background checks on the security personnel who have befriended Bug,” I said.

“Of course, Reaper Cain.”

We removed Ayers from the shuttle. He said nothing, even when Elise tried to talk to him. As soon as we were on the Bright Lance, ship security helped us escort Ayers to the brig where he was locked down.

I pulled aside the shift supervisor. “Keep an eye on him and notify me if he starts saying or doing anything crazy.”

“Yes, sir,” the man said. “Are you going to the celebration? We heard the mission to Macabre was successful. A buddy of mine says the holo footage is amazing. It’s an honor to have you with us, Reaper Cain.”

“Thank you, Sergeant Uluru.” I liked the sergeant but signaled X-37 to check him out. Over-friendliness always raised my suspicion. At some point, we had to trust the crew of the Bright Lance. Deciding on when that some point was could be tricky.

“Sergeant Uluru is a Xad citizen with an excellent record. None of the Union turncoats have been allowed near the brig,” X-37 said for my team only. “The doctor will be unable to cause trouble while locked down.”

We moved away from other security teams and entered the main concourse that would eventually lead us to the hospital level.

“What about friends and girlfriends?” I asked. “Uluru might be solid, but what about his private life. Be sure to check his finances.”

“Finances are irrelevant in the exodus fleet. Everyone is working together to survive,” X-37 said.

“Humans always have something to trade, so finances are always an issue. I learned that in prison. Debt kills. Never forget it, X. That’s Reaper school 101.” Walking without a hundred pounds of powered armor encasing me was a nice change. “Keep me updated. It seems like we’re missing something with Ayers.”

“Of course, Reaper Cain.”

“What’s going on, Reaper,” Elise asked, looking back toward the brig. “You’re weirding me out.”

“I’m checking the boxes, making sure we’re not trusting others too much,” I said.

“Oh, right. Trust is a bad thing. I forgot.” Elise rolled her eyes away from me, which made me chuckle. “They are professionals, Reaper.”

“I’ve completed the preliminary background check of Sergeant Uluru of Xad, Reaper Cain,” X-37 said.

“So fast and invasive,” Elise said.

“I’m unsure if that is a complement, Elise,” X-37 said, then continued without missing a beat. “Sergeant Uluru has a girlfriend formerly loyal to the Union.”

“What did I tell you?” I asked.

“Really, Reaper? The guy can’t have a life?” Elise asked.

“Sure, but not while he is guarding a high value prisoner,” I said. “Send the report to Captain Younger and request Uluru be removed from the guard detail.”

“Right away, Reaper Cain,” X-37 said.

My friends led me toward the hospital and the cryo-pod wing. None of us spoke. Even X-37 was quiet.

A pair of guards admitted us into the cryo-pod area that consisted of a nexus point in several hallways radiating into the medical laboratories.

Henshaw was waiting. Technicians and doctors who Captain Younger had assured me were the best she had also waited to assist if needed. Younger and a pair of junior officers stood back respectfully.

I approached the Xad officer who was currently in charge of the entire combined fleet but who had made time to be here.

“Excellent work on Macabre,” she said. “I’ve watched the holo several times myself. That jump was amazing.” She smiled at Elise. “And that was some quick thinking. It looked like you were already moving when disaster struck.”

“Thank you, Captain Younger,” Elise said.

“Don’t let me or my people get in your way,” Younger said. “Everyone here is at your disposal, but I understand you will want some privacy. My XO informed me you have concerns about the security team in the brig. We will look into it.”

“Thank you, Captain,” I said. “Or should I call you Admiral?”

“We’ve been discussing terminology, but since it’s a rotating position, there have been a few differences of opinion,” she said. “Enough about politics and organizational charts. Go to your family.”

I nodded, then approached the hallway to the room where my mother and sister waited. Elise was behind me, then Tom and Henshaw and the ship’s doctor, Major Hubert Moore, followed.

“How does this work, X?” I asked.

“I took the liberty of contacting Tom and James Henshaw,” X-37 said. “They have reviewed all the protocols and understand the codes. I’ve also worked with AI Mavis and Major Moore. But once we decide to awaken your mother and sister, I will walk you through the progress so you can do it yourself.”

“Okay.” I entered the room. My friends loitered to the door, watching me.

Everything was in order, the facility perfectly clean and well lit. X-37 recommended dimming the lights slightly for when they awoke, so we made that happen. I pulled a chair close to my mother’s cryo- pod and just sat there for a long time. My friends waited patiently.

“Are you certain you’re ready to do this, Reaper Cain?” X-37 said. “Your biometrics are remarkably calm given the weight of this moment. I must remind you that there is no rush to awaken them. Their health will not be affected by another day if you need to take some time.”

I stood, picked up the tablet with her medical information on it, and hesitated. Olivia Cain. The screen also gave her height, weight, and other biometrics. She was a tall woman but according to the tablet, her weight was at a bare minimum after so long in the cryo-pod.

“I thought these things were meant to preserve people,” I muttered. “She looks starved.”

“That is correct, Reaper Cain. Apparently, Nebs or his staff adjusted the settings for minimal life support in an effort to conserve all possible resources for a long tour in unknown regions of space,” X-37 said.

“I really wish I could kill that guy twice.” I reviewed each step of the revival process.

When I entered the code, I used more care and deliberation than I had in anything I’d ever done. A message flashed along the cryo-pod’s screen. Revival sequence in progress.

“Everything seems to be working,” X-37 said. “Mavis sends her best wishes and wants to assure you that a significant portion of her processing power has been dedicated to making sure this is a safe and successful procedure.”

The first thing that changed was my ability to see through the observation window. Before long, it was like there was no glass between us. My mother’s strong face looked more severe than I remembered because her hair was pulled back and her expression was frozen despite the readout claiming she was now in a normal state of sleep.

I couldn’t stop looking at her hair. In my memory, it had always been a darker version of auburn with streaks of silver. Now it was like liquid mercury.

“The process is intended to be slow and gentle,” X-37 said.

“I know, X. I read the manual several times in case you forgot,” I said.

“It is unlikely that I would forget such a momentous occurrence. You really should read more, Reaper Cain,” X-37 said.

Gases vented slowly from the side of the long tube. I heard them more than I saw them. My sense of time was probably distorted.

When my mother opened her eyes and saw me, she smiled with obvious effort.

“She won’t be able to talk, Reaper Cain. It’s important to ease her back into normality. Rushing the process could damage her vocal cords,” X-37 said.

“I know, X.” I opened the lid and helped my mother to sit up. She hugged me weakly, her head on my shoulder and her arms feeling far too thin.

“Hal,” she whispered.

“Don’t say anything, mother,” I said softly, holding her like she might vanish if I looked away even for a second. “There will be time for that. Don’t strain your voice.”

“I knew you would find us,” she whispered, her voice sounding harsh from long disuse.

Rocking her gently, I didn’t know what to say.

“One last thing, and then I will take your advice,” she said. “Your sister will be angry when you wake her up.”

“Okay, mother. You need to rest.”

We both started laughing, her voice rough and beautiful at the same time. The more we tried to stop, the worse it was. My friends were having similar issues near the doorway, but Elise, I noticed, had tears in her eyes.

* * *

We repeated the process after my mother drifted into a normal sleep. Her warning didn’t bother me. Of course Hannah would be angry—she was part of the Cain family, after all, and we all had tempers.

“There must be a reason your mother made the considerable effort to warn you,” X-37 said. “She understands the danger of straining vocal cords that haven’t been used for months. Please be careful, Reaper Cain.”

Hannah’s hair was much shorter than I remembered, barely reaching the nape of her neck. When she’d been a teenager, it had tumbled down her back in waves, often highlighted with whatever color suited her mood. As a young woman in her twenties, it had been so rich that it almost seemed magical. Unlike my mother’s, whatever Nebs had done to them hadn’t changed its color.

“Why is her hair so short?” I asked.

Mavis surprised me by answering. “She was in the habit of shaving her head bald before Nebs resorted to the cryo-pods to control her. The vice admiral complemented her hair. She responded by taking a razor to her scalp.”

“That sounds like Hannah,” I said.

She was nearly as thin as my mother but had been more athletic and robust before getting put to sleep. Like me, both women were tall and athletic. Hannah hadn’t always liked being taller and stronger than the boys her age. I wondered if that was still true.

When she awoke, she was instantly alert. Her ice green eyes focused on me like she was sighting a weapon. She touched her throat to indicate she couldn’t speak yet.

“It’s okay,” I said. “I already woke up mom and I know how hard it is for you to talk right now. I think I can hold up the entire conversation.”

She laughed silently and it looked like it hurt.

I joined her, fighting back tears. “It’s good to see you, sis. I was warned you would be angry.”

Her response was hard to interpret because she was still struggling to restrain her mirth. A mixture of emotions played across her face—everything from a type of laughter that only her big brother could evoke to an underlying rage at her situation.

“I killed the fuck out of Nebs.” My voice caught, surprising me. Killing wasn’t a problem for me but saving my mother and sister made it different, more personal and dangerous, even though I’d already done the deed.

“Good. Help me out of this thing. I hate being in here.”

X-37 warned me it was too soon to move her, but I knew there wasn’t a choice. In most ways, she was as different from me as was humanly possible, but there were certain personality traits we shared. Being stubborn was right at the top of the list.

I took her hand and pulled her upright. We didn’t hug. Now didn’t seem like the time even though we had all been a hug friendly family before everything went wrong on Boyer 5.

“Your biometrics are very strange, Reaper Cain.”

How did I explain emotion to my LAI? It couldn’t be done with hand signals and I didn’t want to ruin the moment with my sister.

“Reaper Cain, please respond or I will be forced to call Doctor Moore,” X-37 said.

My heart was beating the inside of my chest, tears ran down my face, and my hands were shaking like I was a scared kid. “I need to talk to my LAI, Hannah.”

“Can I get out of this thing first?” Her words were barely a whisper and I thought pain was causing her to sweat. She wasn’t looking at me; which saved me the embarrassment of crying like this.

“Let me help you.” I held her firmly by one arm and a shoulder, ready to catch her head if she flopped backward. “Don’t call the doctor, X. I’ll explain later.”

“Are you experiencing happiness, Reaper Cain?”

“Yeah, X. That’s all this is.”

One side of the pod folded away. She swung out her legs and sat with her hands on her knees trying to get her bearings. It looked like she was in pain, every muscle cramping against the sudden movement.

“You should distract her by giving her an update on the situation,” X-37 said.

I wanted to tell my limited artificial intelligence that she wasn’t a commando, but X was mostly right. I was sure she wanted to know what was going on.

“My friends helped me storm the Dark Lance and take it from the vice admiral. They call it the Bright Lance now. Some of the Union soldiers and crewmen switched sides.”

“Don’t… trust the officers.” Hannah was still looking at the floor as she wrestled with her discomfort.

“Most of them died. Nebs did something to their cardiovascular systems—some kind of dead man switch that went off when we discovered the secret vault where they hide their research,” I said.

Hannah went pale at the mention of the vault. She looked at me with haunted eyes but said nothing.

“We can get to that stuff later,” I said. “I want you to meet my friends.”

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